Steps for introducing ASIAGAP/JGAP

Individual farm audit and certification and group audit and certification

ASIAGAP and JGAP are systems for farm management, group management and certification programs. The entity receiving certification is either a farm or a group.

A farm is an agricultural management unit, such as an individual farmer (a sole proprietor) or a farming corporation. A group means a group of agricultural management units centered on group administration, an enterprise managing multiple farms, or a similar organization.

The process for granting certification to a farm is called an individual farm audit and certification.
The process of granting certification to a group is called a group audit and certification. 

Individual farm audit and certification --  Where an individual (one management unit) works on ASIAGAP/JGAP

inding facts

Understanding ASIAGAP/JGAP

1Obtain ASIAGAP/JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms.
Check the content of the compliance criteria to see which criteria you fulfill and which ones you don't.

*Conditions necessary to acquire the certification
→ASIAGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms
→ JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms

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Required: 100% conformity with the applicable Major Must
Important: Greater than 95% conformity with the applicable Minor Must
(greater than 85% for ASIAGAP Ver. 2.2)

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3 months or more
before the audit

2Establishing procedures based on the ASIAGAP/JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms and implementing them
Prepare record files and record the procedures that were implemented.

Make improvements by repeating steps 1 to 5.

Step 1: Clarify the division of duties on the farm.
Step 2: Inspect the farming environment and assess its risks.
Step 3: Create a Work Procedure Manual for Farm Management.
Step 4: Thoroughly inform employees of the rules and provide training.
Step 5: Recording, verification, and self-inspection

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Application

3Applying for an audit

*The audit fee varies according to the size of the farm, number of crops, and other elements.
Receive quotes from certification bodies before selecting one.
→List of Certification Bodies

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On the day of the audit

4Audit

All control points need to be audited, and each will be evaluated as conforming, non-conforming, or not applicable.

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ithin 4 weeks
of the audit

5Correcting points that were evaluated as non-conforming
Correct points that were evaluated as non-conforming and send a report of the correction to the certification body.

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Decision

6Decision of the audit

The certification body makes a decision and grants the ASIAGAP/JGAP Certificate if the farm meets the certification criteria.

Group audit and certification -- Where a group works on ASIAGAP/JGAP

Finding facts

1Checking rules that are shared within the group at present

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Determining the direction

2 Clarifying the division of duties among the group administration and member farms

Determine which control points in the ASIAGAP/JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms the group administration is in charge of and which ones farms are responsible for.

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Understanding ASIAGAP/JGAP

3Determine the structure of the group/farm management manual, create its table of its contents, create a comparison table with ASIAGAP/JGAP control points, and establish the group/farm management manual based on the Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms and the Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Group Administration

Change the rules, which were confirmed in step 1, so that they conform to the standard. Set items that were absent in the previous rules.

*Conditions necessary to acquire the certification

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3 months or more before the audit

4Establish a Farm Management Manual based on the ASIAGAP/JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Farms and the ASIAGAP/JGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria for Group Administration, and then establish and implement the procedures (rules of the group).
Prepare record files and record the procedures that were implemented.

Step 1: Distribute and implement the group/farm management manual and thoroughly inform members of the manual.
Step 2: Plan and prepare for an internal audit.
(Select internal auditors and internal audit assistants, create a checklist for internal audits, and determine the audit standards.)
Step 3: Conduct an internal audit (of farms and group administration).
Step 4: Take corrective actions for the matters pointed out in the internal audit.
Step 5: Confirm the corrections.

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Application

5Applying for an audit
*The audit fee varies according to the size of the group, number of crops, and other elements.
Receive quotes from certification bodies before selecting one.
→List of Certification Bodies

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On the day of the audit

6Audits

The group administration and member farms will be audited. All control points need to be audited, and each will be evaluated as conforming, non-conforming, or not applicable.
Farm audits are conducted for sample farms. (The minimum number of samples shall be the square root of the total number of member farms, which shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.)

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Within 4 weeks of the audit

7Correcting points that were evaluated as non-conforming

Correct points that were evaluated as non-conforming and send a report of the correction to the certification body.

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Decision

8Decision on the audit

The certification body makes a decision based on the results of the audit and grants the ASIAGAP/JGAP Certificate if the group meets the certification criteria.