Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)

• Date: February 13, 2011
• Source: Admin

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Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are a collection of principles applied to on-farm production and post-production processes, leading to safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural products, taking into account economical, social and environmental sustainability. 

GAP Principles

The four principles of GAPs are

1. economic viability,
2. environmental sustainability,
3. social acceptability and food safety and
4. quality

GAP Objectives 

The objectives of GAPs codes, standards and regulations include:

 

 

Ensuring safety and quality of produce in the food chain

Capturing new market advantages by modifying supply chain management

Improving usage of natural resources, workers’ health and working conditions, and

Creating new market opportunities for farmers and exporters in developing countries.

 

GAP Benefits

 

Improves safety and quality of food and other agricultural products.

Ensures better compliance with national and international regulations, standards and guidelines on permitted pesticides, maximum levels of contaminants in food and non-food agricultural products.

Checks chemical, microbiological and physical contamination hazards.

Promotes sustainable agriculture while meeting national and international environment and social development objectives.

 

 

GAPs require maintenance of a common database on integrated production techniques for each of the major agro-ecological areas. This would help in the collection, analysis and dissemination of information on good practices in the relevant geographical contexts.

Status

The United States Department of Agriculture currently operates an audit/certification program to verify the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices and/or Good Handling Practices. The USDA guidelines focus on food safety, and do not address topics such as animal welfare, biodiversity, or the use of antibiotics and hormones. The program was developed in response to a petition from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The USDA GAP/GHP guidelines and principles are based upon a 1998 Food & Drug Administration publication entitled, "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables."

 

Sources:

1.       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Agricultural_Practices

2.       http://www.fao.org/prods/gap/