GLOBALG.A.P. Remote Certification Becomes Available

GLOBALG.A.P. Remote is a solution for remote inspections, audits and assessments that avoids disruptions in many decisive supply chains. It enables the continued delivery of safe and responsibly produced food during COVID-19. Certification bases on current standards and add-on rules, providing recommendations for conducting remote, inspections, assessments and audits.

Inspectors and auditors cannot access production sites in many regions due to travel restrictions imposed because of pandemic. Accordingly, annual inspections, audits, and assessments can be postponed by up to 6 months. It is published in the GLOBALG.A.P. emergency procedure on 26 March 2020 and will continue to be the case.

GLOBALG.A.P. Remote presents the following alternative solution:

- Initial certification, re-certification, certificate scope extension, transfer can be granted based on fully remote inspections, audits or assessments.

- Certification is applicable to all GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons, including localg.a.p./Primary Farm Assurance for each scope and sub-scope, but not to the Integrated Farm Assurance standard v5.3-GFS and the Produce Handling Assurance standard.

- The respective rules of the given standard and/or add-on apply unless otherwise specified.

- Initial certifications based entirely on GLOBALG.A.P. Remote cannot considered accredited until the first on-site follow-up inspection/audit has been successfully completed.

- Solution should be implemented for all control points in the same way as an on-site inspection/audit and to valid during the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice.

This is a work in progress. Changes and updates may be made as feedback is received on the results of remote inspections, audits and assessments. If necessary, the document may be supplemented with additional annexes for each individual scope or sub-scope.

The GLOBALG.A.P. Remote interim final version of the procedure that is valid from 15 May 2020 can be downloaded here.