Retailer audits
An increasing number of European supermarket retailers
insist on either GLOBALGAP or their own compliance schemes, and frequently both.
Maintaining competitive advantage over rivals sometimes means that GLOBALGAP is
treated as a baseline and the company's policy is then to work toward higher
standards. Real IPM can help you through the confusion of slightly different
requirements contained within these policies - whether expressed in a formal
scheme or simply as part of a company's current commercial practice.
GLOBALGAP pre-audit
All the main UK supermarket chains and many in other parts
of Europe now require certification against this standard. It defines the
minimum acceptable standard. Growers receive their GLOBALGAP approval through
independent verification from a verification body that is approved by GLOBALGAP,
but by using the Real IPM pre-audit, growers are assured that they will not be
surprised during that actual audit process by any factors that they had not
previously considered.
The following areas are included within the pre-audit:
. record keeping
. varieties and rootstocks
. site history and management
. soil/substrate management
. fertiliser use
. irrigation
. crop protection
. harvesting & post harvest treatments
. waste, recycling and re-use
. worker health and welfare
. environmental issues
Tesco's 'Nature's Choice' pre-audit
Nature's Choice is an Integrated Crop Management System
(ICMS) which has been running within the Tesco Produce Department since it's
conception in 1991. Auditing is by independent, unannounced, inspection so
regular use of the Real IPM pre-audit is advisable in order to ensure continued
compliance.
All UK growers of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and other
ornamental plants have to meet strict guidelines protecting wildlife and the
land - ie the farm's biodiversity - in order to do business with Tesco. These
guidelines are now being introduced to suppliers around the world.
Nature's Choice promotes the use of beneficial insects
rather than chemicals to control pests, and encourages water and energy
efficiency and recycling. Growers are asked to draw up a farm conservation plan,
which guides them in protecting important wildlife and landscapes.
Tesco's own assurance scheme is important because this
company represents over 25% of the UK grocery market, and as policy they are
demanding more and more in terms of environmental and social integrity. There
are some areas where Tesco require suppliers to exceed the requirements of the
standard assurance schemes where they believe that customer requirements are not
already being met. In other words, Tesco insist on compliance with their unique
Nature's Choice standards, not just GLOBALGAP, although they also accept the
Assured Produce scheme as an alternative to Nature's Choice.
Assured Produce
Assured Produce promotes safe and environmentally
responsible production of fruit, salads and vegetables through the use of
Integrated Crop Management (ICM). This is a philosophy that recognises the need
for crop production to be both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Growers join the scheme and after completing all the
requirements of the standard are certified as full members of the scheme. The
rules of the scheme set out how the assessment is carried out, the basis on
which the grower is or is not certified, the method of appeal and the data
protection obligations of the scheme managers and operators.
While Nature's Choice is unique to Tesco, Assured Produce
has been adopted by other UK retailers. The Assured Produce scheme requires its
member growers to undergo regular audits.
Marks and Spencer
All Marks and Spencer producers must comply with the Assured
Produce scheme, but the company recently began an additional review of its
approach to pesticide use. They are working to develop a leading position on
pesticide use. As a result they have their own prohibited list of pesticides,
and have established challenging targets agreed with suppliers for reducing
residues well below industry norms.
The company aims to phase out any pesticides that may cause
health or environmental problems before they are officially banned, and have
already agreed with suppliers to stop using 60 different pesticides world-wide.
A further 19 pesticides can only be used on a restricted basis - 'With
Permission Only'. These will be phased out for use in M&S produce in the
short to medium term when suitable alternatives are found.
The Real IPM pre-audit will ensure existing or prospective
M&S suppliers that they are compliant with this company's pesticide
policies.
Waitrose accreditation scheme
Waitrose has developed a strong organic supply base and also
sources conventional crops grown from Integrated Crop Management Systems (ICMS),
using the best horticultural practices, site selection, husbandry and chemical
controls based on sound scientific evidence. This minimises the use of
chemicals. ICMS are independently audited for all fruit and vegetables produced
in the UK. Waitrose supports crop assurance schemes such as Assured Produce in
the UK, and are extending auditing to verify ICMS worldwide. Risk assessment of
product safety determines the frequency by which Waitrose technologists
undertake audit visits.
Ten years ago Waitrose started to remove certain pesticides
from its supply chain, in particular nematicides, which inhibit nematodes in the
soil, and is one of a group of pesticides that Friends of the Earth has
identified as being of great concern. They have stopped the use of aldicarb on
potatoes and have continued their campaign to reduce organophosphates.
Waitrose's crop producers are replacing them with biological controls,
non-chemical controls and natural predators. They are also choosing to grow
crops with greater natural resistance.
The Real IPM Waitrose pre-audit will ensure that current or
prospective suppliers are up-to-date with the company's current
requirements.
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