GlobalGAP has announced the introduction of the update to Version 5 of its Integrated Farm Assurance Standard for Crops and Aquaculture.
In its most comprehensive amendment to date, the update addresses new trends and threats in the industry, in particular the issue of microbial risks, and will have a “direct and significant effect on all 150,000 producers around the world certified in accordance with GlobalGAP”, the board said in a press release.
The new version is applicable immediately in parallel to the current Version 4 and will be mandatory for all new and recertification audits by 1 July 2016. It incorporates the latest research as well as government requirements including compliance with proposed rules by the US Food and Drug Administration as well as EU Food Safety Law.
“This once again underlines the fact that although GlobalGAP is a private standard, it strives to incorporate applicable public and/or governmental guidelines and responds to new trends and threats in the fruit and vegetables, feedstock and aquaculture industries,” the board said.
“Food safety has always been a key platform of the GlobalGAP standard and it has undoubtedly made a major contribution toward maintaining consumer safety since its inception in 1996,” said board member Hugh Mowat from WM Morrison Supermarkets.
“In the light of ongoing food safety scares resulting from microbial contamination, GlobalGAP has now been taking a proactive approach to strengthen existing controls. These changes are science-based and will support growers by providing a safe framework within which to grow food, as well as protecting them in the event of an incident.”
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