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Passing your first GlobalGAP inspection is hard work. Keeping it is harder — because buyers check your GGN every order. This guide covers everything you need to do between inspection years to never lose your certificate.
Getting GlobalG.A.P. certified is a significant achievement for any African farm. It opens doors to EU retail supply chains, Middle East wholesale buyers, and export markets that are simply inaccessible without it. But certification is not a one-time achievement — it is an annual commitment that requires disciplined record-keeping, farm maintenance, and preparation throughout the year.
The mistake many African farms make is treating GlobalG.A.P. as an annual inspection event rather than a year-round operational standard. Inspectors can arrive for unannounced visits at any point during your certificate year. Records compiled in the week before the annual inspection will not survive scrutiny from an experienced auditor. This guide explains how to maintain your certificate properly.
Every GlobalG.A.P. IFA certificate is valid for 12 months from the issue date. This 12-month cycle contains two inspection events: the annual announced inspection (where your certification body contacts you in advance to schedule the audit) and at least one unannounced inspection (where an inspector arrives without prior notification, typically checking one or two specific compliance areas).
The announced inspection is your primary renewal event. Preparation for it should begin 8–12 weeks before the expected inspection date — not in the week before. The unannounced inspection can happen at any point during the certificate year. Farms that maintain their systems continuously have nothing to fear from unannounced visits. Farms that only comply around inspection dates typically fail them.
GlobalG.A.P. IFA V6 uses a checklist of requirements classified into three compliance levels. Understanding these levels is essential for knowing what will cause certificate suspension versus what triggers a corrective action.
| Requirement Level | Definition | Consequence of Non-Compliance | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Must (Majors) | Non-negotiable requirements — compliance is mandatory for certification | Zero Major Must non-conformances permitted. Any failure = certificate cannot be issued/renewed | Spray diary completeness, pesticide storage security, worker health and safety basics, product traceability system |
| Minor Must (Minors) | Requirements that must be met or have documented corrective action | Must demonstrate compliance with at least 95% of applicable Minor Musts | Soil analysis records, irrigation management documentation, waste disposal procedures |
| Recommended (Recs) | Best practice — compliance is voluntary but encouraged | No direct certificate impact | Environmental enhancement activities, additional worker welfare measures |
Record-keeping failure is the most common reason African farms receive non-conformances at renewal inspections. Inspectors look at the currency and completeness of records — a spray diary with entries only around the inspection date is immediately suspicious. These are the records you must maintain continuously:
Every pesticide application must be recorded within 24 hours of application. Record: date, crop, product name, active ingredient, dose rate, area treated, water volume, operator name, weather conditions, and equipment used. Pre-harvest intervals (PHI) must be calculated and recorded for each application. Inspectors check for completeness, correct PHI compliance, and whether products used are on the approved pesticide list for your target market.
Record all fertiliser applications: date, product, amount, area, and method. Organic amendments require documentation of source and pathogen reduction process. Soil analysis results must be filed to justify fertiliser programme.
Irrigation source documentation required. Annual microbiological and chemical water quality tests from an accredited laboratory required for all sources used on the crop. Records must show test results are acceptable and within safe limits for food safety.
Each harvest lot must be recorded with date, quantity, field/block reference, crop variety, and destination. This enables traceability from consumer complaint back to field — a core GlobalGAP requirement. Lot numbers on harvest records must match lot numbers on packhouse output documentation.
Annual training on pesticide safety, food hygiene, and first aid must be documented. Attendance records with signatures required. Worker health assessments or hygiene declarations must be on file.
Sprayer calibration must be conducted and documented at least annually and after repairs. Weighing scales calibration records required. Temperature monitoring logs for cold storage where applicable.
The GlobalG.A.P. Database was retired on 3 November 2025. Certificate verification is now handled through the Supply Chain Portal at globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal. This is the database your EU buyers check every time they want to verify your certification before placing an order or at customs clearance.
After your certification body completes the renewal inspection and issues your new certificate, log in to globalgap.org/supply-chain-portal and search for your own GGN number. Confirm that: your certificate shows as active with the correct expiry date, the certified scope (product and activity) is correct, and your company name exactly matches what is on your commercial documents. If anything is incorrect, contact your CB immediately — your buyers will see the same errors and may hold orders until corrected.
A GGN that shows as expired, suspended, or with incorrect scope data will cause your EU buyers to receive a non-compliant result when they check, triggering immediate order holds. This situation most commonly arises when farms renew their certification but there is a processing delay at the certification body before the Supply Chain Portal is updated. Always allow 5–10 business days after your certificate is issued for the portal to reflect the updated status, and check proactively before your buyers are likely to verify.
If your annual inspection finds non-conformances, do not panic. Major Must failures and Minor Must failures are handled differently.
For Minor Must non-conformances: you have until the next renewal inspection to correct them, as long as your overall Minor compliance rate remains above 95%. A corrective action plan (CAP) submitted to the CB within 28 days showing how you will address the issues is typically sufficient. Minor non-conformances are common even on well-managed farms and do not prevent certificate renewal if overall compliance is strong.
For Major Must non-conformances: these must be corrected within the deadline set by your CB — typically 28 days from the inspection date. You must submit documented evidence (photos, records, invoices, or inspector revisit confirmation) that the non-conformance has been corrected. If you cannot correct a Major Must within the deadline, your certificate will be suspended and your GGN removed from the Supply Chain Portal.
Download the current GlobalGAP IFA V6 self-assessment checklist from globalgap.org. Complete it honestly against your actual farm practices. Identify any Major Must gaps and make corrective actions immediately — do not wait.
Review all 12 record categories for completeness and accuracy. Ensure spray diary entries are complete and consistent with your pesticide storage records. Check irrigation test results are current and within acceptable limits.
Walk the farm physically. Check chemical storage is locked and organised. Check field toilets are clean and stocked. Check handwashing stations are functional. Replace expired first aid kit items. Verify all PPE is available and in usable condition.
Ensure all workers can explain what to do if they find food safety hazard. Update training records for the year. Check that the designated farm contact who will accompany the inspector is available and briefed on the inspection scope.
ExportReady.africa helps African exporters navigate GlobalG.A.P. certification from first application through annual renewal — with guides, CB comparisons, and the verified supplier directory.