FAQ Produce Safety Assurance

We have compiled several Frequently Asked Questions Produce Safety Assurance

1. What exactly is the Produce Safety Assurance standard?

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.

2. How does the Produce Safety Assurance standard differ from the Produce Safety Standard (PSS)?

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.

3. What are the differences between the Produce Safety Assurance standard and the Integrated Farm Assurance standard?

Topic

Integrated Farm Assurance V5.2

Produce Safety Assurance
V5

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)

4. What is the difference between the Produce Safety Assurance standard and the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS)?

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.

5. Who should get Produce Safety Assurance standard certification?

Those producers whose customers focus on food safety or producers who want to start out with a base level certification including food safety only.

 
6. What is the difference between the Produce Safety Assurance standard and localg.a.p.?

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.

7. Which certification bodies (CBs) can apply for approval for the Produce Safety Assurance standard?

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.

8.How does a certification body (CB) apply for Produce Safety Assurance scope extension?

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.