Eurocert S.A.

Integrated Farm Assurance GLOBALG.A.P. v6 for plants

Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables is a global standard for responsible farming practices at primary production level. It is built on a holistic approach that covers the key topics of food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, production processes, and traceability.

Developed by the industry, for the industry, Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables provides producers with clarity on market requirements and facilitates a long-term holistic approach to farm-level operations. The standard has consistently achieved Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognition and is aligned with both the UN Global Compact Food and Agribusiness Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. Operational for over 20 years and continuously developed in collaboration with sector stakeholders, IFA is tried, tested, and trusted around the world, with IFA-certified production processes for fruit and vegetables covering more than four million hectares annually.

What is Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables

Which topics does IFA for fruit and vegetables address

IFA for fruit and vegetables covers the major aspects of primary production, from preharvest activities to postharvest handling. The standard has been developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and focus groups and underwent extensive public consultation as part of our process for standard setting . This ensures that IFA remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.

Traceability, Food safety

Workers’ health, safety, and welfare

Biodiversity and habitats

Energy efficiency, Water management

Waste management

Fertilizers and biostimulants

Integrated pest management

Plant protection products

IFA for fruit and vegetables is available for the entire spectrum of producers worldwide, addressing a range of production systems from noncovered farms to controlled environment agriculture.

It offers certification options for both individual producers (single site and multisite producers) and producer groups, including smallholders. Producers can get certification in any country where EUROCERT (a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) ) conducts audits.

We also offer primary solutions for producers who require a stepwise approach towards certification, as well as a portfolio of add-ons to core solutions for producers who require further assurance on specific topics.

Compliance with the standard requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB (EUROCERT).
A successful EUROCERT CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.

The certificate is issued at scope level (IFA for plants) and lists the applicable product categories (e.g., fruit and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals) individually. Producers with multiple types of operations can therefore get certification for all of them through a single audit process.

IFA v6 checklists are generated digitally and are tailored to the producer’s specific production practices, eliminating any not applicable requirements. Our smarter, streamlined, and outcome-oriented approach also provides flexibility to producers in demonstrating compliance.

P&Cs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.

Principles

Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement
Written in statement form
Describing the outcomes to achieve

Criteria

Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a principle to be true
Different ways to demonstrate compliance, e.g., data, record of procedure
Evidence required for demonstrating that the outcome is achieved

Read more about the audit process and standard requirements . How is certification status verified?

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a unique 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems , upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.

IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables is available in two parallel and equally valid editions:

IFA v6 Smart, which fully embodies the GLOBALG.A.P. philosophy and is appropriate for the majority of producers
IFA v6 GFS, designed for producers who require certification with recognition from GFSI

This decision stems from the extensive public consultation conducted during the standard revision. Many industry experts requested a more flexible and outcome-oriented IFA, but it was not possible to completely reconcile their preferences with GFSI requirements. To provide solutions for both use cases and to ensure that IFA certification continues to be applicable for the mass market, two editions were developed: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.

The two editions contain some differences in the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, such as rules for unannounced CB audits. Both editions are accepted for BRCGS- and IFS-certified post farm-gate product handling units. Customer requirements usually determine the edition that a producer will implement.

IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables introduces the need for a continuous improvement plan at farm level. This approach encourages measurable target setting that helps producers to improve the efficiency of their operations and achieve recognition for efforts to strengthen on-farm sustainability.

Plan: After analyzing current practices, data identifies areas that can be improved, and the producer sets measurable goals for improvement.
Do: Targeted measures are implemented in farming practices.
Check: Implementation is checked and progress reviewed at the annual CB audit.
Act: The continuous improvement plan is revised based on progress and impact.

Improve farm management and the efficiency of farm operations.
Get recognition for your efforts to protect environmental resources and enhance biodiversity on the farm.
Achieve compliance with a globally recognized standard that fulfills international supply chain requirements.
Enjoy a flexible approach to farm assurance through the easy combination of add-ons and the opportunity to join the consumer-facing GGN label
Apply our farm assurance solutions on a wide range of farm types and sizes and access certification options for both individual producers and producer groups.
Optimize your production processes through a continuous improvement plan.

EUROCERT’s certificates are accepted and recognized by supermarket chains in European Market (Lidl, Aldi, AH, Sainsburry's and Marks and Spencer etc).

EUROCERT offers the option of simultaneous inspection for more than one standards /protocols to reduce costs.