PARIS - Further demonstrating its unique position in the industry, GLOBALG.A.P. has successfully achieved recognition against the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) Benchmarking Requirements Version 2020.1. The announcement comes in partnership with the Consumer Goods Forum’s Coalition of Action on food safety and encompasses the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS), which first completed the GFSI benchmarking process in 2016.

“HPSS allows GLOBALG.A.P. to offer a certification solution designed especially for the U.S. market,” said Kristian Moeller, Managing Director at GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH and President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America. “We are pleased to continue offering HPSS as a GFSI benchmarked standard, alongside the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for farms and Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) for post-harvest handling operations.”

HPSS was designed by and for producers in the United States or selling into the United States market, a press release stated. HPSS includes verbatim the Produce GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) Harmonization Initiative’s Harmonized Standards.

Facilitated by the United Fresh Produce Association, the Initiative’s Technical Working Group has aligned its Harmonized Standards to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The HPSS control points aid producers in identifying FSMA requirements that must be addressed at the farm level.

"It’s been a difficult year or so for many of the CPOs, so we are delighted with the progress made by GLOBALG.A.P. and their continued commitment to GFSI recognition,” Giovanna Ordonez, GFSI Senior Technical Manager, The Consumer Goods Forum, said. “Even through a global pandemic, we cannot afford to let food safety standards drop, and we look forward to seeing more certification programs becoming recognized against Version 2020.1 in the coming months."

Congratulations to GLOBALG.A.P. on this incredible achievement!

GLOBALG.A.P.