GLOBALG.A.P. is developing IFA Remote certification for new and existing clients based on remote inspections and audits

GLOBALG.A.P. is considering alternative ways of conducting inspections and audits, including remote inspections and audits to support its producers in the face of outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to safeguard the health and safety of inspectors and auditors, and to ensure a continuous supply of products from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes.

Emergency procedure published by GLOBALG.A.P. on 26 March 2020 is in line with the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Nevertheless, they do not include certification for new and existing clients based solely on remote inspections and audits.

GLOBALG.A.P. is developing IFA Remote special for this need. For the time of the COVID-19 crisis, this solution shall be able to allow re-certification and initial certification based on fully remote inspections and audits. While the solution will apply to all GLOBALG.A.P. standards, it will likely not be GFSI-recognized. IFA Remote will run in parallel with the regular Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard, and IFA Remote certificates will be clearly marked, to inform all market participants that they are based on remote inspections and audits.

Starting the week of April 6^th, GLOBALG.A.P. creates the IFA Remote solution in consultation with various stakeholders, including market participants, certification and accreditation bodies, and other representatives. Accordingly GLOBALG.A.P. has created a dedicated email address to streamline all feedback on IFA remote: remote@globalgap.org Soon it will follow with the initial draft of IFA Remote and the invitation to join the public consultation. However, you can already send your initial thoughts to this email address.

Mission of GLOBALG.A.P. is to support producers and the market in any possible contingency by offering flexibility in certificate extension, transfer, etc.

For more information see GLOBALG.A.P website