GlobalGAP deadline approaching for implementation of chain of custody standard

The deadline to implement the GlobalG.A.P. chain of custody (CoC) standard throughout supply chains is 31 December, 2023, as starting on 1 January, 2023, all parties that handle loose, unpacked products originating from GlobalG.A.P.-certified production processes must have a valid CoC certification in order to maintain the certification's validity through the sale of those products.

GlobalG.A.P.'s aquaculture certification program includes standards for food safety and traceability, the environment, worker health and safety, and several other topics. The program's CoC standard ensures that any product with the GGN label logo or sold with a GlobalG.A.P. claim is actually sourced from a GlobalG.A.P. certified production process. As per the general regulations, CoC certification can only be achieved if all suppliers have a fully-certified production process.

The move is geared toward increasing transparency throughout supply chains, according to GlobalG.A.P. The overall benefit is to lower the risk of food fraud, and to allow companies and brands to act swiftly if any problem with the certified product arises.

All parties that handle products originating from GlobalG.A.P.-certified production processes, along with those that pack and label products with a GlobalG.A.P. identification number, or make a written claim that their products originate from a GlobalG.A.P. certified production process, will be required to have a valid CoC certification by 1 January, 2023.

The move will primarily impact companies that trade, pack, and market seafood products sourced from GlobalG.A.P. certified production processes.

Temporary exceptions will be in place for a one-year implementation timeframe until 31 December, 2023, for cases where it is difficult to implement the CoC standard by the original date, GlobalG.A.P. said in a press release. Producers only selling products included on an integrated farm assurance (IFA) certificate do not need to implement the CoC standard.

That implementation timeframe will allow downstream companies to achieve CoC certification even if part of their supply chain is not yet certified. This is only possible if noncertified suppliers are one of the following: traders or brokers without physical possession of products or have physical possession of packed and labeled products only and companies storing, packing, and/or labeling products that originate from production processes already certified to a GFSI-recognized post-farm certification scheme.

GlobalG.A.P. confirmed the options of companies retaining “CoC through IFS” and “CoC through BRCGS” claims will remain valid moving forward. These are collaborations with International Featured Standards (IFS) and Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS).