While the GlobalGap standard for Good Agricultural Practices is still only marginally used in the agricultural department (cereal production, industry productions, olives to make oil, grapes to make wine, etc.), it is quite relevant in the fresh produce segment.
This is what we gathered from our interview with Alessandro Mattiazzi, standard technical manager for CSQA Certificazioni, GlobalGAP scheme manager and member of GlobalGAP's NTWG IT.
"Unfortunately there is no updated data to make an assessment on how many hold the GlobalGap certification, in addition we must consider that both single businesses and cooperatives, consortia and POs can be certified."
This is why usually GlobalGAP issues data on both:
- total number of producers (unofficially 160,000, of which 18,000/20,000 located in Italy)
- number of certifications issued (unofficial data issued in the autumn of 2015: 44,000 certifications at a global level, around 3000 of which in Italy).
Italy ranks in the leading positions for what concerns the number of producers holding the certification. GlobalGAP is in fact perceived as a necessary standard to access certain markets.
"In addition, there are many companies and organisations who use GlobalGAP as a standard for the implementation of good agricultural practices and to prove their compliance with the many regulations applicable to fresh produce cultivation."
The introduction of version 5 raised some concerns as regards irrigation water analysis and phytosanitary treatments. "We must say, though, that the National Working Group is working to produce guidelines to facilitate its implementation in Italy."
Time-frame and benefits
The time-frame to obtain the certification can be rather quick - companies must register on the GlobalGAP portal and an annual certification is issued after checks are carried out.
"It depends on how long a company takes to comply with all the points in the check list (over 200) and well as with other aspects, i.e. harvesting and processing operations must be verified."
The certification enables companies to meet the demands of European clients, which are increasingly requiring international standards. GlobalGAP is in fact the standard accepted by the leading European distributors.
Mattiazzi also stresses two additional aspects:
- Integration with Integrated Production regulations for the production and commercialisation of fresh produce.
- The GlobalGAP protocol constitutes a guideline for Good Agricultural Practices.
The GlobalGAP Chain of Custody (CoC)
GlobalGAP is a good agricultural practices standard created to guarantee products from the company to distribution. That is why the "chain of custody" was created, i.e. a collection of evidence that documents the history of a product along the various production and distribution stages.
GlobalGAP is a good agricultural practices standard created to guarantee products from the company to distribution. That is why the "chain of custody" was created, i.e. a collection of evidence that documents the history of a product along the various production and distribution stages.
"Its purpose is to enable companies to guarantee the "GlobalGAP origin" of its products. The Chain of Custody has been available for a few years and the number of applications is increasing."
The GRASP voluntary module
Talking about the GRASP (GlobalGAP Risk Assessment on Social Practice) voluntary module, Mattiazzi reported that "clients are requiring it from certified companies. I expected it after such a difficult 2015. Application numbers are increasing and large organisations should soon start acquiring too. German retailers (ALDI Nord, ALDI Sud, LIDL, GLOBUS) are already asking its suppliers holding the GlobaGAP certification to integrate it with the Graps module."
Contacts:
CSQA Certificazioni
Via San Gaetano, 74
36016 Thiene (VI)
Tel.: (+39) 0445 313011
Fax: (+39) 0445 313070
Email: csqa@csqa.it
Web: www.csqa.it
Author: Rossella Gigli
Copyright: www.freshplaza.it