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Every GlobalG.A.P. certified farm has a unique 13-digit GGN. EU buyers use it to verify your certificate in real time — but the old database was retired in November 2025. This guide explains what the GGN is, how the Supply Chain Portal works, what the CoC Number is, and exactly what buyers see when they check your certification.
You have invested months preparing for your GlobalG.A.P. audit. The certification body has confirmed you passed. Your certificate is issued. Now what? The moment a European supermarket buyer or importer receives your export offer, they do not take your word for your certification — they verify it. They open the GlobalG.A.P. Supply Chain Portal, enter your 13-digit GlobalG.A.P. Number (GGN), and in seconds they see whether your certification is current, what product categories it covers, and when it expires. If your certification body has not yet updated the portal, or if your certificate lapsed three weeks ago without your EU buyer noticing, the status check fails — and the purchase order may not follow. Understanding exactly how the GGN system works, what buyers see, what can go wrong, and how to manage your certification status proactively is as important as passing the audit itself.
Important 2025 Update: The GlobalG.A.P. Database at database.globalgap.org was permanently retired on 3 November 2025. All certificate verification is now exclusively through the GlobalG.A.P. Supply Chain Portal at globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal. Any bookmarked links to the old database no longer work. If your buyers are still referencing the old database URL, alert them to the change immediately.
The GlobalG.A.P. Number (GGN) is a unique 13-digit numerical identifier assigned to every producer or producer group that registers in the GlobalG.A.P. certification system. The number is assigned at the point of registration — when the producer signs a Sublicense and Certification Agreement with a GlobalG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) — before any audit takes place. The GGN is permanent: once issued, it stays with the producer throughout their certification history. If a producer changes certification body, their GGN moves with them.
The GGN is written as "GGN" followed by the 13 digits — for example, GGN 4049929000003. This full format appears on the physical or electronic certificate issued by the CB, and it is what EU buyers, retailers, and importers use to verify certification status in the Supply Chain Portal. The GGN is also the number printed on product packaging when a producer participates in the GGN Label initiative (discussed separately below).
Globally, nearly 200,000 producers in over 130 countries hold GlobalG.A.P. GGNs. For African fresh produce exporters supplying EU supermarkets, your GGN is the primary proof of certification that every significant buyer in the EU system requires — it is not optional, and it cannot be substituted by a paper certificate alone.
The GlobalG.A.P. Supply Chain Portal replaced the retired Database as the single source of truth for certification verification. It hosts registration and certification data for all GlobalG.A.P. registered producers and is maintained and updated by certification bodies in real time as audits are completed and certification decisions are made.
Navigate to globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal. Public verification requires no login. The portal is accessible to anyone — buyers, importers, retailers, and consumers — without creating an account.
Type or paste the 13-digit GGN into the search field. The GGN appears on your GlobalG.A.P. certificate, on your CB's registration documents, and on any product packaging where you use the GGN Label. If searching for a supply chain operator (exporter, packer, trader), use their CoC Number instead.
The Portal returns public certification information. What is visible to all users: producer or producer group name, current certification status (Certified, Suspended, Withdrawn, or Not Certified), product scope and categories (e.g. Fruit and Vegetables — Sub-Scope: Avocados, French Beans), farm size or production volume (if the producer has consented to share this data), and certificate validity period (start date and expiry date).
Audit report content — including scores on individual control points, major musts compliance details, and any non-conformances identified during the audit — is strictly private. Only the CB, the producer, GlobalG.A.P. itself, and any approved observers can access audit report details. This means EU buyers cannot read your audit scores through the Portal — they can only see your certification status and scope.
EU buyers who manage multiple African supplier relationships can create a Bookmarking Account in the Portal (requires a paid subscription). This allows them to monitor a portfolio of GGNs, receive automated alerts before certification expires or if a certificate is suspended, and access additional data insight services. Many EU supermarket buying teams use bookmarking accounts to manage compliance monitoring of their African supply bases continuously.
A Kenyan avocado exporter searches for their Nairobi-based packhouse partner using GGN 4049929000003. The Portal returns: Status: Certified | Standard: IFA V6 — Fruit and Vegetables | Sub-Scope: Avocados, Pears | Certificate Valid: 14 March 2025 – 13 March 2026 | Producer Group: Yes — 847 sub-producers. The EU buyer sees this in real time and can confirm the supplier is certified, which specific crops are in scope, and exactly how many days remain on the current certificate before renewal is needed.
Many African exporters are confused about the difference between the GGN and the CoC Number — and which one their EU buyers will ask for. Understanding this distinction is critical for building a compliant supply chain.
The GGN identifies the primary producer — the farm or farmer group where GlobalG.A.P. certified production took place. If you are a farmer or farmer group that sells directly to a European importer (unusual but possible in premium channels), your GGN is what the buyer verifies. If you are a packhouse or exporter buying from GlobalG.A.P. certified farms, you need the GGN of each supplying farm to verify that you are sourcing certified produce.
The GlobalG.A.P. Chain of Custody (CoC) Number is assigned to supply chain operators — packhouses, exporters, traders, and processors — who handle certified produce after it leaves the farm. To maintain the certified identity of a product as it moves from farm to export, each handler must hold a CoC certification and their own CoC Number. When a Kenyan packhouse buys GlobalG.A.P. certified avocados from a group of 200 farms and exports them to a Dutch importer, the supply chain verification involves: the farms' GGNs (proving the source produce was certified) and the packhouse's CoC Number (proving the certified produce was handled under a certified custody system).
EU supermarket buyers typically require both: verification of the source farm GGNs AND the exporter's CoC Number. Without the CoC Number for the packhouse or exporter, the certified chain is broken — the product cannot be sold as GlobalG.A.P. certified even if the farms themselves are certified.
| Identifier | Who Gets It | What It Confirms | Verified In |
|---|---|---|---|
| GGN (GlobalG.A.P. Number) | Farm or farmer group (primary producer) | Farm-level production is certified under GlobalG.A.P. IFA or other standard | Supply Chain Portal — public, no login |
| CoC Number (Chain of Custody Number) | Packhouse, exporter, trader, processor | Supply chain operator handles certified produce under an approved custody system | Supply Chain Portal — public, no login |
| GGN Label Number (ggn.org) | Producers participating in the consumer label initiative | Links consumers to farm profiles for transparency — retail packaging facing | ggn.org — consumer-facing portal |
The GGN Label is a separate, optional initiative built on top of the GGN system. Relaunched in 2021 as a cross-category consumer label covering fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, and flowers, the GGN Label uses the same 13-digit number but connects it to a consumer-facing farm profile at ggn.org. When a product with the GGN Label printed on its packaging reaches a retail shopper, they can scan or enter the number at ggn.org and view the farm profile — where the food came from, what crops are grown, and that the farm is GlobalG.A.P. certified.
Participation in the GGN Label is not automatic — certified producers must sign a GGN Label system participant agreement, create an account and profile on ggn.org, pay the GGN Label participation fee, and agree for their profile to be publicly visible. The GGN Label has been awarded the highest "top quality label" classification by independent Dutch sustainability foundation Milieu Centraal. As of December 2023, GGN Label holders operated in 31 countries with products in 40 countries. The label is particularly visible on EU supermarket shelves in Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Japan.
For African exporters targeting premium EU supermarket channels, participation in the GGN Label initiative can differentiate your product and enhance brand visibility at retail — but it is an additional cost and commitment beyond basic GlobalG.A.P. certification. Discuss with your EU buyer whether they actively promote GGN Label products before investing in participation.
After a successful audit, certification bodies must update the Supply Chain Portal with the certification decision. If a CB is slow to update, a buyer verifying the GGN immediately after the audit may see "Not Certified" status. Always confirm with your CB the timeline for Portal update after the audit — and follow up if the status has not changed within 5 business days.
IFA certificates are valid for one year. If your renewal audit is delayed — by scheduling conflicts, CB availability, or failure at the first renewal attempt — your certificate may lapse. During a lapsed period, the Portal shows "Expired" and buyers cannot source against your GGN as certified produce. Plan your renewal audit for at least 30 days before expiry to allow buffer.
If your certificate covers "Fruit and Vegetables — Avocados" but you are trying to sell certified French beans, the buyer's verification will show that beans are not in your certified scope. Scope must be agreed with your CB before the audit — ensure every crop you intend to export is listed in your certification scope before the audit takes place.
A common compliance gap: the farmer group holds a valid GGN, but the packhouse that handles and packs the produce does not hold a valid CoC Number. EU supermarket buyers who require full chain-of-custody certification will reject sourcing from uncertified packhouses regardless of farm-level GGN validity. Confirm your packhouse partner's CoC Number in the Portal before any commercial shipment.
In group certification (Option 2), individual farmers are sub-producers under the group's QMS. If new farmers join the group after the audit but before the next renewal, they may not be registered in the Supply Chain Portal. EU buyers conducting spot-checks on individual farmer traceability may find unregistered sub-producers — triggering compliance queries. Keep sub-producer lists updated in the Portal via your CB.
Producers receive their GGN at registration — before the audit. If you share your GGN with a buyer at this stage and they verify it, they will see "Not Certified" status. This can undermine buyer confidence before you even ship a box. Only share your GGN once your CB confirms the certified status has been entered in the Supply Chain Portal.
Reactive management of your GGN — only checking the Portal when a buyer flags a problem — is a compliance risk. The following proactive practices keep your certification status working for you commercially rather than against you.
Check your own GGN monthly. Log the Portal address (globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal) and verify your own GGN at least once per month. Confirm status shows "Certified," your product scope is complete and current, and your expiry date has not passed. If anything looks wrong, contact your CB immediately — Portal updates are the CB's responsibility, not yours.
Set a renewal deadline 45 days before expiry. Most certification bodies require 2–4 weeks' notice to schedule an audit. A 45-day internal deadline gives you time to book the audit, complete any internal preparation, and complete the audit itself before the certificate expires. A certificate lapse — even for 2 weeks between expiry and renewal — can interrupt commercial supply relationships that depend on certified status.
Verify your packhouse and exporter CoC Numbers annually. CoC certifications also expire annually. At the start of each export season, verify the CoC Numbers of every packhouse and freight agent handling your certified produce in the Supply Chain Portal. A lapsed CoC in your supply chain breaks the chain of custody and means produce cannot be sold as certified, even if farm-level GGN status is valid.
Share your GGN proactively with buyers. Include your GGN on your company letterhead, email signature, product specification sheets, and export documentation. EU buyers who receive your GGN at the start of the commercial relationship can bookmark it in their Supply Chain Portal account and receive automatic alerts — meaning they will know before you do if your certification is about to expire, and are more likely to prompt you to renew than simply stop sourcing.
In the EU fresh produce market, your GGN is more than a compliance requirement — it is an active commercial asset. Buyers use the Supply Chain Portal to screen potential new suppliers before making first contact. A verified, current GGN appearing in the Portal confirms at a glance that you are audit-ready, professionally certified, and have a track record of maintained certification. Exporters who keep their GGN status current and share it proactively give EU buyers immediate confidence that they are dealing with a compliant partner. Those who cannot produce a verifiable GGN or whose Portal status shows expired do not make the shortlist.
A GlobalG.A.P. Number (GGN) is a unique 13-digit identification number assigned to every producer or producer group registered in the GlobalG.A.P. certification system. It is assigned at registration — before the audit — and is permanent. Once certified, the GGN is the identifier buyers use to verify current certification status in the Supply Chain Portal. It appears on your certificate, your product packaging (if you use the GGN Label), and your export documentation.
The GlobalG.A.P. Database at database.globalgap.org was permanently retired on 3 November 2025. All certificate verification is now through the GlobalG.A.P. Supply Chain Portal at globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal. Public verification is free and requires no login — simply enter the 13-digit GGN or CoC Number to see certification status, product scope, and validity dates.
A GGN is assigned to the primary producer — the farm or farmer group — and confirms farm-level GlobalG.A.P. certified production. A CoC (Chain of Custody) Number is assigned to supply chain operators — packhouses, exporters, and traders — who handle certified produce after the farm gate. EU supermarket buyers typically verify both: the farm GGNs (confirming certified source) and the exporter's CoC Number (confirming certified handling). A missing CoC Number at the packhouse level breaks the certified chain of custody even if farm GGNs are valid.
Public verification shows: producer name, certification status (Certified, Suspended, Withdrawn, or Not Certified), standard and product scope (e.g. IFA V6 — Fruit and Vegetables: Avocados), farm size or volume (if the producer consents to share), and certificate validity period. Audit report content — individual control point scores and non-conformances — is private and only accessible to the CB, the producer, and GlobalG.A.P.
The GGN Number is the supply chain verification identifier used by buyers and retailers. The GGN Label is a separate, optional consumer-facing initiative where the same 13-digit number is printed on retail packaging, allowing shoppers to trace products to the farm via ggn.org. The GGN Label was relaunched in 2021 as a cross-category label covering fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, and flowers. Participation requires a separate agreement and fee — a certified farm has a GGN but is not automatically part of the GGN Label initiative.
A GGN is assigned at registration — before the audit. However, the Portal will show "Not Certified" until the CB enters the certification decision after a successful audit. Sharing your GGN with buyers before certification is confirmed risks them verifying it and seeing an uncertified status. Only share your GGN with buyers once your CB confirms that certified status has been updated in the Supply Chain Portal.
The majority of GlobalG.A.P. standards including IFA (Integrated Farm Assurance) are valid for one year — annual audits are required to maintain certification. A small number of standards follow a three-year cycle. After each annual audit, the CB updates the Supply Chain Portal with the new expiry date. Plan your renewal audit at least 45 days before expiry to ensure continuous certified status and avoid supply interruptions to EU buyers.
ExportReady displays and cross-references GlobalG.A.P. GGN and CoC Numbers for verified African exporters — so EU buyers can confirm certification status without leaving the platform.
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