‘GLOBALGAP much easier-to-understand’ TRADE AND MARKETING No misuse of GGN Another significant adjustment is the stimulation of the proper use of the unique GLOBALGAP numbers (GGN). This incentive is intended to prevent the possible misuse by participants. ‘Noncertified products should not be sold under existing GGN numbers, for example. This could possibly happen with numbers of growers who never use their GGN. It is for this reason that we require GLOBALGAP participants to have the buyers of their products sign a written statement in which they promise not to misuse the farm-connected GGN. What’s more, manufacturers and packagers are not permitted to print GLOBALGAP as a hallmark or trademark on the final packaging of the produce. GLOBALGAP merely serves as a quality assurance within the food chain: from primary producer (farmer) to the retail chain’, Minnaar emphasises. Surprise inspections ‘In addition to natural fertiliser and plant protection products, it’s now also compulsory to record any other substances added to the food crops’, Minnaar completes Klompe’s story. Examples in the cultivation of potatoes include surfactants, bacterial applications or plant enhancers. ‘These products haven’t been allocated approval numbers, but must now be officially recorded by their proper names.’ As far as inspections are concerned, the general rules of GLOBALGAP now also include a number of other changes. It is now possible for the NAK AGRO to make annual inspections throughout the year, for No problems with adjustments Klompe indicates that he has no problem with these stricter rules and inspections. SEVENTY HECTARES OF POTATOES Together with his cousin Frans van der Linder, Gilles Klompe runs a partnership crop farm with a total surface of 280 hectares. Here, 70 hectares are used for potatoes, half of which is seed and the other half consumption potatoes. The seed potato varieties include the Orchestra, the Lady Clair, the Lady Olympia, the Lady Rosetta and the Melody. Two varieties from this list, the Lady Olympia and the Lady Clair, are also grown for consumption purposes. For those in the know, it is obvious that, as far as seed potatoes are concerned, the partnership does its business with the Meijer trading company in Rilland. The consumption potatoes go to LambWeston in Kruiningen and are processed into chips. example. Each successive year, these inspections are to be carried out at varying times throughout the season. During harvesting, for example, during the growing season and one more time when the potatoes are being processed at the farm. Each inspection should take at least three hours. According to Minnaar, this is the total time necessary for a physical inspection and includes administrative preparation and completion. The latter operations could also take place at the office of the inspector. Among all the inspections, ten percent of GLOBALGAP participants may also be confronted with surprise inspections. ‘You shouldn’t take this too literally, because the participants will always receive a 48-hour advance warning. In principle, these inspections may not be refused, although there are exceptions to this rule, of course, and if we consider them reasonable, we’ll pick a new surprise moment’, Minnaar makes clear. ‘What’s important for me is that I have a detailed file in my hands, which I can show to my customers and prove that I’ve taken every step necessary to safeguard food safety. More registration, such as with the plant protection product stocks, makes the records much more well-ordered’, Klompe knows from personal experience. ‘If you keep all the data in the computer up to date, you won’t make many mistakes. You have immediate access to your data, for example during the new unannounced NAK AGRO inspections. At moments like these, the disadvantage of more administration is quickly compensated.’ ● Leo Hanse Potato World 2012 • number 4 35 Pagina 34
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