1. Presentation 5.1.

2. CERTIFICATIONS Background Development & implementation Case Studies Challenges & opportunities

3. Presentation 5.1. GENERAL FRAMEWORK IntroductionComponentsStructure

4. Presentation 5.1. They have arisen in response to the need to provide consumer guarantee regarding quality attributes than can not be detected during consumption such as: safety, country or region of origin, animal welfare practices, or environmental impacts, etc. Certification and other quality schemes are based on standards generally called: Code of Practices and Protocols.

5. Presentation 5.1. Codex Alimentarius Food Standards.Codex Alimentarius Food Standards. USA (1997) Food Safety Initiative.USA (1997) Food Safety Initiative. UE (1998) EUREPGAP.UE (1998) EUREPGAP. UK-Assured Produce UK-Assured Produce UE-White paper. UE-White paper. UFFVA-The Green Book (Checklist).UFFVA-The Green Book (Checklist). DFT-ProSafe.DFT-ProSafe. Several Certifiers (HACCP).Several Certifiers (HACCP). British Retail Consortium Standard.British Retail Consortium Standard. ISO (9000-14000). ISO (9000-14000). SQF (1000-2000)SQF (1000-2000) xxxxGAP: xxxx=Supermarket’s chain name.xxxxGAP: xxxx=Supermarket’s chain name. Nature’s Choice (Tesco/UK).Nature’s Choice (Tesco/UK). CIES-Global Food Safety Standardization.CIES-Global Food Safety Standardization. Several others.Several others.

6. Presentation 5.1. 1) Regulated: given by companies already accredited by the IAF (International Accreditation Forum). 2) Non-Regulated: some times called quality Labels. These are given by companies having recognition by the buyers. 3) Officials: provided by the official authority in each country.

7. Presentation 5.1. 1) Regulated ( examples) –EUREPGAP and its equivalent officially recognized certifications (harmonization process). –SQf, ISO (9000, 1400, etc.), British Retail Consortium, CIES 2) No-Regulated (verifications) –United Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Checklist –xxxx GAP ; where xxxx is the retailer’s name. and verifications carry out by North American companies such a : Primus Lab, Davis Fresh Technologies, Standard Certification System., etc. 3) Officials: –Phytosanitaries. –Quality inspections, pesticides residues, presence of pathogens, etc, carried out by FDA (USA), MAFF (UK), RVV (The Netherlands), etc.

8. Presentation 5.1. It is a document of voluntary set of application offering a set of general recommendations general recommendations to be uniformly applied by the target sector. practices and operations It offers general recommendations regarding practices and operations that should be applied, in order to achieve specific objectives (for instance: quality and safety products).

9. Presentation 5.1. Increasing demand by the main importing markets for assurances regarding food production processes and practices. Developed markets for fresh fruits and vegetables have higher requirements, regarding quality attributes related with: Product attributes such as : safety.Product attributes such as : safety. Process attributes regarding: environmental considerations, social welfare, GMO’s, organic production, etc. Process attributes regarding: environmental considerations, social welfare, GMO’s, organic production, etc.

10. Presentation 5.1. provide Consumer Protection. address consumer needs and expectations. unifying quality criteria, “unique language”. address sustainable production and environmental and social responsibility. ensure quality and safety products throughout the food chain. provide benefits to the food chain actors, including rural workers. Facilitate the communication between food chain actors (close linkages).

11. Presentation 5.1. PRODUCER: on farm resources sustainability (water, soil, flora, fauna, etc).on farm resources sustainability (water, soil, flora, fauna, etc). staying in the business.staying in the business. Improving working conditions.Improving working conditions. gaining market access (high value markets)gaining market access (high value markets) improving managerial skills.improving managerial skills. reduction of Post-harvest losses.reduction of Post-harvest losses. improving product quality.improving product quality.

12. Presentation 5.1. Exporter: Gaining market access (high value products).Gaining market access (high value products). Staying in the business.Staying in the business. Strengthening relationship with buyers.Strengthening relationship with buyers. Gaining buyer’s credibility and truthfulnessGaining buyer’s credibility and truthfulness Reducing post-harvest losses.Reducing post-harvest losses.

13. Presentation 5.1. Importer Market (supermarket, specialized importers, etc): –Protection of own brand-supermarkets transfers quality and safety responsibilities to suppliers (importers, grower’s organizations, etc) in order to protect it’s own brand. –Maintain consumer confidence in products. –Strengthening relationship with suppliers. –Gaining consumer’s credibility and truthfulness. –Competitiveness. –Reduction of post-harvest losses.

14. Presentation 5.1. The North American Standards (public and private), emphasises, in general terms, on the hygiene aspects of the FFV safety. The European standards emphasises on pesticides residues, and environmental and social quality aspects. The major requirements in terms of private certifications come from the UK supermarkets.

15. Presentation 5.1. : National Authorities Consumer Protection. Food Drug Administration (FDA) in USA and the European Authorities, for several years, have carried out continuous monitoring of pesticides residues. Since 1998 FDA has added microbiological analyses in some products for a set of pathogens such as: E.coli, Salmonela, Shigera and others. Many supermarkets chains and brokers, in the importing markets, have contacted certification companies both: for developing their own (proprietary) quality schemes and/or to certify their suppliers all over the world.

16. Presentation 5.1. Good Agricultural Practices are procedures that improve conventional methods of production, beginning with the choice of the cultivation areas reaching until post-harvest procedures with emphasis in the health, well-being and safety of workers.

17. Presentation 5.1. safe environment GAP includes on farm practices (primary production and post-harvest stages) that have to be followed, in order to ensure a safe and wholesome product whilst also minimizing the negative impact of those practices on the environment and on workers' health.

18. Presentation 5.1. GAP, GMP and GHP have been incorporated into the code of practices and protocols for certification under a generic concept of Good Agricultural Practices.

19. Presentation 5.1.

22. OBJECTIVES PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCECRITERIA PROTOCOL/ CODE OF PRACTICES INDICATORS MEANS OF VERIFICATION GUIDELINES, CHECK LISTS, ETC.

23. Presentation 5.1.

24. OBJECTIVES PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCECRITERIA What is expected will be achieved throughout the Code implementation. The essential elements of the areas covered by the Code. The conditions to be met in conformance with the defined principles and objectives.

25. Presentation 5.1.

29. It is compulsory to comply with the compliance criteria. Tolerance is not accepted. Certain degree of tolerance is accepted regarding the compliance criteria. They are possible future requirements in order to advance beyond the minimal requirements.

30. Presentation 5.1.

33. INDICATORS MEANS OF VERIFICATION Quantifiable measure that allow to evaluate/assess the compliance of a criteria -if the associated criteria are being met. Information or observation that will be used in order to demonstrate compliance with a defined criteria.

34. Presentation 5.1.

37. STAGES Development and implementation of National Quality and Safety Programmes ADVANTAGES

38. Presentation 5.1. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES TO COMPLY WITH THE MARKET REQUIREMENTS DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICES OR PROTOCOLS

39. Presentation 5.1. Which standard/regulation? Gaining support from the stakeholders Training and advising. Defining indicators and verifiers/auditing system Designing instruments to support the implementation/monitoring Getting support of importing markets. NATIONAL Q & S PROGRAMMES DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STAGES.

40. Presentation 5.1. GAP PROGRAME Sometimes the initiatives arise from the private sector due to the need to comply with the market requirements, or from the public initiatives as a need to provide consumer protection. involvement of the public and private sector. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER AND INTER-INSTITUTIONAL INVOLVEMENT

41. Presentation 5.1. ROLES: Producer and exporter’s associations/groups-those applying the code. Institutions defining policies (recognition of the Code at the National Level). Institutions dealing with training and technical advise to different stakeholders. Institutions responsible of setting standards. Institutions responsible of quality control and consumer protection. Institutions involve with Accreditation Institutions responsible for registering, distribution and selling of pesticides and other crop protection chemicals. Universities and Research institutions.

42. Presentation 5.1. An existent code of practices/protocol applied by the target market (EUREPGAP, Supermarket’s requirements in USA etc.). Harmonization at the national level of the Codex Standards (code of practices, standards, etc.) Development of a National Code/Standard, according to the national priorities and needs.

43. Presentation 5.1. Responsibilities: ensure the Code…… reflects the needs and priorities of different stakeholders. reflects the needs and priorities of different stakeholders. covers the key environmental and safety risks in the particular farming systems. covers the key environmental and safety risks in the particular farming systems. covers the market requirements. covers the market requirements. takes into account the needs and priorities of small, middle and large farmers. takes into account the needs and priorities of small, middle and large farmers. is compatible with the National Legislation. is compatible with the National Legislation. is based in public and private coordination, involves different actors, and gets their support regarding the importance of the code. is based in public and private coordination, involves different actors, and gets their support regarding the importance of the code.

44. Presentation 5.1. Members of public and private institutions with: a clear interest and motivation. a clear interest and motivation. technical knowledge, skills and experience in the sector (working conditions, agronomical aspects, market requirements, etc.) technical knowledge, skills and experience in the sector (working conditions, agronomical aspects, market requirements, etc.) Good relations with different FFV chain actors/stakeholders: recognition, trustfulness, seriousness. Good relations with different FFV chain actors/stakeholders: recognition, trustfulness, seriousness.

45. Presentation 5.1. Should be simple, coherent and clearly defined. Indicators and means of verifications: Must be distinct and clearly defined, reliable measure of the criteria, easy to be measured and recorded. AVOID INNECESARY DOCUMENTATION

46. Presentation 5.1. who are the actors/stakeholders applying the Code? how they will benefit?. what are the implications for each actor/stakeholder? what strategist could be applied in order to get support from different stakeholders?

47. Presentation 5.1.

48. Understanding the importance of the Code and providing support for its implementation. DEFINING APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES FOR EACH ACTOR/STAKEHOLDER Producers, exporters, traditional sellers and distributors, trainers, extension workers, etc.

49. Presentation 5.1. who audits?-knowledge, skills and experience. what tools need to de developed to support the external auditing process? –audit checklists, farm description questionnaires, self- audit questionnaires, reporting formats, etc. what t ools need to be developed to support the internal auditing process (self auditing –producers, exporters, etc.) stepsthe steps of the auditing process ( pre audits and data collection). management of non-compliances. frequency. costs. training auditors

50. Presentation 5.1.

51. Some documents supporting the implementation of the Code: Check-lists. Check-lists. GAP, GMP, GHP, Guidelines. GAP, GMP, GHP, Guidelines. Compliance criteria list. Compliance criteria list. List of records and documents required. List of records and documents required. Benchmarking list, etc. Benchmarking list, etc.

52. Presentation 5.1. BE AWARE OF CHANGES IN THE SECTOR, IN THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, IN THE MARKET DEMAND, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, ETC; AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTEMENTS.

53. Presentation 5.1. Who passes, who fails under what criteria?

54. Presentation 5.1. Who passes, who fails under what criteria?

55. Presentation 5.1. Complement the National legislation, ensuring compatibility with existing standards, codes, regulations. Build local capacities for its implementation. More likely to meet needs, priorities and constraints of stakeholders (national and exporting markets). Leads to greater acceptance of codes by stakeholders (producers, exporters, etc). Can be used as a marketing tool. GAPPROGRAMMEPROTOCOL/STANDARD

56. Presentation 5.1. GAP Programme (CHILE) Case Studies PIPAA Programme (Guatemala)

57. Presentation 5.1. Considerations: Developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere are the main importing markets for FFV. The major export items are tropical products, which are mainly traded throughout big multinationals. Sub-tropical products and temperate fruits, due to their high seasonality are imported from the Southern Hemisphere. Main importing markets (USA, EU). The retail sales of fresh fruits and vegetables in developed markets are done mainly throughout supermarket chains. High concentration of the retailer sector has implied the development of property standards, and a big expansion of these chains in developing countries.

58. Presentation 5.1. Considerations: market requirements regarding performance quality attributes (process attributes or quality credential characteristics) such as: environmental concern, safety, social welfare, etc, have been incorporated thorough certifications, brands and labels. The market requirements of importing countries are widely diverse. Exporting countries sell products to different markets, which implies different quality requirements and so different certifications. Relatively high cost of certification process ( assumed by producers and exporters). Increasing trend in importing markets to request for certifications. Growing importance of Regional Markets for FFV. Expansion of supermarkets in developing countries-higher quality and safety requirements.

59. Presentation 5.1. Institutional changes-integration of public and private sector (inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder involvement)-topic as a national priority. Getting acceptance of National Codes from the importing markets (recognition of the Code and the process of implementation). Setting reliable auditing systems. High initial cost for National Programmes development and implementation. Development of National Codes/Standards and National Programmes covering expectations of different stakeholders (small, middle and big farmers). Development accreditation systems for the national programme. Development of National Programmes, what does it imply?:

60. Presentation 5.1. Analysis of the FFV sector/country: Analysis of the FFV sector/country: what is urgent and needed in terms of quality and safety issues?

61. Presentation 5.1. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) Food Quality and Standards Service (ESNS) Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100, Rome, Italy. E-mail: food-quality@fao.org Tel.: +39 06 57053308 Fax.: +39 06 570 54593/53152 http://www.fao.org/