Global Food Safety
Initiative Seeks Comments on USDA Application for Technical Equivalence
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages specialty crops stakeholders
to submit comments to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) on the USDA
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) application for the USDA Harmonized GAP
Plus+ standard to be recognized as technically equivalent to GFSI’s food safety
benchmarking requirements.
USDA undertook the technical equivalence process at the
request of the specialty crops industry to align the USDA Good Agricultural
Practices Program with industry recognized food safety audit requirements and
to provide the specialty crops sector with a single government-based
certification program that meets multiple market access requirements.
USDA Harmonized GAP Plus+ Standard, an extension of the
existing USDA Harmonized GAP audit, is based on the Produce GAPs Harmonized
Food Safety Standard, an industry-led initiative to reduce the need for
multiple, often duplicative audits that specialty crops producers are required
to undergo for market access.
As part of the evaluation process, GFSI has opened a 30-day
public stakeholder consultation period seeking comments on AMS’ application for
GFSI technical equivalence. The application was posted May 23, 2018. Submit
comments on the GFSI website under Technical
Equivalence, Consultations.
The pursuit of GFSI technical equivalence continues USDA’s
commitment to growing marketing opportunities for specialty crops producers,
increasing purchasing options for buyers, and providing consumers with access
to more and diverse fresh, local produce.
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