The rapidly increasing world population, changing nutritional habits and nutritional needs, negative changes in ecological balance, new agricultural techniques and increasingly diversified methods of processing agricultural products ready for consumption have brought some problems in the supply of harmless foods to human health. However, especially in recent years with the increasing consumer awareness of food products in the food market can be guaranteed to be preferred more.
Food safety means the absence of unnatural constituents in foodstuffs, harmless or acceptable levels, and food hygiene, as well as the relationship of the enterprises with the environment, public health and well-being during the production of food. Retailers came together to ensure that the product they offer to their customers is safe and produced in accordance with the sustainability principle, the concept of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices). Launched in 1997 as a non-profit initiative of the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP), EUREPGAP (also known as GLOBALGAP) has been designed to ensure the safety of agricultural products from farm to table according to the conditions developed by the EUREPGAP Technical and Standards Committee. is aimed at improving the quality of food.
First of all, GLOBALGAP certificate, which has become a prerequisite for the export of fresh fruits and vegetables to European Union countries, is a product monitoring assurance provided by European Union (EU) retailers to consumers. The consumer wants to make a commitment that any food taken from the shelf does not pose a safety risk for food hygiene and is produced through environmentally friendly practices. The manufacturer and / or exporter wishing to export to the EU has to prove to the consumer that the product fulfills these commitments through the retailer. As a result, the concept of the GLOBALGAP Certificate issued by third-party independent organizations, indicating that the relevant commitments have been met, has emerged. The GLOBALGAP Certificate serves as a passport for the producer and / or exporter to deliver their products to the EU market.
Due to this understanding, which has started to settle rapidly in our country, some big retailers have started to demand GLOBALGAP certified products from the manufacturers / suppliers as a proof of the reliability of the products they offer to their customers.
GLOBALGAP standards are the standards that define the minimum safety requirements of the consumer. Consumers, the food they buy;
- Since it is not harmful in terms of microbiological, physical and chemical aspects,
- No harm to the environment and natural balance during production,
- Manufactured in accordance with legal requirements and
- They want to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure the health and safety of the persons involved in production.
GLOBALGAP, which is also considered as a quality system in the agricultural sector, focuses on the production in the field, adopts integrated agricultural principles, and provides HACCP and ISO 9001 in terms of food safety and quality; ISO 14001 in terms of environmental management and OHSAS 18001 in terms of occupational health and safety. However, it foresees monitoring of Integrated Pest Management and Integrated Crop Management methods.
