Technical news – Add-ons to core solutions
General add-on technical news
In TN 02/2025 it was communicated that a producer group is a “group of three or more producers (see definition of producer) that apply for GLOBALG.A.P. certification organized under a QMS, according to GLOBALG.A.P. QMS requirements. The legal entity managing the QMS is the only certificate holder in this certification option. The approved producer group members are listed in an annex to the GLOBALG.A.P. certificate.”
Also, we clarified that this definition applies for all GLOBALG.A.P. solutions, meaning the add-ons as well.
However, for add-ons, producer groups are allowed in which the number of registered producer group members with a respective crop registered for the add-on is less than three group members.
Example: A producer group has 10 group members producing a range of different crops that are registered for IFA.
Scenario number 1: Fewer than three producer group members require evaluation for, e.g., COOP Italia, GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS, or the Tesco Nurture Module – because these private add‑on owners only source certain crops from this producer group.
Scenario number 2: Only two producer group members require evaluation for, e.g., the Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use (SPRING) add-on, as only these members produce tomatoes. This is allowed since retailers ask for the SPRING add-on for the production processes of tomatoes only. (For the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) version 2 add-on, however, this scenario is not possible, as all producer group members shall be included in the GRASP scope.)
Scenario number 3: Only two of these 10 producer group members produce tomatoes – and Tesco sources tomatoes from this group.
The above scenarios are allowed.
However, please keep in mind that a scenario where all 10 producer group members produce tomatoes and only two members are registered for the add-on is NOT allowed.
In section 4.1 of the 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter you can find a summary of the available add-on versions, the dates the new versions become mandatory and their combinability with IFA versions.
GRASP: Technical news
New law developments in India have highlighted a critical limitation in age verification practices. Government offices have indicated that Aadhaar cards are not considered reliable evidence for determining workers’ ages. The birth dates listed on Aadhaar documents are frequently inaccurate, which poses a significant risk in child labor assessments and compliance audits.
Producers, internal assessors, and CB GRASP assessors are therefore advised to verify the workers’ ages through one-on-one interviews in combination with further relevant documents such as birth certificates, school leaving certificates, and others.
As already communicated, the new GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform has been in operation since 3 November 2025 and has replaced the GLOBALG.A.P. database.
Due to this transition and the fact that IFA v6 PPM and CC will replace IFA v5.2 PPM and CC from 1 May 2026, Agraya GmbH has decided to start combining IFA v5.2 PPM and CC with GRASP v2 directly and phase out GRASP v1.3-1-i. Similarly, GRASP v2 is being combined with CfP v1.1.
From 3 November 2025, producers registering for IFA v5.2 PPM, CC, or for CfP and looking for a GRASP letter of conformance shall register for GRASP v2 only. GRASP v1.3-1-i is no longer available for audits in the new GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform for any GLOBALG.A.P solution.
We would like to inform all our stakeholders that despite the communication sent out in TN 03/2024, there is currently no GRASP v2 national interpretation guideline (NIG) for Tanzania.
GRASP v2 assessments are still possible in Tanzania, and the CB assessors shall proceed using the process described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 5.3, “Special registration of assessors in countries without an NIG.”
We would like to remind you that the exception for not using the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) add-on version 2 national interpretation guidelines (NIGs) has expired. The NIGs correctly submitted to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat are already available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
CBs can conduct assessments against GRASP v2 using the country-specific GRASP v2 NIGs that are already available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
Assessors conducting GRASP v2 assessments in countries without a GRASP v2 NIG in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center shall use the process described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 5.3, “Special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG.”
If a CB conducts a GRASP assessment in a country without an NIG and does not implement section 5.3, the CB will be sanctioned as described in “GLOBALG.A.P. certification body sanction catalog”: “The conducted GRASP CB audit is invalid. The CB without official approval for the add-on is fined €500; only a CB auditor who is approved to conduct CB audits in the country without an NIG for the CB is allowed to repeat the GRASP CB audit.”
After a year of implementation of GRASP v2 we noticed that quite often CB auditors do not add comments in all P&Cs they assess during the GRASP assessment. Furthermore, sometimes comments are not site-specific, but are very general, or even copied among all the assessed producers.
We would like to remind all CBs of the requirement to include comments for every P&C they assess during the GRASP v2 assessment. These comments must be site-specific, as described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 6.2 g): “Due to the social nature of GRASP, remarks and comments shall be given in all cases (Yes/No) for every P&C assessed in all external assessments. Remarks and comments (e.g., which document was/which documents were sampled) shall be site-specific and included in the checklist, showing that all the P&Cs have been properly assessed. Responsibility for a lack of included remarks rests with the CB.”
Previously communicated on 21 August 2024
We would like to inform you that the GRASP verification methods for subcontractors document is now available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center (currently in English only).
This guideline is intended for producers implementing the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) add-on version 2 and auditors conducting GRASP v2 assessments. It serves as a reference to ensure compliance with the P&Cs, as well as to help determine which subcontractors are covered under GRASP and to what extent. Please note that this guideline is valid from 1 August 2024. We hope you will find it useful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact standard_support@agraya.com.
We would like to inform you that the exception for not using the GRASP v2 NIGs has expired. The NIGs correctly submitted to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat are already available in the document center or will soon be uploaded to the document center. CBs are advised of the following instructions for conducting GRASP assessments:
In the following countries, CBs shall use the NIGs for GRASP v2 available in the document center:
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Hungary, India, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye/Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In countries listed below, CBs can conduct assessments against GRASP v2 without further requirements until the NIGs are uploaded in the document center, as these GRASP v2 NIGs are still in public consultation. CBs shall use the new NIGs for the following countries as soon as they are published in the document center:
Argentina, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Georgia, Kenya, Moldova, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Assessors conducting GRASP v2 assessments in countries not listed above shall proceed using the process described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 5.3, “Special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG.”
As previously communicated in TN 02/2024, CBs shall continue uploading CB audit report files for the GRASP add-on v2 to the GLOBALG.A.P. database and/or to Audit Online Hub (AOH). We would like to remind you that according to the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, which also apply for the GRASP add-on v2, CBs shall upload after the GRASP assessment:
GRASP QMS audit reports for Option 2 producer groups or for Option 1 multisite producers with QMS and the GRASP audit reports for every sampled producer group member/production site/product handling unit (PHU)
GRASP CB audit reports for Option 1 single site producers or Option 1 multisite producers without QMS (including PHU, if applicable).
This includes all types of CB audits conducted against the GRASP add-on v2 (e.g., initial, surveillance, unannounced, and recertification audits).
As communicated in TN 02/2024, please consider that apart from the GRASP add-on v2, uploading audit reports is still mandatory for the RMS checklist for IFA v6, full remote audits for IFA, Tesco Nurture Module, Coop Italia Pesticide Transparency add-on, and GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS add-on.
Previously communicated on 4 June 2024
As communicated in TN 01/2024, in countries where national interpretation guidelines (NIGs) for the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) version 1.3-1-i existed and a GRASP v2 NIG was presented to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat before the end of 2023, we allow CBs to conduct assessments against GRASP v2 even without a published NIG for GRASP v2 to give the local stakeholders a longer period to finalize the NIG for GRASP v2. The exception period is now extended from 1 July to 31 October 2024 for specific countries.
In the countries listed below, CBs can conduct assessments against GRASP v2 without further requirements until the end of October 2024:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, São Tomé and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ukraine, United States, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
This list is also available on the GLOBALG.A.P. website.
After 1 July 2024, in the countries listed below, CBs shall use the new NIGs for GRASP v2. These will be available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center. The relevant countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Lebanon, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Philippines, Romania, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, and Türkiye/Turkey.
Auditors conducting GRASP v2 assessments in countries not listed above shall proceed using the process described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 5.3, “Special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG.”
We would like to clarify here that for all GRASP v2 assessments conducted for the first time, the Minor Must compliance level for the first year is:
Minor Musts: 70% compliance with all Minor Must criteria is compulsory in the initial assessment of GRASP v2.
For family farms without workers:
Minor Musts: Any non-compliance with Minor Must criteria is accepted in the initial assessment of GRASP v2.
The points above refer to the initial or to the first-year recertification assessment against GRASP v2 and the surveillance assessments taking place during the first year of validity of the GRASP v2 letter of conformance (LoC).
In the following years, the Minor Must compliance levels change to:
Minor Musts: 75% compliance with all Minor Must criteria is compulsory in all the surveillance and/or subsequent assessments of GRASP v2.
For family farms without workers:
Minor Musts: 100% compliance with all Minor Must criteria is compulsory in all following subsequent and/or surveillance assessments of GRASP v2.
For low-risk countries without interviews, the sample for document review is at least 50% of the square root of the total number of workers.
We want to clarify that this sample shallinclude all the categories and types of employment, migratory status, and gender of workers working on the farm during the year before the day of the assessment (in the GRASP v2 audit report field “Workers during the year before today’s assessment”). If the producer has subcontracted workers during the year before the day of the assessment, they shall be included in the sample for document review, as described in section 5.4.1 c).
The GRASP v2 general rules, section 7.2 g) reads that “all assessors shall have previous experience in assessments/audits in the country of application of GRASP,” and that “this shall include at least: A minimum of two audits conducted, as auditor, in the country of application of GRASP (scheme or norm audited shall include similar criteria to the scope of GRASP and similar P&Cs on workers’ well-being as in IFA).”
After the implementation of this rule and the difficulties CBs faced complying with it when trying to expand their business into other countries, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat has decided to allow that the requirement of a minimum of two audits could be met even when the GRASP assessor participates as an observer in these audits (audits against schemes with criteria similar to the scope of GRASP and similar P&Cs on workers’ well-being as those in IFA).
Another alternative for CBs is to use auditors who are not qualified for GLOBALG.A.P. primary production audits, but are certified social auditors, to accompany GLOBALG.A.P. auditors during GRASP assessments. These social auditors shall comply with the formal skills indicated in the GRASP add-on.
If CBs still have problems signing off auditors in new countries where no previous GRASP assessments were conducted, we kindly ask you to communicate these cases to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat at: standard_support@agraya.com.
As you are all already aware, GRASP v2 has already been implemented, and interviews are an important tool used during GRASP assessments.
Based on the CBs’ and our stakeholders’ feedback, and after analyzing the data collected through the common questions submitted via email to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat, we introduced self-paced training for already approved GRASP v2 in-house trainers (IHTs). The main objective of this training is to align interview methodology during GRASP v2 assessments.
This training is mandatory for all approved GRASP v2 IHTs, who shall attend it at thelatest by the end of November 2024. CBs shall retain records of this training.
The training is available in the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy platform in English and Spanish.
After this period, the training will become available to GRASP assessors as well, for all those who would like to attend it (optional training for GRASP assessors).
If you have problems while logging in, please contact the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy at academy@globalgap.org. If you have any technical questions, kindly send an email to standard_support@agraya.com.
During routine checks, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat identified many CB audit reports that were missing from the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
For clarification in GRASP v2: Where/If CBs choose the GLOBALG.A.P. database as the preferred platform/IT system, they are required to upload* the following to the database:
100% of farm checklists in the case of Option 1
100% of QMS checklists and sampled site member checklists in the case of Option 1 QMS or Option 2
100% of LoCs in all cases
*Please note: uploads to be done under the GGN of the producer group (certificate holder) rather than under the GGNs of the producer group members; uploads in the form of an AOH audit report (PDF format) to be the full/final CB audit report; and, uploads to be done under the correct/appropriate file type in the dropdown menu in the database
Previously communicated on 31 January 2024
We would like to inform you that the new country risk classification to be applied in 2024 was released on the GLOBALG.A.P. website on 1 January 2024.
According to the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) version 2 general rules, section 6.2 f), it is the responsibility of the GRASP auditor to check the correct country level before conducting a GRASP assessment and determine the required methods of evidence (e.g., interviews with the workers). This may result in the introduction of interviews in countries where it was not mandatory in previous years.
Please consider the change in the new classification for Portugal, where GRASP assessments for 2024 shall follow the rules for medium-risk countries.
As communicated in TN 03/2023, in countries where NIGs for GRASP v1.3-1-i existed and a GRASP v2 NIG was presented to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat before the end of 2023, we allow CBs to conduct assessments against GRASP v2 even without a published NIG for GRASP v2 until the end of June 2024 to give the local stakeholders a longer period to finalize the NIG for GRASP v2.
In the countries listed below, CBs can conduct assessments against GRASP v2 without further requirements until the end of June 2024:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, São Tomé and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Türkiye/Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
This list is also available on the GLOBALG.A.P. website.
Auditors conducting GRASP v2 assessments in countries not listed above shall proceed using the process described in the GRASP v2 general rules, section 5.3, “Special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG.”
As already communicated, CBs may use the GLOBALG.A.P. database to upload GRASP v2 audit reports and issue letters of conformance (LoCs). Here, we ask CBs to use the GRASP v2 LoC template available in CB Extranet to create a PDF version of any GRASP v2 LoCs they issue, and upload these PDFs to the GLOBALG.A.P. database. This is because, unlike GRASP v1.3‑1‑i LoCs, the GLOBALG.A.P. database does not produce a PDF version of GRASP v2 LoCs.
In GRASP v2 it is allowed for a legal entity to register with product 1 for IFA and GRASP with CB X and with product 2 for IFA and GRASP with CB Z.
GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems will have a function (in AOH) to notify the CBs that this legal entity has registered with another CB for GRASP (different products).
It won't be possible to have a GRASP Letter of Conformance if the legal entity has been sanctioned (e.g., suspension) or not compliant to GRASP with another CB.
As described in GRASP v2 general rules point 3, for any GRASP application, evidence shall be submitted of the verification of criteria on workers’ health, safety, and welfare. A full compliance result in this category is required to obtain the GRASP letter of conformance.
CBs choosing to upload the GRASP checklists in database and issue GRASP v2 letter of conformance in the current GLOBALG.A.P. database, shall verify before making the certification decision that the minor P&Cs/CPCCs on workers’ health, safety, and welfare are fully compliant.
These P&Cs/CPCCs are listed in GRASP v2 checklists (as annex) available for CBs in CB extranet.
As it reads in GRASP rules, GRASP add-on is already applicable in countries without NIGs, and this is so in GRASP v2. However, as previously communicated in TN 02/2022, existing GRASP v1.3-1-i NIGs shall be updated for GRASP v2. NIGs for GRASP v2 shall be developed until the end of 2023 and sent to the Secretariat for approval.
In countries where NIGs for GRASP v1.3-1-i exist and a GRASP v2 NIG has been presented to the Secretariat, we will allow CBs to conduct assessments against GRASP v2, without further requirements, until end of June 2024, to give the local stakeholders a longer period to finalize the NIG for GRASP v2.
After 1 January 2024 drafts for GRASP v2 NIGs (updates or new NIGs) will be received anytime and will be subject to revision by the Secretariat and public consultations, outside of the periods indicated above. NIGs submitted to the Secretariat cannot be guaranteed to become approved and available for the date of a specific assessment.
After this period (1 January 2024), in countries where NIGs for GRASP v1.3.-1-i exist but draft NIGs for GRASP v2 have not been presented or approved by the Secretariat, the CBs shall follow the special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG, as described in GRASP v2 general rules, when assessing GRASP v2 in countries without NIG.
In countries where no NIG for GRASP v1.3-1-i exists, the special registration of assessors in countries without a NIG shall apply for every GRASP v2 assessment.
As of 22 November 2023, in these countries CBs can conduct assessments against GRASP v2, without further requirements, until end of June 2024:
New Zealand
Thailand
China
Austria
Denmark
Belgium
Romania
South Africa
Japan
Serbia
Netherlands
Chile
Czech Republic
Ireland
Please consider that this list is constantly updated, as more NIGs are sent to the Secretariat.
For more information about the countries and the development stage of NIGs for GRASP v2 in the countries you are interested in, please contact: graspnig@globalgap.org.
SPRING: Technical news
We would like to inform you that after a long consultation period with stakeholders, it was decided to allow parallel ownership (PO) for Option 1 individual producers in SPRING v2 and revoke any relevant communication sent out in previous technical news issues about this topic.
After the release of the last technical news issue (TN 3/2025), we allow PO as described below, including for Option 1 individual producers.
The SPRING add-on v2.0 general regulations specifications, section 5.2.1, is amended for PO in the case of Option 1 individual producers (single site and multisite, with and without QMS) as follows:
Accordingly, SPRING v2 P&C 5.1.1 is amended to:
The SPRING normative documents are currently under review and will soon be updated to include this change.
We would like to inform you that the Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use add-on (SPRING) version 2 NIG template is now available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center for those stakeholders who are interested in developing a NIG. Developing a NIG for SPRING v2 is not mandatory for local stakeholders, but after January 2025, once a NIG is developed and published, CBs shall follow it during SPRING v2 CB audits.
Previously communicated on 15 October 2024
We would like to inform you that section 4.2.1 in TN 02/2024 (“Parallel ownership in the SPRING add-on to be phased out after 1 January 2025”) has since been changed.
After 1 January 2025, parallel ownership (PO) for individual products will no longer be allowed in the SPRING add-on v2 for Option 1 individual producers, but it will be allowed for Option 2 producer groups.
The following information remains the same: From 1 January 2025, Option 1 individual producers are not allowed to apply PO for SPRING, whether this is for their own production processes for the same single product or they buy the same product from a supplier that does not hold a SPRING LoC for that product.
The following information marks a change from the information published in previous Technical News issues: As of 1 January 2025 it will be possible for an Option 2 producer group to register for the SPRING add-on (e.g., for apples) and to apply PO to apples in this group. This means that not all producer group members producing apples under the IFA v6 (Smart/GFS) certificate need to be included in the SPRING add-on LoC. This producer group would also be allowed to buy apples from other suppliers that have IFA-certified production processes but not a SPRING LoC for apples. In the case of PO in the SPRING add-on, the traceability and segregation requirements shall apply, as described in the SPRING v2 P&Cs.
Previously in TN 03/2023, it was communicated that for the phasing out of parallel ownership (PO), we allow a transition period until 1 January 2025 for producers with a validity of one year in their cycle. During this period, PO is also allowed for Option 1 producers when they buy the same products originating from IFA-certified production processes from suppliers that do not hold a Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use (SPRING) add-on LoC for those products. At the same time, PO at the Option 2 producer group level is allowed.
Here we want to notify you that after 1 January 2025, PO (for single products) will no longer be allowed in the SPRING add-on for Option 1 or for Option 2. Please be aware that the prohibition of PO will apply for the producers’/producer group members’ production processes for the same single product and when producers/producer groups buy this same product from a supplier that does not hold a SPRING LoC for this product.
So, after 1 January 2025, an Option 2 producer group might hold an IFA v6 Smart certificate for apples that includes the PO attribute. This may be because not all members of the group have IFA-certified production processes for apples, or because the group buys apples originating from production processes not certified to IFA. If this producer group is also registered for SPRING for apples, PO will not apply for apples. Furthermore, all producer group members producing apples that are included in the IFA v6 Smart certificate shall also be included in the SPRING add-on LoC. This producer group would also not be allowed to buy apples from suppliers that do not hold a SPRING LoC for apples.
Previously communicated on 5 September 2023
SPRING add-on v2 (Scheme ID 191) is valid from 5 September 2023 and will become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as it is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
SPRING add-on v2.0 is combinable with IFA v6 for all product categories under Plants Scope and with CfP Standard as the base standard and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. Document Center.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.3.1 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
Herewith we would like to share with you clarification for SPRING add-on v2 general rules specifications point 5.2.1, about parallel ownership (PO) in Option1. We will allow a transition period until 1 January 2025, with a validity of one year in their cycle, where we will allow PO as described below, also for option 1 producers.
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.3.2 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
BioDiversity: Technical news
BioDiversity add-on v1.1 is published on 1 December 2023 and will become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart combined audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as IFA v6 GFS is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
BioDiversity add-on v1.1 is combinable with IFA v6 for Fruits and Vegetables under Plants scope as the base standard and may be combined with IFA v5.4-1-GFS and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.7 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
FSMA PSR add-on: Technical news
Previously communicated on 7 February 2025
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) add-on version 2.1 was published on 7 January 2025 and will replace the FSMA PSR add-on v2.0 as of 7 April 2025.
The FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 can be combined with IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS for fruit and vegetables as the base standard. The FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center in English and Spanish.
What actions must be taken?
1. Notify your clients
Please inform your clients that upcoming FSMA PSR add-on audits that are conducted together with IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS for fruit and vegetables audits shall be conducted using the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 and that the new checklist and forms for self-assessments shall be used.
2. About FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 CB auditor and IHT training
In addition to the IFA for plants CB auditor qualifications, CB auditors require training in order to be able to conduct audits against the FSMA PSR add-on.
CBs and CB IHTs previously approved for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.0
All CBs currently approved for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.0 will be automatically approved for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1. CBs shall send their FSMA PSR add-on IHTs to the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 IHT update training offered by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat, and the IHTs shall successfully complete and pass the online test for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1. This online test shall be conducted within one month of it becoming available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the IHT. IHTs can search for all available CB trainings in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy by registering with their credentials. Failure to attend the IHT update training for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 will result in the CB being blocked in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform and they will not be able to conduct audits against the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1.
CB auditors previously approved for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.0
All CB auditors currently approved for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.0 shall be trained by the IHT and successfully pass the online test for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1. This online test shall be conducted within one month of it becoming available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the CB auditor.
New CBs: IHT and CB auditor training requirements
The CB’s IHTs shall attend the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 IHT training offered by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and successfully pass the online test for the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1. This online test shall be conducted within three months of it becoming available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the CB auditor. The IHT shall train the relevant CB auditors on this add-on. These CB auditors shall then complete and pass the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 online test as offered by the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy. This online test shall be conducted within three months of it becoming available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the CB auditor.
If a CB auditor fails the test twice, they shall retake the test in a proctored setting. If they fail the test a third time, the CB auditor shall attend a FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 IHT training and pass the respective test.
For new CBs:
CBs not yet approved for the FSMA PSR add-on may apply by uploading a signed letter of intent to CB-AT. A precondition for approval is that the CB shall have final approval for IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables and submit evidence of Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) training for at least one person who has completed the 16-hour PSA training for trainers (IHT for the FSMA PSR add-on) or two persons who have completed the 8-hour PSA grower training (at least one shall be the IHT for the FSMA PSR add-on). These persons shall also have the farm auditor qualifications for IFA v6 GFS for fruit and vegetables and at least one of these persons (or at least one person on the decision-making committee) shall have the CB QMS auditor qualifications required to make certification decisions. The annual CB scope extension fee applies.
3. What is new in the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1?
Version 2.1 of the FSMA PSR add-on includes updates to the preharvest agricultural water section to align with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publication “FSMA final rule on preharvest agricultural water.” Additional updates include correction of the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations specifications for the FSMA PSR add-on, updated terminology in the P&Cs, and alignment of the guidelines with the new agricultural water rule.
Changes to the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations specifications for the FSMA PSR add-on:
Inclusion of the FSMA PSR add-on v2.1 IHT PSA training requirements, as required and reinforced in previous issues of technical news
Changes to the P&Cs and checklist:
Section 5 – includes updated records requirements
Section 6 – removed preharvest water testing
Section 6 – added preharvest agricultural water risk assessment and corrective action requirements
All P&Cs were updated to Major Musts.
Changes to the guideline:
New definitions for agricultural water, agricultural water risk assessment, and agricultural water system
Added FDA’s agricultural water risk assessment table
Added FDA’s outcomes and mitigation procedures table
Please note that the FDA published revised agricultural water requirements on 5 May 2024. The new requirements are effective as of 5 July 2024 and have been enforced as early as 7 April 2025 for the majority of producers. We are already taking action to update the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) add-on accordingly.
The CB QMS and farm auditor requirements to attend Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) training were unintentionally omitted in the FSMA PSR add-on version 2. CB auditor training for all FSMA PSR add-on QMS and farm auditors and decision-making committee shall remain the same as in v1.3:
CB auditors shall demonstrate sufficient competence with the FDA’s FSMA PSR through evidence of attendance at a Produce Safety Alliance training with an approved instructor. The minimum expectation for CB auditors is the “Grower Training course” – minimum of eight-hour duration, as offered by any approved trainer.
This can be a private training by an approved trainer. The list of “Grower Training courses” that are registered with PSA can be found here.
A list of approved trainers who can conduct a private class is here. Any one of these trainers can offer the course to CBs and CB affiliates.
GGFSA: Technical news
As already communicated in TN 02/2023, GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) reviewed the GLOBALG.A.P. Farm Sustainability Assessment (GGFSA) and launched GGFSA v3.0 which is obligatory for all GGFSA audits conducted after 1 May 2023. GGFSA v3.0 normative documents meant no change in the fee calculation in comparison to the earlier GGFSA v2.1.
While the section on the fee in the General regulations specifications of GGFSA v3.0 reads differently from that of GGFSA V2.1., it means no change in the fee calculation. This fee-related section of the GGFSA v3.0 General regulations specifications will be amended as to read more similar to the earlier version GGFSA V2.1, eliminating from the text the mention to “distributed in three years.”
NON-GM/Ohne Gentechnik: Technical news
News items from technical news editions published in Q4 2023 and beyond are published here. Please check the document center for technical news editions published prior to this.
TR4 Biosecurity Add-on: Technical news
The TR4 Biosecurity add-on version 2 (scheme ID: 354) was published on 27 August 2024 and will replace the previous version on 27 February 2025. The TR4 add-on v2 is combinable with IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS for fruits and vegetables under the plants scope as the base standard, and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
Please inform your clients that upcoming TR4 add-on audits in combination with IFA v6 Smart/GFS will be done using the TR4 add-on v2 and that they shall use the new checklists for self-assessments.
1. What is new in the TR4 add-on v2?
General regulations specifications:
Compliance is now rated as a percentage (%) based on the achievement level demonstrated by the producer.
All P&Cs have been changed to Major Must.
A new overall 4-level rating has been developed for compliance with the TR4 Biosecurity add-on audit:
Fully compliant
Some improvements required
Not compliant, but some steps taken
Not compliant
Auditor training contents have been changed accordingly.
Principles and criteria:
The number of criteria was increased from 27 in v1 to 37 P&Cs in v2.
The numbering format of P&Cs was changed from, e.g., TR4 - 1 to TR4 01.
The wording was aligned with IFA v6 (CPCC to P&C).
The wording in several criteria was clarified.
2. TR4 add-on v2 auditor training
In addition to the CB auditor qualifications for the IFA v6 for plants scope, CB auditors need training in order to be able to conduct audits against the TR4 add-on.
CBs already approved for the TR4 add-on
All CBs currently approved for the TR4 add-on v1 will be automatically approved for the TR4 add-on v2.
All CB auditors already approved for the TR4 add-on v1 shall successfully pass the TR4 add-on v2 auditor online test within one month of when it becomes available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in their working language.
New CBs: CB auditor training requirements
CBs not yet approved for the TR4 add-on may apply by uploading a signed letter of intent in CB-AT. In order to be approved for the TR4 add-on, the CB shall have final approval for IFA v6. The annual CB scope extension fee applies.
The TR4 add-on CB auditors shall complete and pass the TR4 add-on v2 online test as offered by the applicable GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. This online test shall be taken within three months of when it becomes available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the CB auditor.
If the CB auditor fails the test twice, they are required to retake the test proctored.
Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability add-on (IDA): Technical news
Previously communicated on 14 November 2023
IDA add-on v1.1 (Scheme ID 288) is valid from 13 November 2023 and will become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as it is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
IDA add-on v1.1 is combinable with IFA v6 for all product categories under Plants scope and under Aquaculture scope as the base standard and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center. IDA add-on v1.1 will be combinable as an addition to valid IFA v5 certificates during an active certification cycle until December 2024.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.8 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
Other party private solutions
Nurture Module: Technical news
Previously communicated on 4 March 2025
Nurture Module v13 was published on 28 February 2025 and will replace v12 as of 1 June 2025 for IFA v6 Smart and for IFA v6 GFS combined audits.
Nurture Module v13 is combinable with IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables under the plants scope as the base standard, and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
What action must be taken?
1. Notify your clients
Please inform your clients that upcoming Nurture Module audits in combination with IFA v6 Smart or IFA v6 GFS will be done using Nurture Module v13 and that they shall use the new checklists for self-assessments.
2. What is new in Nurture Module v13?
The goal and main focus of this update is to improve the approval and maintenance requirements of the Nurture Module.
The P&Cs for Option 1 and Option 2 remain the same as in Nurture Module v12.
3. About Nurture Module v13 CB auditor and IHT training
In addition to the IFA for plants CB auditor qualifications, CB auditors need training in order to be able to conduct audits against the Nurture Module.
CBs and CB IHTs previously approved for Nurture Module v12
All CBs currently approved for Nurture Module v12 will be automatically approved for Nurture Module v13. All already approved Nurture Module v12 IHTs shall register and complete the Nurture Module v13 IHT update training (live online session).
CB auditors previously approved for Nurture Module v12
All CB auditors currently approved for Nurture Module v12 shall be trained by the IHT on Nurture Module v13.
New CBs: IHT and CB auditor training requirements
CBs not yet approved for the Nurture Module can send their request to stakeholder_helpdesk@agraya.com. The conditions for being approved by Tesco are available on the Nurture Module webpage on the GLOBALG.A.P. website. The annual CB scope extension fee applies.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat will evaluate your application, but the final decision on approval is made by Tesco.
The CB IHT shall attend the Nurture Module v13 IHT training (full training) offered by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and successfully pass the IHT test for Nurture Module v13. The IHT shall train the relevant CB auditors on this add-on. These CB auditors then have to complete and pass the Nurture Module v13 online test as offered by the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy. This online test shall be conducted within three months of when it becomes available in the GLOBALG.A.P. CB Academy in the working language of the CB auditor.
If a CB auditor fails the test twice, they shall retake the test in a proctored setting. If they fail the test a third time, the CB auditor shall attend a Nurture Module v13 IHT training and pass the respective test.
We would like to inform you that after further consideration by the Nurture Governance Committee (NGC), it was decided to revert the yearly minimum benchmark KPI score that has to be achieved by all approved Nurture Module CBs back to the previous score of 3.90.
As communicated in TN 03/2023, CBs that use the GLOBALG.A.P. database to issue Nurture Module v12 certificates shall send part of the uploaded audit report (in PDF form) by email to the respective primary supplier of each Nurture Module producer. This audit report shall consist of the following Excel sheets: “Cover,” “Audit Notes,” and “Summary” (P&Cs are not required).
Previously communicated on 1 November 2023
Nurture Module v12 (Scheme ID 603) is published since 2 November 2023 and will become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart combined audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as IFA v6 GFS is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
Nurture Module v12 is combinable with IFA v6 for Fruits and Vegetables under Plants scope as the base standard and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
IFA v5.4-1-GFS will continue to be combined with Nurture Module v11.4 even after 1 January 2024, until IFA v6 GFS becomes mandatory.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.6 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
Coop Italia Pesticide Transparency: Technical news
Previously communicated on 8 November 2023
COOP Italia Pesticide Transparency add-on v2 (Scheme ID 606) is valid from 8 November 2023 and will become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as it is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
COOP Italia Pesticide Transparency add-on v2.0 is combinable with IFA v6 for all product categories under Plants scope as the base standard and the normative documents are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.5 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
AH-DLL GROW: Technical news
The following updates have been made to the AH-DLL GROW v3.1 annex:
Two new products have been added: parsley root and witloof.
The risk classification for both of these products is as follows:
Modules 1, 3, 4, and 5: Not applicable; there is no need to complete these modules.
Module 2: Applicable; module 2 shall be completed.
The following updates have been made to the AH-DLL GROW v3.1 annex:
A new product was added: Romanesco broccoli.
The following updates have been made to the AH-DLL GROW v3.1 annex:
Included new product: baby beet greens
Changed “common bean” to “green bean” to align with the GLOBALG.A.P. product list
Changed “brussel sprouts” to “brussels sprouts” to align with the GLOBALG.A.P. product list
We would like to clarify here the requirements for AH-DLL GROW v3.1 auditors. The auditors shall comply with requirements as described in the AH-DLL GROW v3.1 general regulations specifications and be approved IFA farm auditors, not auditors approved for benchmarked schemes.
AH Beter voor Natuur & Boer: Technical news
News items from technical news editions published in Q4 2023 and beyond are published here. Please check the document center for technical news editions published prior to this.
GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS: Technical news
We would like to clarify the description of the audit duration that appears in section 6.2 of the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations specifications for the GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS (PLUS) add-on version 2.1.
It currently reads: “The duration of the CB audit against the add-on depends on the size of the farm and the complexity of the production activities and will be in the range of approximately three to eight hours.”
This means that the above-mentioned audit duration (three to eight hours) refers to the total duration of the combined IFA audit with the PLUS add-on audit.
We would like to inform you of changes in the GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS (PLUS) add-on general regulations specifications, in regard to PO as described in section 5.2.1.
After the publication of this Technical News issue, PO is allowed for Option 1 individual producers, meaning that they may produce the same product they register for the PLUS add-on partly as certified and partly as non-certified, as long as this is not at one production site and they ensure traceability and segregation. Production of certified and non-certified PLUS add-on products at the same production site is not allowed unless the two products have distinctive visible differences detectable by the average consumer (e.g., cherry tomatoes vs. Roma tomatoes).
Also, Option 1 individual producers may buy the same products they register for the PLUS add-on from non-certified sources. In this case, producers shall register for PO in the PLUS add-on scope, and traceability and segregations rules shall apply.
Option 2 producer groups or Option 1 multisite producers with QMS can also register for PO as long as they ensure traceability and segregation. The producer group or the multisite producer with QMS may buy the same products they register for the PLUS add-on from non-certified sources. Furthermore, they may register only some of their producer group members or production sites for the PLUS add-on. However, the producer group members or production sites that are included in the PLUS add-on scope shall register for the PLUS add-on all their production sites where the registered product is produced. Single sites or sub-producers shall not produce products using certified and non-certified processes.
We are working on updating the PLUS add-on general regulations specifications, and the new normative document will soon be available in the CB extranet.
GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS v2 (Scheme ID 604) is published on 1 December 2023 and become obligatory from 1 January 2024 for IFA v6 Smart combined audits and for IFA v6 GFS as soon as IFA v6 GFS is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS v2 is combinable with IFA v6 for Fruits and Vegetables under Plants scope as the base standard.
GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS v2 is combinable with IFA v5.4-1 GFS, until IFA v6 GFS is GFSI recognized and becomes mandatory.
What action must be taken?
[….] To continue reading, please see section 4.10 of 2023: Issue 03 Technical Newsletter
