Core solution
Integrated Farm Assurance for aquaculture
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for aquaculture is a global standard that aims to promote responsible farming practices at all stages of production. It is built on a holistic approach that seeks to address the key topics of food safety, environment (including biodiversity), animal health and welfare, workers’ health, safety, and welfare, production processes, and traceability.
GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship standard
What is Integrated Farm Assurance for aquaculture?
Developed in collaboration with sector stakeholders, Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for aquaculture aims to provide producers with clarity on international requirements for responsible farming and facilitate a long-term holistic approach to primary production operations. It covers a wide range of finfish, crustacean, mollusc, and seaweed (macroalgae) species. The GFS editions of the standard have consistently achieved Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognition. IFA is also recognized by the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative (GSSI) and is aligned with the four pillars of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification, as well as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Aquatic Animal Health Code. IFA is tried, tested, and trusted around the world – with over 2.5 million metric tons of farmed seafood produced in IFA-certified production processes annually.
IFA for aquaculture at a glance
Addresses all stages
of production, from feed and hatchery to harvesting and transportation
Production processes
for over 35 species of finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs currently under certification
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from net enclosures to closed recirculation systems
Certification options
for a variety of sizes and types of aquaculture farms, including producer groups
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Addresses all stages
of production, from feed and hatchery to harvesting and transportation
Production processes
for over 35 species of finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs currently under certification
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from net enclosures to closed recirculation systems
Certification options
for a variety of sizes and types of aquaculture farms, including producer groups
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Addresses all stages
of production, from feed and hatchery to harvesting and transportation
Production processes
for over 35 species of finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs currently under certification
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from net enclosures to closed recirculation systems
Certification options
for a variety of sizes and types of aquaculture farms, including producer groups
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Addresses all stages
of production, from feed and hatchery to harvesting and transportation
Certification options
for a variety of sizes and types of aquaculture farms, including producer groups
Production processes
for over 35 species of finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs currently under certification
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from net enclosures to closed recirculation systems
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Which topics does IFA for aquaculture address?
IFA for aquaculture covers all stages of production, from hatchery to postharvest activities. The standard has been developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and focus groups and underwent extensive public consultation as part of our process for standard setting
This ensures that IFA remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.
Core topics in IFA v6 for aquaculture include:
Food safety
Farmed aquatic species welfare, management, and husbandry
Workers’ occupational health, safety and welfare
Environment and biodiversity management
Mass balance and traceability
Feed management
Sampling and testing of farmed aquatic species
Harvesting and postharvesting operations
Hygiene
Site management
Discover more about how IFA helps you address challenges in the aquaculture sector.
Who should use IFA for aquaculture?
IFA for aquaculture is available for producers worldwide, addressing a range of production systems, including:
Net enclosures
Flow-through systems
Closed recirculation systems
Pond farming
Mollusc/Seaweed (macroalgae)
It offers certification options for both individual producers (single site and multisite producers) and producer groups. Producers can get certification in any country where a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) conducts audits.
IFA for aquaculture can be implemented for the production processes for any aquatic species listed in the GLOBALG.A.P. product list. Certification is linked to the scientific name to support traceability across the supply chain.
How does IFA for aquaculture work?
Compliance with the standard requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB.
Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.
A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) is a mandatory add-on to IFA for aquaculture. Producers must also source feed from manufacturers with production processes certified to the Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) standard or a recognized feed safety scheme.
IFA v6 checklists are generated digitally and are tailored to the producer’s specific production practices, eliminating any not applicable requirements. Our smarter, streamlined, and outcome-oriented approach also provides flexibility to producers in demonstrating compliance.
The standard is composed of principles and criteria (P&Cs). P&Cs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.
Principles
Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement
Written in statement form
Describing the outcome to achieve
Criteria
Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a principle to be true
Different ways to demonstrate compliance, e.g., data, record of procedure
Evidence required for demonstrating that the outcome is achieved
Read more about the audit process and standard requirements.
How is certification status verified?
Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.
As aquaculture producers with IFA-certified production processes must source feed from
compound feed manufacturers under CFM certification, the GGN of the compound feed
manufacturer is also displayed in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.
What are the two editions of IFA v6?
IFA v6 for aquaculture is available in two parallel and equally valid editions:
IFA v6 Smart, which fully embodies the GLOBALG.A.P. philosophy and is appropriate for
the majority of producersIFA v6 GFS, designed for producers who require certification with recognition from GFSI
This decision stems from the extensive public consultation conducted during the standard revision.
Many industry experts requested a more flexible and outcome-oriented IFA, but it was not possible to completely reconcile their preferences with GFSI requirements. To provide solutions for both use cases and to ensure that IFA certification continues to be applicable for the mass market, two editions were developed: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.
There are no differences in the P&Cs of the two editions for aquaculture. There are some differences in the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, such as rules for group certification and
unannounced CB audits. Customer requirements usually determine the edition that a producer will implement.
What is the continuous improvement plan?
IFA v6 for aquaculture introduces the need for a continuous improvement plan at farm level. This approach encourages measurable target setting that helps producers to improve efficiency and achieve recognition for efforts to further the long-term viability and sustainability of farming operations.
Plan: After analyzing current practices, data identifies areas for optimization, and the producer sets measurable goals for improvement.
Do: Targeted measures are implemented in farming practices.
Check: Implementation is checked and progress reviewed at the annual CB audit.
Act: The continuous improvement plan is revised based on progress and impact.
Latest news
04 December 2024
GLOBALG.A.P.’s social responsibility solution is ready for US farms
GLOBALG.A.P. North America is excited to announce that the updated version of the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) is ready for implementation by US producers.
27 November 2024
Understanding the role of national interpretation guidelines in the GLOBALG.A.P. system
How are global agricultural standards applied at a local level? Discover how national interpretation guidelines empower producers by aligning global standards with local regulations and realities – making implementation simpler and more effective.
Technical news
Full technical newsletters are available in the document center, but you can view technical news updates by topic in our technical news libraries.
Making responsible farming visible to consumers
IFA certification is one of the requirements for using the GGN label – a consumer label for certified, responsible farming and transparency found on fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, flowers, and plants. Improve your competitive edge and grow trust in your brand by making responsible farming visible on store shelves!
Demonstrate commitment to safer and more responsible farming
Why choose Integrated Farm Assurance for aquaculture?
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) is a leading smart farm assurance solution for aquaculture – enabling producers worldwide to assess, demonstrate, and improve their responsible farming practices. IFA v5.4-1-GFS/v6 GFS are the only aquaculture standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) at primary production level, and IFA is the only standard recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) for all species of finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and seaweed (macroalgae). IFA certification is requested by retailers across the globe and provides a practical path for producers to implement best practices at farm level that contribute to the long-term viability of the sector.
Which industry challenges does IFA for aquaculture address?
The vital role of aquaculture for food security has received heightened recognition from
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the context of climate change and a
growing global population.Aquaculture is now the fastest growing food sector worldwide, and standards are needed
to ensure that market demand is met with safe and responsible farming practices.Food safety, animal health and welfare, and the environment are all under increasing
scrutiny from consumers and supply chain stakeholders.In particular, the rising interaction between the environment and aquaculture due to
growing demand produces risks such as biodiversity loss if not managed effectively.Workers’ health, safety, and welfare are also essential for socially responsible production,
with key social and economic issues such as labor exploitation and human rights in the
spotlight due to new legislation in global supply chains.The certification of production processes for aquaculture and animal feed can help reduce
traceability barriers, supporting both targeted improvements and transparency for buyers.
Follow our five steps to certification to get started today.
IFA for aquaculture in numbers (as of 31/12/2023)
32
aquatic species under certification
29
countries with certified production processes
2.6 million
metric tons of certified production
32
aquatic species under certification
29
countries with certified production processes
2.6 million
metric tons of certified production
32
aquatic species under certification
29
countries with certified production processes
2.6 million
metric tons of certified production
32
aquatic species under certification
29
countries with certified production processes
2.6 million
metric tons of certified production
What are the benefits for producers?
Improve farm management and the efficiency of farm operations.
Adopt a holistic approach that covers food safety, animal health and welfare, environment and biodiversity, workers’ health, safety and welfare, production processes, legal compliance, and traceability.
Get recognition for efforts on social responsibility through the inclusion of the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP).
Achieve compliance with a globally recognized standard that fulfills international supply chain requirements.
Enjoy a flexible approach to farm assurance through the easy combination of add-ons and the opportunity to join the consumer-facing GGN label initiative.
Choose from an extensive worldwide network of accredited, GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification bodies (CBs).
Access certification options for both individual producers and producer groups.
Apply our farm assurance solutions on a wide range of farm types and sizes, covering all major types of production systems and numerous species of finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and seaweed (macroalgae).
Optimize your production processes through a continuous improvement plan.
What are the benefits for supply chain stakeholders?
Secure traceability and reliability throughout the supply chain – mitigating reputational risks through transparency of all stages of primary production.
Promote the implementation of a holistic approach that features rigorous criteria on food safety, animal health and welfare, environment and biodiversity, workers’ health, safety, and welfare, production processes, legal compliance, and traceability.
Request one standard covering a wide range of species of finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and seaweed (macroalgae) – aligned with the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Access a flexible farm assurance portfolio that provides all the coverage you need through one certification system.
Support sector-driven smart farm assurance solutions and demonstrate your commitment to responsible farming practices, with recognition from GFSI (for IFA v5.4-1-GFS and v6 GFS) and GSSI.
Contribute to responsible social practices through the mandatory inclusion of GRASP, as well as responsible sourcing practices through the requirement for aquafeed from certified production processes.
Source from a growing pool of producers with certified production processes globally, with easy certification verification in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
Unlock opportunities to participate in the GGN label initiative.
With GLOBALG.A.P. IFA certification we improved our skills on health and safety and environmental topics. Our employees are much more conscious about fish welfare and biodiversity.
Engin Mola
Quality System Manager at Kilic Seafood Co. | Türkiye
Maintaining trust in GLOBALG.A.P. certification
The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program was founded in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification. Designed to ensure the consistent delivery and implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons worldwide, the program monitors and assesses all aspects of the third-party certification process.
Which solutions can be combined with IFA for aquaculture?
We offer a range of standards and add-ons targeted to specific aspects of production and the supply chain. They can each be audited or assessed in combination with IFA, extending the certification scope and offering buyers specific assurance tailored to their preferences.
Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.
You may also be interested in...
Compound Feed Manufacturing
CFM is a global feed mill standard for commercial compound feed production processes.
Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability add-on
The IDA add-on aims to promote more responsible farming practices through the collection and analysis of input consumption data and other farm metrics.
NON-GM/“Ohne Gentechnik” Add-on
The NON-GM/“Ohne Gentechnik” Add-on enables aquaculture, compound feed, and supply chain stakeholders to demonstrate that their products are free from GMOs.
Ready to get started?
Use our Smart Checklist Builder to easily understand which GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are recommended for your production practices and generate a personalized checklist for your self-assessment.
Your guide to implementation
How to prepare for an Integrated Farm Assurance audit
Learn more about the key documents and fee structure of Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for aquaculture. Follow our five steps to certification for an overview of the certification process, and find a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) in your area to get started.
Implementation and CB audit process
How does the CB audit process work?
IFA compliance is audited annually by accredited and independent third-party CBs.
Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.
A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.
The CB is responsible for uploading the audit report and maintaining the accuracy of producer data in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
Producers will be audited annually by a CB as part of the renewal process.
Which documents are required?
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations: Rules that define how the certification process works, from the scope of the standard to the audit requirements. Scope-specific regulations also outline the certification process for each IFA scope (e.g., rules for aquaculture).
Principles and criteria (P&Cs): Principles are the fundamental requirements for each standard. They describe the outcomes to achieve and are accompanied by corresponding criteria that detail the ways in which a producer can demonstrate compliance.
Checklist: The full list of P&Cs as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to conduct a self-assessment in preparation for the CB audit.
Which versions of IFA are currently valid?
IFA is currently in transition from v5 to v6. There are two valid versions available for certification:
IFA v6 was published in April 2022 in two editions: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.
IFA v6 Smart replaced v5.2 on 1 January 2024.
IFA v6 GFS will replace v5.4-1-GFS on 1 January 2025.
IFA v5.4-1-GFS was published in October 2021 and is available for audit 31 December 2024. Certificates achieved before it is replaced by v6 GFS will be valid and GFSI-recognized for their full cycle.
The FAQ contains further information on documents, certification renewal, and more.
Transitioning from IFA v5 to IFA v6?
Our transition tools can help you cross-reference the requirements and support your transition to the newest version.
What are the IFA standard requirements?
P&Cs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.
To achieve certification, producers must comply with 100% of the Major Musts and at least 95% of the Minor Musts.
Corrective actions must be proposed for all non-compliances and submitted to the CB within the specified period.
Non-compliances must then be verified as corrected and compliant by the CB before a certificate can be issued.
What are the requirements for aquaculture inputs?
Aquaculture producers with IFA-certified production processes must source compound feed from mills that are certified to one of the following:
GLOBALG.A.P. Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) standard
A standard that has been successfully benchmarked against the CFM standard
A feed safety scheme accredited according to ISO/IEC 17065 or ISO/IEC 17021
Based on ISO/IEC accreditation, certification to the following feed safety schemes is considered sufficient to comply with the requirements. However, they are not officially benchmarked or recognized as equivalent to the CFM standard:
FSSC Feed (including PAS 222)
SQF Code for Feed
Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
Visit the recognized feed safety schemes section of the CFM web page for more information.
How much does IFA certification for aquaculture cost?
Each farm is unique, and the total costs of certification depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more. IFA contains three cost elements:
Implementation costs: Incurred by the producer to prepare for the CB audit
CB service fees: Determined and invoiced by the CB to cover audit time and travel costs
GLOBALG.A.P. registration and certificate license fees :Calculated based certification option and on metric tons of aquaculture products produced in certified production processes and invoiced by the CB
The GLOBALG.A.P. fee table contains full information on the fee structure for each standard and add-on.
Five steps to certification
You will need the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, the IFA P&Cs for aquaculture, and the
checklist. All of the required documents are available online, for free, and in multiple
languages. They are linked below and can also be found in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
Use the documents to guide the implementation of the standard requirements, and then
conduct a self-assessment using the checklist. Our worldwide network of Registered Trainers
can also provide assistance during audit preparations.
Search the list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs by region, country, scope, and status. Contact the CB of your choice and request an audit. Note that the GLOBALG.A.P. fee table does not cover CB service fees such as audit time or travel costs to your site.
The CB will conduct the audit and upload the results to Audit Online Hub. Any non-compliances which are detected during the CB audit must be corrected within the specified period and verified by the CB before a certificate can be issued.
Once all requirements are met and verified by the CB, they will issue your IFA certificate. Your
certification status is then publicly visible in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems for transparency in
the market.
Key documents
The three most relevant documents for IFA v6 Smart are linked below. Click ‘view more’ to see further related documents. Remember to always check with your CB that you have all necessary documents prior to audit.
IFA v6 Smart for aquaculture
Principles and criteria (P&Cs) (CPCCs)
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
Principles and criteria (P&Cs) (CPCCs)
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
Principles and criteria are a complete list of the requirements for a given standard or add-on. The foundational requirements each detail an outcome that must be achieved, and the corresponding ways in which compliance can be demonstrated.
IFA v6 Smart for aquaculture
Checklists
V6 Smart
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
zip
Checklists
V6 Smart
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
zip
Checklists are documents containing standard/add-on principles and criteria which are used during the audit/assessment to check whether compliance is achieved. They may also be used to conduct self-assessments.
Rules for aquaculture scope
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations outline the framework of the certification system, including the role and relationship of the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and certification bodies, and provide context for implementing checklist content.
Key documents
The three most relevant documents for IFA v6 GFS are linked below. Click ‘view more’ to see further related documents. Remember to always check with your CB that you have all necessary documents prior to audit.
IFA v6 GFS for aquaculture
Principles and criteria (P&Cs) (CPCCs)
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
Principles and criteria (P&Cs) (CPCCs)
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
Principles and criteria are a complete list of the requirements for a given standard or add-on. The foundational requirements each detail an outcome that must be achieved, and the corresponding ways in which compliance can be demonstrated.
IFA v6 GFS for aquaculture
Checklists
V6 GFS
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
zip
Checklists
V6 GFS
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
zip
Checklists are documents containing standard/add-on principles and criteria which are used during the audit/assessment to check whether compliance is achieved. They may also be used to conduct self-assessments.
Rules for aquaculture scope
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations
V6
English | Last updated: 29/11/2024
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations outline the framework of the certification system, including the role and relationship of the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and certification bodies, and provide context for implementing checklist content.
GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs
The list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs can be filtered by region, country, scope, and status. Click a CB to find more information and contact details.
If you do not filter your search, or filter only according to region and/or country, your search results will also show CBs that offer certification against benchmarked schemes, but which may not have approval for any GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons.
CERTIPAQ
Country
Head office:
France
Status
ApprovedRating
4.14CTR Uluslararası Belgelendirme ve Denetim Ltd. Şti.
Country
Head office:
Turkey
Status
ApprovedRating
3.99Green Certificaciones e Inspecciones S.C.
Country
Head office:
Mexico
Status
ApprovedRating
PendingBureau Veritas Certification Denmark A/S
Country
Head office:
Denmark
Status
ApprovedRating
3.71UK Food Certification Ltd
Country
Head office:
United Kingdom
Status
ApprovedRating
Pending1st Solution Certification USA, Inc.
Country
Head office:
United States of America
Status
ApprovedRating
PendingAGROCOLOR S.L.
Country
Head office:
Spain
Status
ApprovedRating
3.5Eurofins Assurance Vietnam Limited Liability Company
Country
Head office:
Viet Nam
Status
ApprovedRating
4.24SGS Italia S.p.A.
Country
Head office:
Italy
Status
ApprovedRating
3.46Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association
Country
Head office:
Japan
Status
ApprovedRating
3.994PLUS INGENIEROS Y ARQUITECTOS S.L
Country
Head office:
Spain
Status
ApprovedRating
4.33ABCERT AG
Country
Head office:
Germany
Branches:
Czech Republic
Italy
Status
ApprovedRating
4.17ACERTA Certificación, S.L.
Country
Head office:
Spain
Branches:
Morocco
Status
ApprovedRating
4.26Acoura Marine Ltd. trading as LRQA
Country
Head office:
United Kingdom
Status
ApprovedRating
3.98AFRICERT LTD
Country
Head office:
Kenya
Status
ApprovedRating
3.49Yellow Card sanction according to GR v6, Rules for Certification Bodies, 11.3.
Capacity building
Need assistance with the certification process? Our capacity-building program offers a range of options for training, consultation, and more!
Upcoming events
12 Nov - 20 Dec
2024
Your chance to contribute to the new environmental sustainability solution
Location: Online
Event type: Public consultation
Event format: Virtual
02 Dec - 27 Dec
2024
Have your say on the new workers’ well-being standard
Location: Online
Event type: Public consultation
Event format: Virtual
A brief history of IFA for aquaculture
In October 2004, EUREPGAP launches its first aquaculture standard for salmonids to promote the responsible farming of seafood. In May 2005, the GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody (CoC) standard is launched to safeguard products from certified production processes up to the point of sale, as well as the development of a Compound Feed Manufacturer Reference Module.
In 2008, the GLOBALG.A.P. shrimp standard is launched in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the criteria for high conservation value areas, and with Oxfam-Novib for the social criteria for shrimp farming.
By 2009, standards for tilapia and pangasius are launched. After a four-year revision process, the harmonization of criteria takes place to cover finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs in a single standard. IFA v4 goes through consultation and is launched in March 2011, and by the end of 2012, the number of certificates has risen to 162 in 21 countries.
Annual production from certified production processes reaches 1.5 million metric tons, with the largest number of producers under certification active in Vietnam, Norway, and Turkey.
Certified production processes in 2014 cover 23 aquatic species, with more than 250 certificate holders globally. Annual production from certified production processes passes 2 million metric tons. Public consultation for IFA v5 takes place from January 2014 to July 2015, with the standard replacing v4 in 2016.
The inclusion of the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) becomes mandatory for IFA for aquaculture, strengthening social responsibility. Key updates in v5 also include more rigorous criteria on environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and feed. By 2018, there are 338 certificate holders in 33 countries.
The technical committees agree on the structure and workflow for the IFA v5.2 to v6 revision process. The draft is put to a first public consultation from May to June 2020, a second from November 2020 to January 2021, and a third from May to July 2021.
Following a fourth and final public consultation from August to September 2021, the standard is approved by the technical committees and officially adopted by the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board in October. The interim final version of IFA v6 for aquaculture is published in April 2022, and the final version follows in September.
IFA-certified production processes are now producing over 2.5 million metric tons of aquaculture products for the global market annually.
IFA v6 Smart for aquaculture replaces v5.2 on 1 January 2024. The v6 GFS editionwill replace v5.4-1-GFS on 1 January 2025.
FAQ
IFA v6 is available in two editions: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS. IFA v6 Smart replaced v5.2 on 1 January 2024. IFA v6 GFS replaces v5.4-1 GFS on 1 January 2025.
IFA v5.4-1 GFS was published in October 2021 and is available for audit until 31 December 2024. Certificates achieved before v6 GFS replaces it will be valid and GFSI-recognized for their full cycle.
This decision stems from the extensive public consultation conducted during the standard revision. While the majority of industry experts requested a more flexible and outcome-oriented IFA, other stakeholders continue to require a GFSI-recognized standard. To reconcile these demands, IFA v6 for aquaculture was developed in two editions: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.
Buyer requirements determine the edition that a producer will implement. The main differences are in the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, for example regarding rules for unannounced certification body (CB) audits.
Aquaculture producers with IFA-certified production processes must source compound feed from mills that are certified to either:
GLOBALG.A.P. Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) standard
A standard that has been successfully benchmarked against the CFM standard
A feed safety scheme accredited according to ISO/IEC 17065 or ISO/IEC 17021
Based on ISO/IEC accreditation, certification to the following feed safety schemes is considered sufficient to comply with the requirements. However, they are not officially benchmarked or recognized as equivalent to the CFM standard:
FSSC Feed (including PAS 222)
SQF Code for Feed
Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
Each farm is unique, and the total cost of certification depends on a combination of factors such as size, location, existing policies and processes, etc. The invoice from your certification body (CB) will include CB service fees to cover expenditures (determined by the CB) and the GLOBALG.A.P. registration and certificate license fees (determined based on metric tons of aquaculture products produced in certified production processes).
Download the GLOBALG.A.P. fee table to learn more.
IFA documents for aquaculture are currently available in:
English
French
German
Norwegian
Spanish
Turkish
All documents are located in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center. More languages are added based on demand – please contact us with requests.
IFA compliance is audited annually. The certification body (CB) audit must take place within the validity period of the current certificate in order for your production processes to retain the certification status. Contact your CB to request an audit.
When developing our standards and add-ons, we aim to receive as much input and feedback as possible. With producers based in more than 135 countries around the world and stakeholders covering every part of the value chain, our standard-setting process ensures that our solutions are both fit for purpose now and built with the future in mind.
We offer public consultation periods for draft standard documents that are created by our technical experts. This helps uphold transparency in the development, revision, and decision-making process. The web page on standard setting outlines the development process as well as the roles of the technical committees, focus groups, and GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board.
Technical questions can be addressed to standard_support@globalgap.org. Your query will be forwarded to the relevant technical expert.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Academy offers public trainings on our portfolio of smart farm assurance solutions, while our worldwide network of Registered Trainers offers authorized trainings and other services. See the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy course catalog or find a Registered Trainer for more information.
The CB auditor requirements for IFA for aquaculture are detailed in “GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – Rules for certification bodies”.
Learn more about how to become a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB or extend your auditing scope.
Industry harmonization is a key pillar of our activities. For scheme or checklist owners, GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking provides international recognition in a highly competitive market. It also creates time- and money-saving opportunities, with the entire value chain profiting from the benefits.
For more details on benchmarking requirements, see section 2 of the GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking regulations. Benchmarking is possible against IFA v6 only.
Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking.
No, certification to a GLOBALG.A.P. standard/holding a GLOBALG.A.P. certificate is not the same as being a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member.
GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership is a paid partnership opportunity, offering a variety of benefits including the ability to support the development of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons, contribute to the GLOBALG.A.P. governance structure, and access discounted services.
Learn more about how to become a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member.
GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks may be used in a strictly B2B context and must be accompanied by a GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., the producer’s GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)) or a QR code to a producer’s certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. The trademarks should never appear to consumers, for example on product packaging.
Download the GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks use: policy and guidelines and GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks use: FAQ documents for comprehensive information on rules and use cases.
The GGN label is a cross-category consumer label that can be found on a variety of products, including fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, flowers, and plants. It stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency and exists to offer shoppers consistent, consumer-relevant assurance and orientation throughout the store.
Along with the GGN label, unique 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. Numbers (GGNs) that are linked to producers with GLOBALG.A.P. certification are printed on product packaging. When shoppers find a GGN on their product, they can enter it into the GGN label portal (www.ggn.org) to find a farm profile for the producer.
IFA certification at farm level is one of the requirements for using the GGN label. Learn more about joining the GGN label initiative today.
Contact us
For technical/interpretation questions, please contact us at standard_support@globalgap.org.
For questions about the audit process or GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, please contact us at customer_support@globalgap.org.