GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Certification

The IFA standard supports safe and sustainable agriculture, and its certification demonstrates the producer's commitment to implementing and maintaining safe agricultural practices, which helps increase access to global manufacturers and retailers who require certification recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and based on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

With this model, producers can be certified for different agricultural purposes in a single audit, covering specific production practices according to the type of product.  The scopes are divided into: Plants, with the product category Fruit and Vegetables, Hops and Flowers and Ornamentals, and the Aquaculture scope with the product category Fish, Crustaceans, Molluscs and Macroalgae.

The organization's benchmarks offer various benefits to producers who, in general, are able to guarantee the principles of environmental responsibility to buyers, as well as increasing the chances of business expansion by adding more value to the brand on the market.

With the new version, officially launched on April 26, 2022 and documented on September 29 of the same year, it is possible to improve, simplify and expand the entire sector, so that there is more discussion about sustainable agricultural approaches. In addition, for the first time, the standard is available in two parallel editions: IFA v6 Smart, suitable for most producers, and IFA V6 GFS, for those who require GFSI recognition.

What has been updated with the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6 certification?

The Certification Body is expected to:

• Simplify the system itself.
• Strengthen the main sustainability topics.
• Expand complementary services.
• Encourage digitalization and the use of data in the sector.
• Measure impact to drive continuous improvement at all levels.

For producers, the launch of the new version of GLOBALG.A.P. aims to meet the following requirements:

• Smarter checklists, personalized and adapted to the reality of each producer.
• An approach geared towards results and the consequences of the actions taken.
• The possibility of comparing results with other producers.
• Audit reports generated automatically by GLOBALG.A.P. tools.
• Greater integrity through certificate templates with online validation.
• Continuous improvement plans for the producer.
• New and updated sustainability criteria on topics such as plastics, waste, carbon neutrality, deforestation and animal welfare (aquaculture).
  

On top of all the positive issues in version 6, the program brings: more improved products (IFA V6 and GRASP V2); has the Audit Online Hub (AOH) and Validation Service linked to improve the integrity of certificates; meets continuous improvement requirements and stronger environmental criteria, with a new biodiversity complement, and the Impact-oriented approach expanded to other sectors; and compliance, transparency and evaluation of the entire guarantee system. It's more efficiency, intelligence, sustainability and integration for agricultural practices.

Why certify GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6?

In general terms, the new version of GLOBALG.A.P. features:

• New and improved IFA v6 standard available in two parallel editions: the flagship IFA V6 Smart, suitable for most producers, and IFA V6 GFS, for those requiring GFSI recognition.
• Smarter checklists, based on risks and personalized for the producer.
• Movement towards a results-oriented approach and impact-oriented standards.
• Simplified benchmarking options.
• Further implementation of AOH, with the aim of collecting 100% of audits in V6.
• Complete audit reports generated by the AOH, in a uniform, paperless design.
• Improved integrity through certificate templates available in real time with the Validation Service.
• Gradual move towards checklists combined with add-nos
• Mandatory continuous improvement plans at producer level.
• New and updated sustainability criteria on topics such as plastics, waste, carbon neutrality and deforestation.
• Impact-Oriented Sustainability approach made available for other scopes and product categories, including aquaculture and fruit and vegetables.
• A new add-on dedicated to biodiversity.
• Investigation into the use of data to further simplify the certification system.
• Gradual accumulation of data to increase transparency and create a picture of the entire production assurance system, demonstrating the positive impact of GLOBALG.AP solutions across the sector.

One notable criterion is the additional certification modules. Producers who have GRASP, Nurture, SPRING, etc., will also have to subscribe to these new versions. As an example: farmers who need GRASP will have to provide version 2 of this add-on when they apply for IFA V6.

What is the validity of the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 certification?

Environmental sustainability is one of the main focuses of IFA V6. Although some principles and criteria have been developed based on the control points and compliance criteria of IFA v5, some topics are new or more stringent.

With audits already available, IFA v6 presents two editions that can be implemented for Plants and Aquaculture.

• IFA v6 Smart becomes mandatory as of January 1, 2024. After this date, no further IFA v5.2 audits can be carried out.

The name resulted from the need to differentiate the last two editions, as this one fully incorporates the GLOBALG.A.P. vision of smart solutions for the coming years, with features that are: widely applicable; stakeholder-oriented; contain six topics for responsible agricultural practices; and with customized 100% results-oriented checklists.

Valid for: all flower and ornamental growers, all hop growers, fruit and vegetable growers who do not require certification with GFSI recognition, and aquaculture growers who do not require certification with GFSI recognition.

• The IFA v6 GFS, relevant to fruit and vegetables as well as aquaculture, becomes mandatory three months after GFSI recognition (estimated to be in the third quarter of 2024). Until then, 5.4-1-GFS is the recommended version for those who need GFSI-recognized certification.

It is applicable to a smaller number of producers; largely driven by US markets; also with six topics for responsible agricultural practices; and adapted for GFSI recognition (not 100% results-oriented).

Valid for: fruit and vegetable producers requiring certification with GFSI recognition (mainly US markets) and aquaculture producers requiring certification with GFSI recognition.

GLOBALG.A.P. has confirmed two more product categories in the plant sector for version 6 of the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard: plant propagation material and combined crops (wheat, corn, oats, beans, peanuts, among others), the first public consultation period for which ran from January 23 to March 17, 2023. The second submission period for these topics ran until September 22, 2023. The GLOBALG.A.P. advisory board has scheduled the final draft documents for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Why choose QIMA/WQS for GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6 certification?

• Our team has over 30 years' experience and delivers quality solutions for your business;
• We specialize in the food and agricultural industries and provide support at every stage of the process;
• We have experienced and approved auditors in all areas of food safety, quality and sustainability;
• QIMA IBD is accredited under various organic standards and sustainability programs;
• It is a leader in quality and socio-environmental management certification for the production of inputs;
• Fast and efficient customer service
• More than 9,000 satisfied customers at all stages of the food chain.