Japan GAP Foundation

About ASIAGAP

ASIAGAP is a GAP certification program approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). ASIAGAP includes elements of food safety, environmental protection, occupational safety, human rights, welfare and farm operations as JGAP does.
Because the standards are to be created in line with GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, the food safety element includes an approach based on HACCP, food defense, and the prevention of food fraud. As audits are conducted also in accordance with GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, a one-day (eight-hour) or longer audit is required for the individual farm audit and certification of a standard-sized farm.  There are also cases where a sampled farm is audited without notice. 

Source: YouTube channel of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Produced by: Project for Enhancing the Understanding of GAP by Japan-ASEAN Partnership (ASEAN-MAFF GAP Project)

Scope of certification and items to be audited

ASIAGAP audits and certifications are implemented in three categories: fruits and vegetables, grains, and tea. The scope of the certification approved by GFSI is shown in the table below based on the relationship between each category and process. Certification will not be granted for BIII alone.
In addition, each category has a list of standard item names, and the certification covers the listed items.

Relationship between categories and processes for agricultural products with GFSI codes

process	Fruits and Vegetables	Tea	Grains
Cultivation and Harvesting	○BI	○BI	○BII
Produce handling	○BIII ( *1 )  （selecting harvest etc.,）	○BIII ( *1 )  （Unrefined tea）	○BIII ( *1 )  （Drying and Trimming）
processing	-	×Finished tea（*2）	×Polished rice（*2）

*1 BIII was formerly D. BIII began to be used in the Benchmarking Requirements Ver. 2020 (announced in February 2020).
*2 Finished tea and polished rice can be certified under JGAP.

Explanation of sectors defined by GFSI

Scope	Explanation
BI	Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses)
BII	Farming of Grains and Pulses
BIII	Pre-Process Handling of Plant Products, Nuts and Grains

About GFSI

GFSI, or the Global Food Safety Initiative, is a non-profit organization composed of food-related enterprises and organizations that operate globally. It aims to continuously improve food safety management systems to ensure the building of trust and deliver safe food to consumers worldwide. One of its major activities is to approve food safety certification programs.

ASIAGAP trainer

A trainer is a person who supports and guides farms to help them acquire or retain certification.
People who pass the ASIAGAP trainer basic course to learn the basics of ASIAGAP are registered as a trainer by the Japan GAP Foundation.

People can go on to become ASIAGAP senior trainers by applying to do so after they have provided guidance to multiple farms as a trainer and have knowledge of group audits and certification.
To remain qualified, trainers need to continue learning the latest ASIAGAP information.

ASIAGAP auditor

An auditor is a person who conducts audits of farms or groups.
ASIAGAP auditors are divided into the following three levels.

1. Senior auditor
   Qualified to audit a farm alone
   Qualified to conduct a group administration audit alone

2. Auditor
   Qualified to audit a farm alone
   Qualified to conduct a group administration audit in the presence of a senior auditor

3. Auditor candidate
   Qualified to audit a farm in the presence of a senior auditor or auditor

The requirements for being an ASIAGAP auditor, such as educational background, career, and participation in training courses, are set for each sector defined by the GFSI. For details, see Chapter 11 of the ASIAGAP General Regulations and the supplementary letter.

How to display ASIAGAP certification 

Using a Certified Farm logo is a way of indicating that a farm or group has acquired ASIAGAP certification. To use a logo, you need to apply for and receive approval from the Japan GAP Foundation.
Application procedure, conditions for use, fees, and other details are stipulated in the Detailed Rules on the Use of ASIAGAP Official Logos. 

ASIAGAP certified farm logo

Situations where the ASIAGAP Certified Farm Logo is not used

ASIAGAP certified farms and groups are allowed to use the following expression for their certified agricultural products to state that they are certified. (*The ASIAGAP Certified Farm Logo Mark may not be used for consumer products.)

"This product was produced at an ASIAGAP certified farm (Registration No. XXXXXXXXX)."