SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 1

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 2

We’ll Get You Through It: What to Expect when Upgrading from GAP to GlobalG.A.P. All major retailers now require suppliers to have GFSI level food safety certification. Some

also require a CoA [certificate of analysis] showing product has tested pathogen free. Having

a GlobalG.A.P. certification can open up new sales channels for you.

Start the Process NOW: When planning to upgrade your GAP food safety to GFSI certification

level, remember that records must be available for no less than 90 days and the overall

certification process can take 90 days or more. If non-conformities requiring correction are

found in your final audit, expect an additional 30-45 days for the certificate to be issued.

Prepare for Changes in Reporting

Many elements of Global G.A.P. are not required by your current GAP level audits:

Worker health and safety, including worker welfare and sub contractors

The impact of farming on the environment and biodiversity (an environmental

conservation plan is needed)

Energy use records

Soil management procedures

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Plant Protection Product Storage

Remember: A self assessment using the GlobalGAP checklist must be completed

and corrective actions must be taken prior to your first inspection.

Differences to Anticipate when Upgrading from GAP level

The major differences between a traditional GAP audit and a GlobalG.A.P. audit are,

1. Risk assessments need to be documented and assessment results must instruct your

policies and standard operating procedures going forward.

2. Additional elements of your farm/field management are assessed.

3. An internal pre-assessment step is required prior to the Inspection.

NOTE: Global GAP registration is required prior to the Global GAP inspection and

records are reviewed for the 3 months prior to the inspection or from the date of

registration, whichever is longer.

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 3

GlobalG.A.P. Required Documentation

Risk assessments including the following are needed for operations considering a GlobalGAP audit:

Whole Farm:

Data for all sites registered for certification, including information related to all risks

(such as pollution or water table contamination).

Details on any hazards to worker health and safety, with detail on health and safety

procedures that address any issues identified in the risk assessment.

Details on food defense mitigation and proof that there are procedures in place to

address identified food defense risks.

Details on the handling of any genetically modified material (crops and trials) setting

out strategies to minimize contamination risks, such as accidental mixing of adjacent

non-GM crops and maintaining product integrity (IF APPLICABLE).

Details on procedures related to employee hygiene.

Crops Base:

Details on organic fertilizer use, which considers its source and characteristics before

application (IF APPLICABLE).

Data showing annual impacts of irrigation/fertigation water pollution.

Details of inorganic fertilizer use, and whether a covered area is provided for storage

(Including details such as: fertilizer type, weather conditions, temporary storage).

Fruits and Vegetables:

Details on employee hygiene (including during harvest) which includes the temperature

range and humidity controls in the packing area.

Note: HACCP style hazard analysis is accepted.

Lists including the following are needed for operations considering a GlobalGAP audit:

Details on any plant protection products that are used and/or approved for use on

crops being grown.

Details on post-harvest plant protection products that are used and/or approved for

use on crops being grown (IF APPLICABLE).

Details on all possible waste products and/or sources of pollution found in every area

of the business.

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 4

Begin the GlobalG.A.P. Certification Process

The first step in starting the process is to complete an application form that can be found on

the SCS web site. Upon receipt of your application, SCS will scope and source the services

requested by your company and shortly thereafter provide you with our proposal.

We recommend that you review the following documents that contain requirements for

GlobalGAP certification. The following documents can be found at the GLOBALG.A.P. web page

and are listed individually below:

GLOBALG.A.P. Control Points and Compliance Criteria Integrated Farm Assurance Introduction

Version 4.0-2_Feb12

GLOBALG.A.P. Control Points and Compliance Criteria Integrated Farm Assurance All Farms

Version 4.0-1_Feb12

GLOBALG.A.P. Control Points and Compliance Criteria Integrated Farm Assurance Fruit and

Vegetables Crops Base Version 4.0-1_Feb12

GLOBALG.A.P. Control Points and Compliance Criteria Integrated Farm Assurance Fruits &

Vegetables Version 4.0-1_Feb12

As you pursue certification, remember that the two keys to an expedited timeline are your

efforts to develop a strong working knowledge of the GlobalG.A.P. standard and close

coordination with SCS on setting an on-site audit date.

SCS fees for GlobalG.A.P. certification are built from a commitment to making certification

services cost-effective for all prospective clients, both large and small. Our charges are

reflective of the actual work performed, within a limited sliding scale fee structure.

Specific Services

GlobalG.A.P. Option 1 - For individual producers and multi-site operations.

EXAMPLE 1: Individual producer applies for GLOBALG.A.P. certification. The individual

producer will be the certificate holder, once certified.

EXAMPLE 2: Multi-site operation where an individual or one organization owns several

production locations, which are not separate legal entities, such as an individual producer or

large company has several farms that all belong to the producer or company and are centrally

managed by the producer or company or several farm managers. In this scenario all

production areas of the certified product(s) need to be inspected and comply with the standard

before a certificate can be issued.

GlobalG.A.P. Option 2 - For producer groups: SCS does not offer certification at this time.

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 5

GlobalG.A.P. Food Safety Certification Program - Process Diagram

SCS provides Work Order, SCS Assessment Services Agreement and GLOBALG.A.P. Sub-license and Certification Agreement

Application Stage Contact with Applicant. Applicant is provided with Application Form, introductory letter or email, related cost information, and access to SCS GLOBALG.A.P. Certification Manual

Applicant completes and returns Application Form

Applicant returns signed work order and Agreements. Information reviewed for completeness by SCS

Maintenance of GLOBALG.A.P. certification.

The registration of the producer and the proposed products for the relevant scopes must be reconfirmed with SCS annually before the expiry date.

Any non-compliance issues found during audit must be satisfactory corrected within the agreed upon timetable between producer and auditor, not to exceed 28 calendar days from the date of the warning.

Evidence of the resolution of non-compliances (if applicable) provided, in such forms as documentary or photographic evidence. SCS evaluates corrective actions.

Certification decision is made within a maximum of 28 calendar days after closure of any outstanding non-conformances.

Audit results entered into GLOBALG.A.P. Database.

Producer (or Producer group) receives full written audit report.

GLOBALG.A.P. registration form sent.

Evaluation and

Reporting Stage

Applicant returns signed registration form which is received and all details are checked. SCS enters applicant information into the GLOBALG.A.P. database for producer to become GLOBALG.A.P. registered. A GLOBALG.A.P. number is generated which is a unique identifier for all GLOBALG.A.P. activities. After accepted registration status is received, SCS schedules a GLOBALG.A.P. audit with qualified auditor or inspector (whichever is applicable). Audit Plan is sent to applicant to agree and confirm scope of audit. Audit conducted.

Certification Decision

Stage

Re-Certification

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 6

Partial Sample GlobalG.A.P. Audit Checklist: All Farm

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 7

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 8

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 9

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 10

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 11

SCS Global Services | 2000 Powel St., Suite 600 | Emeryville, CA 94608 | 510.452.8000 Page | 12

SCS Offers Training Classes to Prepare You

SCS provides food safety training courses that help producers, manufacturers, and handlers reduce risks, prepare for audits and meet food safety regulations. Our expert trainers have on the job experience and can tailor the curricula to meet your needs. Certificates of Attendance are awarded to all attendees. Our GlobalG.A.P. Trainers will personally engage your interest while guiding you through all of the regulations and control points covered during an audit for the “All Farm - Crops Base” and “Fruit and Vegetable” scopes. This training guides you on a journey through the actual audit checklists used to grade your operation during the GlobalG.A.P. audit. Your professional SCS trainer pulls examples from personal audit experience, presents case studies and answers all your personal questions. You’ll review risk assessment procedures, scope and legal entity, records requirements, testing requirements and acceptable proof, and The Produce Safety Standard (PSS) option (a more limited certification made just for the U.S. market).

Pathogen Testing When CoAs are Required

SCS offers testing of fresh produce, products, water, equipment and facilities for microbiological verification of a food safety policy or program. Our labs utilize ELISA methods for rapid screening of pathogens, and conduct confirmation using US FDA BAM (Bacterialogical Analytical Method) methods or quantitative polymeric chain reaction (PCR) methods if appropriate. When testing for pathogens, we recommend that environmental testing and swabs be conducted monthly, and that product verification be done on a lot-by-lot basis along with a "hold and release" approach. SCS follows the GAP Metrics protocol for water testing and monitoring.

Custom Solutions Built to Serve Your Needs

For more information:

Nova Sayers SCS Food and Agriculture Business Development Director 510.452.9083 nsayers@scsglobalservices.com