
FAQ Produce Safety Assurance
We have compiled several Frequently Asked Questions Produce Safety Assurance
The Produce Safety Assurance standard covers the food safety and traceability elements of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables V5.2. It is a subset of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard comprising those points that were presented to the Global Food Safety Initiative recognition of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables.
The Produce Safety Assurance standard is an updated version of the PSS, based now on V5.2 of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables. There is also no geographical limitation regarding implementation. The Produce Safety Assurance standard V5 is valid from 15 July 2019 and the PSS V4 is valid until 31 July 2020.
Topic |
Integrated Farm Assurance V5.2 |
Produce Safety Assurance
|
Scope of control points |
Food safety, traceability, workers’ health and safety, environmental sustainability |
Food safety and traceability |
General Regulations |
Integrated Farm Assurance Parts I, II, and III and Crops Rules |
Integrated Farm Assurance Parts I, II, and III and Crops Rules |
Applicable add-ons |
GRASP, FSMA PSR, SPRING, TR4 BioSecurity Add-on for Bananas, NURTURE |
FSMA PSR |
Unique producer number |
GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN) |
Produce Safety Assurance Number (PSA Number) |
Consumer GGN labeling |
yes |
no |
Accreditation |
yes |
yes |
Global Food Safety Initiative recognition |
yes |
not yet (as of 15 July 2019) |
The Produce Safety Assurance is a subset of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables V5.2, whereas the HPSS is United Fresh’s Harmonized Standard (https://www.unitedfresh.org/food-safety/gap-harmonization-initiative/) operated by GLOBALG.A.P.
Those producers whose customers focus on food safety or producers who want to start out with a base level certification including food safety only.
The Produce Safety Assurance standard is an accredited standard and localg.a.p. is not. Produce Safety Assurance must be inspected/audited by an approved certification body. localg.a.p. is a tool for building capacity where assessments may be conducted via 2nd or 3rd parties. Producers who participate in the localg.a.p. program may work towards certification under the Produce Safety Assurance or Integrated Farm Assurance standards.
Those CBs who are finally approved for Integrated Farm Assurance, sub-scope Fruit and Vegetables. The auditor and inspector requirements are the same as in the General Regulations Part III of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard.
Interested CBs shall send a signed letter of intent in which they state that they want to apply for the Produce Safety Assurance standard to GLOBALG.A.P. They shall also send a confirmation letter from their accreditation body that they already applied for PSA accreditation. A € 500 scope extension fee will be payable, but no evaluation fee.