GLOBALG.A.P: the launch of IFA version 6 is postponed until 2022.

The Integrated Farm Assurance Standard (IFA) is the GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate, which covers Good Agricultural Practices for agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and livestock production. It also concerns other aspects of the supply chain and food production such as Compound Feed Manufacturing and Chain of Custody.

GLOBALG.A.P. is currently reviewing its Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Standard ready for the launch of a new version. In light of the ongoing pandemic, and in order to bring a fully tested and functional version 6 to the market, the GLOBALG.A.P. Board has decided to extend the revision phase. As a result, the launch of version 6 will now be postponed until 2022.  

Hundreds of people have taken part in their ongoing World Consultation Tour at their first round of public consultation. Nevertheless, the pandemic has impeded participation from many important parties, such as focus groups and certification bodies. 

Rather than launch a standard which is not totally tested and consulted, the GLOBALG.A.P. Board will extend the timeline of development. The delay will provide more time for stakeholders to give their input and more time for proper testing. Field trials, which are very important for testing the new approach on farm level and evaluating its audibility before the launch, and a third public consultation period is expected in 2021.  

Follow the latest developments of version 6. The World Consultation Tour will kick off another round at the beginning of December, which will offer the opportunity to review the changes made since the first round of public consultation. 

See their website for a visual timeline.