How will my company be certified?
Find your roadmap to apply for environmental certification and GAP certification here. The roadmap for small-scale growers can be found using the button below.
Roadmap to certification
Once you know which certification suits you best, you can start the certification process. Below you will find a step-by-step plan which stages you go through to be certified according to the Environment and GAP pillar.
Certifications in both pillars (environment and GAP) can be arranged with MPS and GLOBALG.A.P.. Both organizations are basically the same. The difference between the two organizations is that MPS is a company certificate (your entire company is certified). GLOBALG.A.P is a product certificate, which allows you to certify only your floriculture and leave out arable farming, for example.
Roadmap for obtaining Environmental Certification:
Step 1: Choose an organization
- Through GLOBALG.A.P, you go for the GLOBALG.A.P.-IDA.
- Through MPS, you go for the MPS-ABC.
Step 2: Select the registration tool
Once you've chosen the GLOBALG.A.P.-IDA environmental certificate, register with one of these two registration tools:
If you have chosen the MPS-ABC environmental certificate, register with MPS:
Step 3: Get a quote
If you have chosen the GLOBALG.A.P.-IDA environmental certificate, request a quote from one of these certification bodies:
If you have chosen the environmental certificate MPS-ABC, you do not need a separate certification body. This is also done through MPS itself.
Step 4: Get started
For the environmental certificate you keep track of your plant protection products, fertilizers, water and energy, among other things. You can find all the information you need to keep track of in the registration tool. Once you have entered all this you can proceed to the next step; the audit. This is performed after a period of 6 months (GLOBALG.A.P) or 13 periods (MPS). After performing the audit, you will receive a certificate.
Step 5: Apply for the external audit
After 6 months (GLOBALG.A.P) or 13 periods (MPS), the certification body will contact you to conduct the external audit. This is the certification body you chose in step 3. For GLOBALG.A.P, it is one of these three:
For MPS, the external audit is through MPS itself.
Step 6: Arrange the annual check
To maintain your environmental certificate, an annual audit is conducted by the certification body. This appointment is made with you annually by the institution itself.
Step-by-step plan for obtaining GAP certification:
Step 1: Choose an organization
- Through GLOBALG.A.P, you go for the GLOBALG.A.P.-IFA Flowers & Ornamentals.
- Via MPS, you go for the MPS-GAP.
Step 2: Perform an internal audit
For the GAP certificate you do not select a registration tool, here you perform an internal audit.
- The checklist for GLOBALG.A.P.-IFA Flowers & Ornamentals can be found here: IFA v6 Smart for flowers and ornamentals.
- The checklist for MPS-GAP can be found here: MPS-GAP checklist V11.
Currently (September 2024) this is the latest version. Always check the GLOBALG.A.P and MPSwebsite to make sure you have the latest version of the checklist.
Step 3: Get a quote
If you have chosen the GAP certificate GLOBALG.A.P.-IFA Flowers & Ornamentals, get a quote from one of these certification bodies:
If you have chosen the MPS-GAP certificate, you do not need a separate certification body. This is also done through MPS itself.
Step 4: Get started
For GAP certification, you meet the requirements in the areas of traceability, environment, plant protection products and sustainable production conditions, among others. In the checklist from Step 3, you'll find what you need to have in place to proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Apply for the external audit
When you have finished implementing the GAP requirements, you can make an appointment for an external audit. You do this at the certification body you chose in step 3. Schedule this appointment on time.
For GLOBALG.A.P this is:
For MPS, the external audit is through MPS itself.
Step 6: Arrange the annual check
To maintain your GAP certificate, an annual audit is conducted by the certification body. This appointment is made with you by the institution itself.
Need help?
Arranging certification can be quite a job. Would you like to be supported in this? Royal FloraHolland is happy to help members make the right choice. Contact KCC or sustainability@royalfloraholland.com. Some registration bodies also offer help. You can look into this in your search for the right partners.