Changes To Pre-Harvest Harmonized Standards Now Official

WASHINGTON, DC – The Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative Technical Working Group (TWG) has approved changes to the Field Operations and Harvesting Harmonized Food Safety Standards. The new version of the Harmonized Standards will become obligatory on November 1, 2013. The new version is now posted on the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative webpage, www.unitedfresh.org/gap_harmonization.

David Gombas, Sr. Vice President, Food Safety and Technology for United Fresh said, “Six changes were approved back in July of 2012, at the last TWG meeting. They were posted on the GAP Harmonization webpage and we received no comments or concerns. The Calibration Committee, which includes ten of the audit organizations using the Harmonized Standards, revised the training materials for auditors in May, but asked that we allow the previous version to be used during this summer’s growing and harvest season. So, while the standards have now been officially changed, operations can still use the 2011 version through October.” 

The goal of the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative is one audit by any credible third party, acceptable to all buyers. To achieve this goal, the Initiative developed food safety Good Agricultural Practices standards and audit checklists for pre- and post-harvest operations, applicable to all fresh produce commodities, all sizes of on-farm operations and all regions in the U.S., and has made them available for use by any operation or audit organization at no cost.

For more information on the Harmonized Standards please visit www.unitedfresh.org/gap_harmonization or contact Erin Grether, United Fresh’s Government Affairs & Science Policy Coordinator at 202-303-3400 or egrether@unitedfresh.org.

Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.

Source: United Fresh Produce Association