Objectives of GAP Certification
- Increase market access locally and internationally for horticultural products.
- Empower farmers to comply with consumer-driven safety and quality standards.
- Facilitate adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
- Elevate farmers’ profile as nationally recognized producers of safe and quality fruits and vegetables.
- Provide consumers with the option to purchase traceable and certified quality produce.
Scope of Guidelines
- Establishes rules for granting, maintaining, and withdrawing GAP certificates.
- Applies to individual growers, farms, or Produce Marketing Organizations (PMOs) involved in fresh fruit and vegetable production and marketing.
Administration and Committee Composition
- A GAP Certification Committee is formed including directors from various DA-attached agencies, private sector, NGOs, and academe.
- Key members include BAFPS (Chair), Bureau of Plant Industry (Co-Chair), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Soil and Water Management, and representatives from commercial crops, private sector, NGOs, and academe.
Committee Functions
- Review and approve GAP certification applications.
- Endorse applicants to the DA Secretary for certification issuance.
- Approve any changes in standards and fees.
- Hear appeals and review complaints related to non-compliance.
- Determine and enforce penalties for abuses.
- Negotiate settlements and manage investigation costs.
- Designate qualified national and regional inspectors.
Secretariat and Inspectors
- BAFPS acts as the secretariat for administrative functions.
- National Inspectors are designated technical personnel from DA agencies; Regional Inspectors are constituted as needed.
Application Process
- Applicants may be individual growers, PMOs, or companies with national schemes.
- Applications submitted to the DA Secretary through the Certification Committee.
- Supporting documents include farm/organization profile, registration certificates, and operational track records.
- PMOs must demonstrate 100% control over registered growers adhering to GAP.
- Certification fees are established to cover evaluation, inspection, and audit expenses.
Certification Procedures
- Notification of inspection within 30 days after application evaluation.
- Inspections may include sampling of water, soil, plant tissue, with testing costs borne by applicants.
- Exit interviews conducted post-inspection addressing potential issues.
Criteria for Issuance of GAP Certificate
- Compliance with the Code of Practice of Good Agricultural Practices.
- Implementation of a transparent, traceable system tracking produce from sowing to harvest/packaging.
- Proper farm documentation maintained and accessible for two years; new applicants must provide at least three months of records.
- Appointment of a farm coordinator for certification matters.
- Committee reviews inspection reports and may approve, deny, or pending applications with timely notification.
- The DA Secretary grants final approval; certificate issued with a permanent registration number upon approval.
- Certified farms entitled to use the official "Good Agricultural Practice for Fruits and Vegetable Farming" mark.
Renewal of Certification
- GAP Certificates valid for three years; renewal applications submitted one month before expiry.
- Inspections for renewal conducted within 30 days of application, preferably during active farming periods.
Use and Regulation of GAP Mark
- The official GAP Mark may only be used by certified farms.
- Unauthorized use of the Mark is an offense.
- Use of the Mark in advertisements, letterheads, and packaging must comply with specifications and be approved by the Committee.
- Non-compliance may result in withdrawal of the privilege to use the Mark.
Revocation of Certificate
- Non-compliance with major criteria in the Code of GAP may result in fines, suspension, or withdrawal of the certificate.
- Penalties and revocations are publicly announced.
Confidentiality
- All involved parties must maintain confidentiality of applicants’ information including production practices, ingredients, and customer data.
- Exceptions include name, contact details, certification status, court orders, or investigations related to complaints.
Conflict of Interest
- Defined as having economic ties with an applicant one year before, during, or one year after employment.
- Staff with conflicts must disclose and abstain from related discussions or decisions.
Additional Regulations and Effectivity
- Other regulations may be added as necessary to ensure safety and quality in certified farms.
- The Order took effect 15 days after filing with the UP Law Center, dated August 2, 2005.