EUREPGAP “Integrated Aquaculture Assurance” - GlobalGAP

The Global Partnership for Safe and Sustainable Agriculturewww.eurep.orgIntegrated Aquaculture AssuranceThe Global Pre-Farm Gate Standard

EUREPGAP “Integrated Aquaculture Assurance”is a Normative Document for international certification and accredited to ISO 65(EN 45011), thus, it can be applied globally with the same professional levels!The document has been developed by representatives of all sectors of theaquaculture industry world-wide.Started as an initiative by single supply chain in 2003, the current version of theEurepGAP IAA-document and procedures has been agreed among partners fromthe entire food chain for aquaculture. A Technical and Standards Committee,consisting of producer and retail members, is responsible for the correct andefficient implementation and continuous improvement of EurepGAP.Approval and CertificationAquaculture farm organisations or individual farms receive their EurepGAP approval via a EurepGAP Certificate, whichis issued by a EurepGAP approved Certification Body (CB). Since approved CBs are regularly trained and checked,EurepGAP publishes an up-dated list of approved CBs on its Website.A specifically designed approval process, the EurepGAP Benchmarking Option, facilitates existing national or regionalquality assurance schemes to prove equivalence with EurepGAP requirements. Hereby, the industry avoids multipleaudits at farm level and encourages the development of regionally adjusted integrated Good Aquaculture Practices.Organisational StructureEurepGAP members gave themselves a governing structure to maintain their fundamental status:■ independent and non-profit■ democracy and partnership■ wide and global consultation.The ultimate authority to guide the policy of EurepGAP rests with the Steering Committee, chaired by an IndependentChairman. The EurepGAP Standards and General Regulations are finally agreed in the respective Technical andStandards Committee (TSC).A Council represents the wider stakeholder group, which advisethe Steering Committee and TSC.EurepGAP members established the legal entity FoodPLUSGmbH to reflect the industry control of the standard. Thecore activity of FoodPLUS as the Global Body for EurepGAPImplementation is■ to facilitate EurepGAP activities■ to serve as legal owner of the normative documents■ to host the EUREP Secretariat.CouncilSteeringCommitteeStandards& GeneralRegulationsTechnical &StandardsCommitteeThe Executive Management of FoodPLUS, i.e. its ManagingDirector, is responsible for the implementation of Policies andStandards.FoodPLUSGmbH

Documents, Standards and ProceduresThe EurepGAP normative document consists of:■ the Control Points and Compliance Criteria of a all farmed fish base module and a species module■ the Checklist for each module■ the General Regulations (process of certification and specific auditor requirements).All components build a package and are part of a contractual agreement between EurepGAP, Certification Body andGrower or Grower Organisation.MembershipKey players and progressive organisations within the global aquaculture industry have joined the EurepGAP partnershipsince the beginning of the IAA activity. They enjoy the benefits of:■ providing input into the continued technical improvement of EurepGAP documents■ contributing to the democratic partnership structure by attending membership meetings and nominatingrepresentatives for committees and council■ demonstrating their commitment towards EurepGAP by signing the terms of reference■ enjoying logo display on EurepGAP website and on presentation charts■ receiving preferred information on latest developments and trends■ participation in the member peer review of Benchmarking procedure■ being afforded discounts on service and seminar feesInterested parties can apply for membership through the online registration form on EurepGAP Website:http://member.eurep.org/signup.htmlWebsite: www.eurep.orgThe EurepGAP website contains necessary information to manage aEurepGAP approval:■ EurepGAP Documents for download■ Certification Bodies that certify EurepGAP■ Questions and Answers■ News on latest developments■ Conference and Seminar details■ Members only section as discussion platformEUREPGAP TERMS OF REFERENCERespond to Consumer Concerns on Food Safety, Animal Welfare, Environmental Protection and Worker Welfare by:■ Encouraging adoption of commercially viable Farm Assurance Schemes, which promote the minimisation of agrochemical inputs,within Europe and world wide.■ Developing a Good Aquaculture Practice Framework for benchmarking existing Assurance Schemes and Standards includingtraceability.■ Providing guidance for continuous improvement and the development and understanding of best practice.■ Establishing a single, recognised framework for independent verification.■ Communicating and consulting openly with consumers and key partners, including producers, exporters and importers.“The integrity and harmonisation programme of EurepGAP creates an exciting opportunity to assure foodsafety and enhance sustainable agricultural systems on a global level.Nigel Garbutt, Chairman EurepGAP