How the Good Agricultural Practice Certificate Is Obtained

How the GAP Certificate Is Obtained

There is a defined sequence for obtaining the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certificate. Sistem Patent Kalite explains the process below.

Application

A producer that wants to have its products certified under GAP or GLOBALG.A.P. first provides the required information to the certification body. Once the product certification unit receives the information, a quote is prepared and submitted for the producer's approval.

GAP and GLOBALG.A.P. certifications can be run in parallel. Producers can apply for both, or for one of the two.

For GLOBALG.A.P., a sub-licence agreement is signed between the producer and the certification body, as required by GLOBALG.A.P. The producer then receives a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN). The GGN is entered into the GLOBALG.A.P. database together with the producer details, supporting traceability. Once all information and documents are received, the certification body reviews them and prepares an audit plan that reflects the harvest timing of the products.

Audit

Audits review all control points against the GLOBALG.A.P. control points and conformance criteria, so the producer's conformance level is confirmed. Producers that reach the required conformance level and show no residues exceeding the maximum permitted in the target destination markets earn the GAP / GLOBALG.A.P. certificate.

Producers that do not reach the required conformance level are given up to 4 weeks to close the non-conformities. To obtain the certificate, the producer must evidence the closure within that period.

Certificate Issuance

At Sistem Patent Kalite, the certification unit and the certification committee review the audit results separately. Where no obstacle remains, the GAP / GLOBALG.A.P. certificate is issued for the relevant products with a validity of 1 year from the certification date. The producer must be audited again each year to maintain the certificate.