Farm assurance and certification, one of the issues to be addressed at Fruit Logistica this year, is gaining in global importance, according to leading food assurance specialist CMi Certification.
The last 12 months has seen the business appoint a number of overseas partners, consolidating its position as a worldwide certifier. It currently has three main offices, in the UK, Spain and South Africa, and 14 partners stretching from Chile to Poland and from Greece to Thailand. This sees CMi carry out over 27,000 audits in over 46 countries.
According to the company, the business of farm assurance and certification is gaining importance globally as more markets emerge.
And EurepGAP’s recent move to extend its remit is helping farm assurance become better recognised throughout the produce sector internationally, which will have an impact on suppliers, importers, industry groups, retailers, producers and farmers alike.
CMi said it is ready to do the necessary assessments when the scheme goes live. “This is a crucial part in the growing produce market because it provides controlled, more efficient production of agricultural raw materials, responding to needs created by globalisation and hence improving confidence in agricultural products,” said commercial manager for Global Produce at CMi, Grace O’ Dwyer.
It also has trained auditors ready for LEAF Marque assessments, which it expects to be another hot topic at the Berlin trade fair. The company participated in the development of the LEAF Marque standard and completed a series of pilots in a number of product sectors including crops and flowers. It also tested different regions to measure how well the LEAF Marque standard can be achieved in a variety of conditions with the environmental impact considered. The LEAF Marque audit can be carried out in combination with other schemes certified by CMi, such as EurepGAP, Nature’s Choice and BRC/IFS Produce.
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