NZGAP Social Practice Add-on
Enabling growers to demonstrate they meet both locally and globally recognised social practice standards.
Why its needed:
There have been some cases of worker exploitation
overseas, as well as here in NZ, so a result consumers (therefore retailers),
are now requiring assurance for social responsibility in a similar way that
food safety (GAP) certification has been required by most retailers over the
past 20 years. The benefit for growers is that multiple market and regulatory
requirements (e.g. Food safety, Environment, Social Practice, Health and
Safety) can be managed on one effective assurance system, meaning reduced costs
and complexity for growers while delivering the same outcome of safe and
sustainable horticulture produce.
Regulatory and Market acceptance:
NZGAP has recently been accepted as pathways for growers
to meet requirements of the Food Act. In a similar way, NZGAP is working with
the Labour Inspectorate for regulatory acceptance of this Social Practice
add-on, as well as monitoring compliance progress of the industry in the area
of social practice. NZGAP is working with the major wholesalers and retailers
on the development and implementation of this add-on so that it meets their
expectations.
Who it is for:
NZGAP certified growers are provided with the option to include the Social Practice Add on as part of their NZGAP certification. The Social Practice add-on will also be available to
labour contractors so that growers can have confidence that the contractors
they employ are meeting the relevant market and regulatory requirements.
GRASP is an add-on to a GLOBALG.A.P. audit covering employment law and worker rights on farms
Available now
Click here to register for the GRASP add-on
(download and complete the electronic form)
The NZGAP GRASP add-on is now available and audits will be commencing soon for some growers. The scope of GRASP includes all labour inputs for produce handling, thus records from any packing and labour contracting services are included in the grower's audit.
We encourage Growers to contact their marketer and product groups to see if they require a GRASP assessment for this season.
To make the process more streamlined for growers, the GRASP add-on is now available for the following operations:
- Growing - NZGAP GLOBALG.A.P. Equivalent
- Growing - Option 1 GLOBALG.A.P.Labour contracting
- Labour Contracting
- Packing for others
Your business does not have to be NZGAP certified to register for the GRASP add-on through NZGAP.
(Click on Guideline image for a preview)
More information on GRASP
Growers that supply European markets may be required to complete social practice audits in the near future, with a number of wholesalers and retailers in Europe requesting certification to the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) scheme for the coming season. GRASP is an add-on to a GLOBALG.A.P. audit, which involves an 11 point checklist covering employment law and worker rights on farms.
NZ’s National Technical Working Group is developing guidelines covering our local employment laws which will be used for all GRASP audits in New Zealand. It is anticipated to be available from November 2016. The certification requirements for social practice differ between markets, so growers are advised to speak with their exporters and marketers to understand if they require GRASP certification. Certification Bodies can provide advice on how GRASP audits can added to a GLOBALG.A.P. audit.
Download an informational PDF here , with more to be published over the coming weeks as guidelines are finalised.
This presentation also provides some more information on the new programme.
