Ministry of Commerce And Supplies - Enhanced Integrated ...

N T I S2010Appendix 6GAP Requirements for Smallholder FarmersOrganized in Producer GroupsIn the context of agricultural product in Nepal, GAP certification of individual smallholders can be feasibleonly in the context of producer groups that carry out crop production and marketing cooperatively. For suchgroups the following structure and systems need to be in place in order to achieve GAP certification.A. Quality ManagementThe producer group must have a structure that enables the application of a robust Quality ManagementSystem (QMS) across the whole group. This must demonstrably ensure through audits that the group’sregistered producer members/production locations comply in a uniform manner with the required GAPs andare each separately legally responsible for their respective production locations. The entire crop must beregistered for certification.The producer group or cooperative must be a documented legal entity with the legal right to carry outagricultural production and/or trading, and be able to legally contract with and represent the group members.There should be direct responsibility over the production, handling and ownership of the products, thusbeing responsible for the compliance with the GAPs as well as holding the contractual relationship with thecertification entity. The producer group must have a documented relationship between the producers andthe legal entity (signed contracts identifying the producer, production locations, commitment to comply withGAPs and the group’s documented procedures, policies, and, where provided, technical advice).A register has to be maintained of all member producers and of all the applicable sites used for GAPsproduction. This must include names, contact details, registered products, growing/ production area and/orquantity for each registered product.B. Management and OrganizationThe producer group must have a documented management structure and sufficient suitably trained resourcesto effectively ensure that the registered producers meet the required GAPs. This must include documentationof those in the management structure responsible for technical compliance.C. Competency and Staff TrainingAll personnel with responsibility for compliance with GAPs have to be adequately trained and meet definedcompetency requirements. These competency requirements, training, and qualifications should meet thedefined competency requirements and records of qualifications and training have to be maintained for allkey staff (managers, auditors, inspectors, etc) involved in GAPs compliance. Internal auditors and inspectorsneed to undergo training and evaluation, e.g. by documented shadow audits, to ensure consistency in theirapproach and interpretation of the standards. A system must be in place to demonstrate that key staff isinformed and aware of the developments, issues, and legislative changes relevant to the compliance withGAPs.D. Quality ManualThe operating and Quality Management Systems (QMS) related to GAPs need to be standard documentsand contained in a quality manual. Policies and procedures must be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate thegroup’s control of the principal requirements of GAPs and must be available to the registered members ofthe producer group as well as key staff. The contents of the quality manual must be reviewed periodically toensure that they continue GAPs standards and those of the producer group.308NEPAL TRADE INTEGRATION STRATEGY 2010BACKGROUND REPORT