GLOBALG.AP is a private sector organization that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products covering the whole world.
Based on human health and environmentalist approach, EUREPGAP, which was created as a European standard in the first place, started to be accepted all over the world in the following years and became a visa for products opened to international markets, and was revised as GLOBALGAP in 2007.
The GLOBALG.AP standard is primarily designed to address consumer concerns about how nutrients are produced on the farm by minimizing the harmful effects of farm work on the environment by reducing the use of chemical inputs and taking a responsible approach to animal health as well as human health and safety.
The aim is to establish a standard for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) regarding different crop practices that can adapt to the whole of global agriculture. GLOBALGAP is a pre-farm entry standard; that is, Certification covers the process from the farm inputs of the documented product such as feed and seedlings and all agricultural activities to the leaving of the product from the farm.
GLOBALGAP is a business-to-business label and therefore not directly visible to the consumer. GLOBALGAP certification is implemented by more than 100 independent and accredited Certification bodies in more than 80 countries. It is open to all manufacturers around the world. GLOBALGAP includes annual inspections of manufacturers and additional unannounced inspections. GLOBALGAP consists of a set of normative documents. These documents include the GLOBALGAP General Regulations, the GLOBALGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria, and the GLOBALGAP Checklists.
GLOBALG.AP serves as a practical handbook for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) around the world. Its basic principle is to provide equal partnership between agricultural producers and retailers who want to establish effective certification standards and procedures.
The sector most challenged by globalizing markets is the basic food sector. GLOBALGAP is recognized in the global market as a key reference for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the rapidly growing list of countries – currently in more than 80 countries on every continent – by translating consumer needs into agricultural production.