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The short version
- Contract cancellation triggers an immediate twelve-month re-entry ban preventing registration with any certification body.
- Producers facing cancellation are strictly prohibited from using trademarks, logos, or making certification claims across all sites.
- Transfers between certification bodies require resolving all active non-conformances before the outgoing certification body releases the GGN.
- Extending certificate validity locks the producer to the outgoing certification body for twelve months unless formal release occurs.
Regulatory triggers for cancellation and the twelve-month ban
Section 7.4.4 of the individual producer rules and Section 7.4.3.4 of the Quality Management System rules establish criteria for contract cancellation. Cancellation represents the most severe sanction in the standard, issued when producers commit fraud, misuse certification claims, or fail to resolve suspensions within the maximum twelve-month period.
Cancellation applies to all products, sites, and producer group members under the registered legal entity. Quality managers, compliance leads, and internal auditors must understand that cancellation terminates all contractual rights under the sublicense and certification agreement.
Section 7.4.4 c and Section 7.4.3.4 c mandate that cancelled certificate holders shall not be accepted for certification within twelve months of the cancellation date. This ban applies across all approved certification bodies worldwide, preventing non-compliant producers from attempting immediate recertification elsewhere.
GGN release procedures and transfer locks between certification bodies
Section 5.2.1 and Section 9.1 d of the certification body rules establish that every registered legal entity receives a single, unique GLOBALG.A.P. Number. Double registration of a legal entity or product across multiple certification bodies is strictly prohibited.
Section 9.1 j dictates that the outgoing certification body maintains complete responsibility for the producer until certificate expiry. The accepting certification body enters a binding agreement only after the outgoing certification body formally releases the GGN in the IT platform.
Section 5.2.3 b and Section 7.4.3 b prohibit sanctioned producers from transferring to a new certification body until the outgoing body closes all outstanding non-conformances. Section 9.1 c provides a sole exception for expired certificates where the outgoing body may release the GGN if the accepting body is fully informed.
Certificate validity extensions and transfer restrictions
Section 7.3 and Section 9.2 govern transfer rules when a certificate validity extension of up to four months is granted. Section 9.2 a dictates that when an extension is issued, the producer cannot change certification bodies for twelve months following the original certificate validity date.
Section 9.2 c permits an exception only if the outgoing certification body explicitly requests termination of the extension and authorizes the Secretariat to transfer the GGN. The decision to release a client under an active extension contract rests entirely with the outgoing certification body.
Section 5.2.3 c of the Quality Management System rules prohibits individual group members from leaving a group to join another group if pending sanctions exist. Producer groups retain authority to control member movements and must resolve internal non-conformances before permitting transfer.
Comparison of cancellation, transfer, and GGN release rules
| Regulatory aspect | Contract cancellation | Standard transfer | Transfer during extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main trigger | Fraud, claim misuse, or unresolved suspension | Expiry of certificate or mutual agreement | Certificate extended beyond 12 months for up to 4 months |
| Re-entry timeline | Mandatory 12-month ban from cancellation date | Immediate upon certificate expiry and GGN release | Locked for 12 months from original expiry date |
| GGN release condition | Blocked during 12-month ban period | Released by outgoing CB in IT platform after closure of non-conformances | Released only if outgoing CB explicitly terminates extension |
| Trademark rights | Immediate total prohibition across all products and sites | Valid until certificate expiry date | Valid until extended expiry date |
What to do now
- Monitor suspension deadlines: Track all open corrective action deadlines to ensure non-conformances are closed well before the maximum twelve-month suspension limit.
- Verify GGN status in IT platform: Audit supplier and member GGN entries in the IT platform to confirm active status before initiating transfers.
- Coordinate transfers prior to extension: Finalize certification body transfer agreements before requesting a certificate validity extension to avoid contract locks.
- Resolve outstanding sanctions: Clear all non-conformances with the outgoing certification body to enable GGN release in the IT platform.
Reference documents
- GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – Rules for individual producers, v6.0_Sep22, Section 5.2.3, Section 7.4.3, Section 7.4.4
- GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – Rules for producer groups and multisite producers with QMS, v6.0_Sep22, Section 5.2.3, Section 7.4.3, Section 7.4.4
- GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – Rules for Certification Bodies, v6.0_Sep22, Section 4.2, Section 5.2, Section 9.1, Section 9.2
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