GLOBALG.A.P. publishes IFA v6.1 Smart and GRASP v2.1 updates

Changes to Integrated Farm Assurance version 6.1 Smart

The publication of Integrated Farm Assurance version 6.1 Smart on 1 September 2026 introduces important operational revisions for certified companies, quality managers, and audit teams. The new version splits the general regulations into two distinct sets, separating general rules from those governing GFSI-recognised standards. This structural change removes the separate section on GFS amendments and additions to simplify compliance tracking. The update affects quality managers, compliance leads, internal auditors, and certification bodies across agricultural, supply chain, and aquaculture sectors.

The standard updates several administrative definitions and procedures to streamline certification management across production sites. Surveillance audits are now formally renamed as monitoring audits across all relevant standard documents. Furthermore, the mandatory three-year cycle for certification body audit content organisation has been deleted to support flexible risk-based auditing. Scheme managers and auditors previously approved for version 6.0 Smart are automatically re-approved for version 6.1 Smart without requiring additional examinations or training.

Updated requirements for audit sampling and aquaculture

The revised general regulations update audit sampling requirements for recertification audits across multi-site operations. When no non-conformances were raised during the previous monitoring audit, the required audit sample for sites is reduced to at least eighty percent of the square root of the number of sites. The definition of a producer group is also clarified to require a minimum of three members. In addition, audit requirements for product handling units holding a GFSI-recognised BIII certificate have been adapted to clarify specific sections that must be audited.

For aquaculture operations, version 6.1 aligns compliance levels and updates specific environmental and social criteria. Section AQ 4 regarding workers well-being has been harmonised, reflecting that social practice assessments are compulsory for aquaculture. In addition, version 6.1 removes Minor Musts in aquaculture, requiring full compliance across all Major Musts and Recommendations for certification. Further technical adjustments expand toilet facility requirements, adapt criteria for fuel oil tank holding areas, clarify feed conversion ratio calculations, and remove all instances of No N/A under section AQ 28.

Enhancements in plant production and supply chain standards

Plant production criteria under version 6.1 Smart include improved wording across several key environmental and food safety sections. Principles and criteria regarding laboratory accreditation, handwashing water, and preharvest water risk assessment now include explicit references to the mandatory decision tree. Furthermore, heavy metals have been added to maximum residue limit testing requirements, and guidelines for wastewater disposal have been clarified.

Supply chain rules under the Chain of Custody standard have been modified regarding destination country displays. Destination countries are no longer printed on certificates or displayed in the IT platform because listing destination countries created unnecessary administrative work when new markets were added. During a Chain of Custody audit, auditors assess whether the company has effective procedures in place to identify and comply with destination country requirements rather than verifying specific destination lists. Verification of destination countries under CoC SC 2.1 applies only if the supplier is a producer or producer group with IFA-certified production processes.

Key changes across supply chain and social practice standards

The latest technical newsletter details several operational changes across supply chain standards and social practice add-ons:

• Chain of Custody destination display: Destination countries are removed from certificates in the IT platform to eliminate unnecessary certificate updates when companies expand into new export markets.
• GRASP version 2.1 alignment: The Risk Assessment on Social Practice add-on was updated to version 2.1 to align with general regulations version 6.1 and correct criteria references.
• National interpretation guidelines validity: Existing national interpretation guidelines developed for GRASP version 2.0 do not need to be updated to version 2.1 as changes consist solely of wording corrections.
• Sanction catalogue scope extension: The certification body sanction catalogue now applies across all standards and add-ons for late checklist uploads rather than applying exclusively to social practice assessments.

What to do now

• Review internal QMS procedures: Quality managers should update internal audit checklists and procedures to reflect the Integrated Farm Assurance version 6.1 Smart criteria and new general regulations structure.
• Verify aquaculture compliance levels: Compliance leads in certified aquaculture facilities must ensure full compliance with all Major Musts and Recommendations as Minor Musts are removed under version 6.1.
• Check Chain of Custody trade protocols: Internal auditors in supply chain companies should review procedures for verifying destination country legal requirements rather than relying on certificate listings.
• Confirm auditor and trainer status: Scheme managers must check that in-house trainers and auditors registered for version 6.0 Smart are automatically transferred in the IT system.

Reference documents

• Technical newsletter for CBs, issue 02/2026, Section 2.1, Section 3.1, Section 4.1
• Technical newsletter for CBs, issue 01/2025, Section 2.3, Section 2.4
• Technical newsletter for CBs, issue 02/2024, Section 2.1.4