What is GAP standard in food industry?

GAP is the short form of Good Agricultural Practice. GAP is a voluntary and global standard (called Global GAP) concerns about the agricultural activities on farm with the minimum use of chemical, minimum environmental pollution, responsible manners to assure the workers’ health, and humans and animals’ safety. It is the global business-to-business standard. The objective of GAP is to produce safe and sustainable agriculture to benefit farmers, retailers, and consumers all over the world.

GAP standard in food industry

GAP standard is very important in the food industry. This standard assures the customers that the raw materials of the processed foods come from a healthy origin that has less chemical and microbial residues and contamination. Therefore, GAP satisfies the food safety confidence for customers and reduces recall for exporters. Most global standards focus on the end-products while GAP focuses on the on-farm products which can fill this emptiness. In addition, many importer countries require the exporters to implement GAP for the products as a prerequisite to ensure their quality and safety. GAP promotes sustainability in agriculture.

GAP standard certification

There is individual farm certification and group certification. The individual farm certification focuses on four sectors of food safety and traceability, environment management including biodiversity, workers’ health and safety, and produce quality. The group certification is given to two or several producers with legal status and each member of the group should implement the requirements of GAP. Global GAP is highly recommended as a very reliable standard for producing healthy and environment-friendly natural products. Global GAP certificate benefits the farmers a special ticket for the global market.

The processed food products in the industry can utilize the following advantages if get the global GAP standard certificate:

1. Using the added value of the products
2. Accessing to the international markets.
3. Reducing food safety risks
4. Improving the efficiency of agriculture and food processes
5. Getting Global GAP Number (GGN) to have easier identification and traceability in B2B    level

How to get certified?

First, a global GAP certificate body should be selected. They provide a checklist and you should assess your agricultural practices and correct the cases you do not comply with. Then, the global GAP consultant checks the checklist. Then, you should compare your certification body (CB) in your country and your selected CB and get your GGN. Finally, a person from your CB should inspect your site. After complying with all the standards, you will get your global GAP certificate.

Ref: What is GAP standard in food industry?