Buyer requirements in North America are evolving. In addition to food safety certification, several major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and more, are now incorporating integrated pest management verification and pollinator health commitments into their sourcing expectations. As a result, producers certified under food safety–focused schemes may need to broaden the scope of their certification.
Supporting a structured transition to IFA
To support this transition, a new transition tool is now available to support producers expanding their certification from Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) to the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard.
The IFA standard takes a comprehensive approach to Good Agricultural Practices. It addresses environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and workers' health, safety, and welfare within a single framework. Expanding certification from HPSS to IFA enables producers to meet evolving buyer requirements while maintaining alignment with internationally recognized standards.
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The HPSS to IFA transition tool is a non-mandatory, GLOBALG.A.P. resource designed to help producers map, align, and bridge gaps. It features side-by-side comparisons of the HPSS control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs) to IFA principles and criteria (P&C) to prepare for audits. Producers may use the document as a self-assessment for IFA, mapping their existing HPSS evidence against IFA requirements to cross-reference both standards and identify necessary adjustments when moving to IFA.
As HPSS shares a common foundation with other audits based on IFPA's GAP Harmonization Initiative (e.g., USDA, Lighthouse, etc.), this transition tool may also support producers currently certified under those standards.
The transition tools are available in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center: HPSS to IFA transition tool (English); HPSS to IFA transition tool (Spanish).
Additional guidance and national alignment
In addition to the HPSS to IFA transition tool, producers can download IFA guidelines which support in the development and implementation of various risk assessments and policies including continuous improvement, water management, integrated pest management, metrics, and more.
Producers can also refer to the GLOBALG.A.P. national interpretation guideline that translates global standards to the specific legal and structural conditions of each country. In the US, regulations can vary based on state or regional context. The national interpretation guideline details the specific requirements, clarifications, and best practices for IFA v6 implementation, and provides examples, direction, and resources to support verification and compliance.
For more information:
Agraya
Email: [email protected]
https://agraya.com/
