By Murimi Gitari, 29 April 2021
GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH has launched its consumer-facing initiative, the GGN label, during an online event on 27 April.
International stakeholders from the agriculture and retail sectors attended the online unveiling event during which GLOBALG.A.P. experts presented the new GGN label.
GLOBALG.A.P. announced the new GGN label, a cross-category label, can now be applied to fruits and vegetables unlike the previous GGN labels, which were specific to aquaculture and floriculture products.
Speaking during the launch of the label, Kristian Moeller, Managing Director, GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH said transparency was at the heart of the new GGN label that will help consumers to discover the roots of their products while helping the businesses who practice and support responsible farming showcase their commitment to this course.
“The new cross-category label will help consumers purchase products that are from transparent and certified farm processors while they shop from supermarkets and other retailers,” Kristian said.
The new GGN label stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency and it is available for both packed and loose fresh products. The label is available to producers, retailers, traders, packers and restaurant chains starting April 2021.
Moreover, all those using the old label and are with a valid certificate, and have gone through a gross assessment with full compliance and a chain of custody certificate can access and use the new label.
According to Kristian, the new GGN label is designed to communicate and reassure consumers as they will be able to tell the products that have come from certified farms or farmers.
GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH introduced its consumer-facing initiative, the GGN label, five years ago. It was first launched in 2016 for aquaculture products, and in 2017 for floriculture products. In 2021, it was introduced for fruit and vegetables marking a 5th anniversary into its existence.
All products with the GGN label come from a farm whose production process has been independently certified according to international GLOBALG.A.P. standards or one of the standards that is recognized by GLOBALG.A.P. as an equivalent.
These standards are holistic in nature and cover food safety, sustainability, environmental protection, animal welfare, workers’ health and safety, and supply chain transparency. These aspects come together under the GGN label, through unique 13-digit identification numbers that are linked to supply chain actors with GLOBALG.A.P. certification.
The traceability of products can be done by using the 13-digit identification number through a mobile device.
The GLOBALG.A.P. numbers correspond with profiles on the GGN label portal (www.ggn.org), allowing consumers to find the roots of their product.
The foundation of the GGN label is an internationally recognized and accredited set of good farming practices that cover food safety, sustainability, environmental protection, animal welfare, social responsibility, and supply chain traceability. The label ensures that the foods consumers buy are safe and are produced under responsible conditions that conserve soil and water, use energy efficiently, reduce waste, enable biodiversity, and protect both the people who produced them, and the animals on the farm.
Users will further receive a package of information from GLOBAGLG.A.P. explaining how to use the new GGN label.
