EUREPGAP CERTIFICATION FOR GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES:
Introduction :
Due to global expansion in food trade, the
World Trade Organization (WTO) has set as one of their objectives
the opening up of trade between countries and aims to address
restrictive trade barriers.
Sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues have always been important
in global trade and have become one of the most important potential
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Pests or pathogens may exist
in one country but not in another, thus ultimately resulting in
restrictive TBT. In addition, food safety has become one of the
most important minimum requirements for future trade with developed
countries. The rapid increase in newly reported cases of outbreaks
of food-borne diseases particularly associated with fresh produce
has been the primary drive towards establishing minimum food safety
standards. To be part of global trade in fresh produce and food
related products it will in future require compliance to some
kind of food safety assurance system.
The global drive towards ensuring safe food
supplies must also be seen as part of the focus on food security.
Safe food must be ensured in both developed and developing countries
and appropriate legislation needs to be put in place to address
these concerns. The global emphasis on safe and secure food supplies
must also be seen against a backdrop of an increasing number of
immuno-compromises people (i.e. HIV / AIDS) as well as increased
outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid, particularly
in developing countries, which are often causes by inadequate
sanitary measures and contaminated drinking water.
With respect to developed countries such as
the European Union, the importance of food safety was emphasized
by the recent outbreaks of BSE (Mad Cow disease) and Food and
Mouth disease as well as traditional concerns with environmental
pollution, particularly pesticides and the issues surrounding
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). In contrast to this, the
main focus of concern in the United States of America is the reported
outbreaks of food borne diseases often associated with the consumption
of fresh or processes food.
In this scenario the importance of microbial
contamination is of major concern and has been the driving force
behind the establishment of the USA Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP) policies and surveillance systems. Currently, there are
numerous systems that growers can adopt to ensure safe food production,
which include amongst others Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Points (HACCP), Good Hygiene Practices etc.
One of the GAP systems that have taken off within the European
community is EUREPGAP. Apart from Germany and France, most other
countries within the EU support this system, as do the major retailers,
which consider it the minimum standard for food trade. It is important
to note that these global standards will hopefully be harmonized
but for the time being, major retailers will still have their
own set of requirements that growers will have to adhere to.
What is EUREPGAP CERTIFICATION?
EUREPGAP
started as a retailer initiative in 1997 with major inputs and
support from the chemical companies. EUREPGAP was established
by the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP) with the aim
of setting standard and procedures for the development of GAP.
What are the Objectives of EUREPGAP?
The main objective of EUREPGAP is, to lead the system to an EN
45011-based accredited certification system, referring to the
cope of "EUREPGAP Fruits and Vegetables". Partners from the entire
food chain for fruit and vegetable production have agreed upon
the EUREPGAP certification document and procedures, which were
achieved after extensive consultation over a three-year period.
Benefits -
Certification to EUREPGAP will become mandatory as from March
2003 for farms growing produce for export to Europe, although
the EC may allow some latitude in this regard. At this point in
time different certification systems could be required for export
to other countries such as the USA, and Australia. As Europe is
our largest export destination, EUREPGAP certification will in
all likelihood become a minimum requirement for entry into the
EU market. However, it should be kept in mind that additional
retailer requirements will still have to be met.
Discussions are already underway to ensure harmonization between
the different food safety schemes and benchmarking will be essential
to link the various systems. While certification to EUREPGAP will
result in additional costs to growers, there will be numerous
benefits. Long-term benefits include more motivated farm workers
due to improved facilities, training and better working conditions
with a subsequent increase in living standards. This would obviously
also result in better productivity and outputs to the ultimate
benefit for the grower.
Other benefits include -
It is important to note that EUREPGAP only covers
produce up to the farm gate and thereafter other systems such
as GMP, HACCP etc will become essential. All food industries must
also implement GMP and GHP, both of which are prerequisite programs
for HACCP. The South African fish industry, represent a classical
case study in terms of its adoption of HACCP. The challenge is
now for primary agriculture and the food procession industries
to follow this example.
Besides the fruit and vegetables other EUREPGAP
certification procedures have been developed for fresh flower,
while draft documents covering animal production protocols which
includes beef and lamb; pig meat; poultry; eggs; dairy; fish farming;
and game/exotic foodstuffs, have been issued. Other drafts for
crops, such as barley, beans, wheat, linseed, maize, soybeans,
etc. have also been prepared for release. Feed is also in the
process of being addressed due to the many food scares over the
past few years.
List of Eurepgap certification agencies in
India -
EUREPGAP has recognised this need and intends to provide input
from the experiences gained in other sectors to draw similar draft
documents. Approved Certification Bodies :-
| Control Union Certifications
|
Summer Ville, 8th Floor, 33rd-14th Road Junction,
Khar (W), Mumbai-400 052, India
Tel: +91-22-67255390/91/92/93
Fax: +91-22-67255394/95
Website: www.controlunion.com |
Mr. Sanjay Sailas,
Sr. Inspector
Email: sailas@controlunion.com
cuc@controlunion.in, ssl@controlunion.in
|
| ECOCERT India |
Sector - 3, S-6/3 &4, Gut No. 102, Hindustan
Awas,
Walmi – Waluj Road,
Nakshatrawadi – 431 002.
Aurangabad.
Maharashtra State, India.
Telefax: +91-240-2377120, 2376949.
Website: www.ecocert.in |
Dr. Selvam Daniel
Country Representative and
Director Certification Operations-India
Email: office.india@ecocert.com
ecocert@sancharnet.in
|
| EUROCERT INDIA |
Plot No 372, Phase I, Industrial Area 134113
Panchkula
Tel: 172580467, 572900 Fax: 172 569849
Website: www.eurocert1.com |
Ravinder Kakkar agri@iclcertifications.com |
| FoodCert India (p) Ltd |
3-6-157 Himayatnagar, 4th floor Victory Vihar
Appartments 500 029 Hyderabad
Tel: + 91 40 66256146, 23221393
Fax: + 91 40 66256145 www.foodcertindia.com |
Srihari Kotela srihari@foodcertindia.com |
| IMO CONTROL (Pvt.) Ltd. |
No. 26, 17th Main, HAL A II Stage 560008 Bangalore
Tel: +91 80-52 01 546 Fax: +91 80-52 72 185
www.imocontrol.net |
Umesh Chandrasekhar imoind@vsnl.com |
| INDOCERT |
Hed Office:
Thottumgham P.O
Aluva, emakulam Dist.
Kerala - 683 105
Tel: 0484 262943, 2630908
Liaison Office:
M/s. Indocert
Flat No. 3, Saket Aparments
Manekshanagar
Near Kathe Galli
Dwarka, Nashik
Maharashtra -422011
Ph:02532502213
|
Mr. Mathew Sebastian, Executive Director
info@indocert.org |
| SGS India Pvt. Ltd. |
2nd Floor, Ridhi-Sidhi App., Near Agarwal Petrol
Pump, Sanjivani Nagar Ozar (mig), tal: Niphad nashik-422206
Tel: +91-2550329887
Fax: +91-2550274913
www.sgs.com |
Mr. Swapnil kadam
Email: Swapnil_Kadam@sgs.com
nasik_sgs@sgs.com |
| TUV SUD South Asia |
Off Saki Vihar Road, Saki naka, Andheri (E),
Mumbai – 400 072
Tel:+91-22-3082 3082/9797
Fax: +91-22-3082 9595
www.tuv-sud.in |
Mr. Mahesh Deshpande
Email: Mahesh.Deshpande@tuv.sud.in |
