Introduce and better understand VietGAP and Global GAP standards
The importance of production process certification in agriculture
In the context of increasing global competition, production process certification plays a key role for businesses and farmers operating in the agricultural sector. This certification is not only a market requirement but also an important tool to help improve competitiveness and access potential markets more effectively. Therefore, having advice and training on production processes from experts is essential.
First of all, production process certification ensures transparency and traceability in agricultural production. With a reputable traceability system and ensuring public health safety, this not only creates trust for consumers but also helps manufacturers proactively control quality and ensure food safety. In addition, the application of international certification standards such as VietGAP and Global GAP also helps improve production processes and methods, thereby increasing productivity and product quality.
More importantly, certification of production processes opens up opportunities to access potential export markets. Many markets, especially developed countries, have strict requirements for food quality and safety certification. Therefore, achieving international certification standards such as VietGAP and Global GAP becomes an important “passport” for Vietnamese agricultural products to overcome technical barriers and access export markets.
The importance of production process certification in agriculture
1. VietGAP
- Objective: VietGAP aims to ensure food safety, protect the environment and the health of workers in agricultural production
- Scope of application: VietGAP is applied to farms and agricultural production areas in Vietnam. This standard includes principles and requirements on production process management, land management, irrigation water management, plant protection, harvesting and post-harvest handling.
- Certification: VietGAP certification is carried out by independent certification organizations, after farms and production areas meet all the requirements of the standard.
- Benefits: Applying this type of certification helps improve quality, food safety, environmental protection and worker health. At the same time, it expands opportunities to access export markets for Vietnamese agricultural products.
2. Global GAP
Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) is an international standard for good agricultural practices, developed and managed by a non-profit organization, founded in 1997 with the original name EUREPGAP. This is one of the most popular agricultural standards in the world. The main features of Global GAP are as follows:
- Scope of application: Global GAP is applied to many types of agricultural products such as vegetables, meat, milk, seafood, coffee, tea, etc. globally.
- Requirements: This standard sets out requirements for food safety management, traceability, animal health, safety and welfare, and environmental protection.
- Certification: This certification is carried out by independent certification organizations, recognized by GLOBALG.A.P.
- Benefits: Applying Global GAP helps to enhance reputation and access international markets, especially with strict markets on food safety such as EU, US, Japan.
Differences between VietGAP and Global GAP
Assessment and certification process of standards
1. VietGAP
To obtain VietGAP certification, agricultural, forestry and fishery farms/production facilities must meet the following conditions:
- Comply with legal regulations on production, business and trade of goods.
- Have a production management system to ensure product traceability.
- Have facilities and equipment suitable for the production process.
- Have human resources trained in good agricultural practices.
The main criteria of VietGAP, according to research, currently apply to agricultural production with a total of 83 criteria. Specifically, the VietGAP standard set includes the following groups of criteria:
- Management of input materials (17 criteria):
- Requirements on the origin, quality and safe use of fertilizers, pesticides and other materials.
- Manage books and records for the purchase and use of input materials.
- Control the quarantine period, the time of appearance of chemical residues in the product.
- Production management (25 criteria):
- Requirements on cultivation process, season, crop varieties, irrigation techniques, pest control.
- Manage books to record daily, weekly, and seasonal production activities.Requirements on hygiene and food safety during harvesting, preservation, and transportation.
- Environmental management and protection (16 criteria):
- Requirements for protecting water sources, land, and air from pollution.
- Safe management of waste, wastewater treatment, and sanitation management of production areas.
- Applying environmentally friendly farming methods.
- Occupational safety and health management (10 criteria):
- Requirements for equipment and labor protection equipment for workers.
- Training and equipping knowledge on occupational safety and environmental sanitation.
- Ensuring working conditions, personal hygiene, and health for workers.
- Traceability and harvesting (15 criteria):
- Requirements for management, storage of records, and documents recording the origin of input materials and the production process.
- Attaching stamps, labels, and packaging of products for traceability.
- Controlling quality and food safety at the harvesting and post-harvest stages
These criteria are based on the good agricultural practices (GAP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and integrate Vietnam’s requirements for food safety, environmental protection and occupational safety. This is a comprehensive set of standards, ensuring safe, sustainable and traceable agricultural production. Production facilities must fully comply with these criteria to be granted VietGAP certification.
2. Global GAP
To obtain Global GAP certification, an international standard for food safety, environmental and occupational health and safety in agricultural production, businesses need to go through a challenging but necessary process. First, businesses need to understand the more than 200 different criteria of this standard, related to farm management, food hygiene and safety, occupational health and safety, as well as environmental management.
- Farm Base: About 50-60 criteria
- Food Safety: About 60-70 criteria
- Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare: About 20-30 criteria
- Environment and Landscape Conservation: About 40-50 criteria
Role and consulting services for training in production processes according to VietGAP and Global GAP standards
Consulting on building production processes
Consulting and guiding the building of production processes according to VietGAP and Global GAP standards is one of the important tasks of experts in this field. This process includes two main contents: assessing the current situation and proposing improvements, as well as guiding the building of documents and processes.
1. Assessing the current situation and recommending improvements
2. Guidance on building documents and processes
After assessing and recommending improvements, experts will guide businesses to develop necessary documents and processes. They will help businesses establish detailed regulations and processes on input material management, production management, environmental management, record keeping, etc. This ensures that businesses have all the necessary documents to implement and maintain production activities according to standards.
Thanks to consulting and guidance on building this process, businesses will improve their ability to meet the requirements of VietGAP or Global GAP standards, thereby improving product quality, increasing competitiveness and expanding export opportunities.
Training and support
In addition to consulting and guiding the development of production processes, training and supporting producers is an indispensable step in the process of applying VietGAP or Global GAP standards.
1. Raising awareness of standards and benefits
Raising awareness of standards and the benefits of application is extremely necessary. Many producers still do not fully understand these standards, nor are they aware of the benefits of complying with these standards. Therefore, experts need to conduct training sessions and seminars to equip them with basic knowledge of VietGAP and Global GAP, clearly explaining the requirements and regulations of these standards.
At the same time, they also need to clarify the practical benefits that producers can receive such as: improving product quality, increasing export opportunities, improving working conditions, etc. This helps producers understand and support the application of standards, thereby proactively participating in the implementation process.
2. Guidance on implementing certification requirements
After raising awareness, experts will guide producers on how to implement the requirements of VietGAP or Global GAP standards. They will provide detailed information on the process, specific implementation steps, instructions on how to prepare records, take notes, etc. This helps producers understand the regulations and requirements and can implement them themselves at their units. In addition, experts also need to support producers during the implementation process, promptly answer questions and problems.