History of GLOBALG.A.P.

History of GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. grew out of the Good Agricultural Practice certification process, developed to meet consumer requirements and now one of the most significant farm assurance and quality systems in the world. EUREP, the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group, was set up by major suppliers and supermarket chains in the late 1990s. After adding GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) to its scope, the scheme became GLOBALG.A.P. in 2007. Its acceptance by the European Union as a condition of produce market entry cemented its role in European trade.

The scheme was developed alongside HACCP, which is the accepted food-safety principle in food production, and within the framework of ISO/IEC 17065 (successor to ISO/IEC Guide 65) for product certification. As a farm management system, GLOBALG.A.P. sets out its own auditor and certification requirements under that ISO framework.

Historical Milestones

• 1999: independent verification system established with 17 retailers
• 2000: EUREPGAP fruit and vegetable production principles standard issued
• 2001: ISO 65 accreditation obtained
• 2003: revision with flowers and ornamentals module added
• 2004: coffee production and Aquaculture Integrated Farm Assurance standards issued
• 2007: EUREPGAP renamed GLOBALG.A.P.
• 2011: GLOBALG.A.P. Version 4 issued
• 2013: GLOBALG.A.P. Version 5 issued

GLOBALG.A.P. continues to revise its standards under a continual improvement principle.