Growers Support Global Harmonized Standards

U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving to harmonize organic standards with global trading partners, some produce growers, shippers and marketers are advocating a similar approach to global food safety standards.

The Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association has been involved in harmonizing good agricultural practice standards for the past three years, said Ray Gilmer, United Fresh’s vice president of communications.

“The GAP harmonization is a big part of that, but it only goes so far,” Gilmer said.

He said there are standards that transcend grower GAP standards and complicate plans for harmonization of food safety standards worldwide.

“It does create a bit of a headache for people who are trying to minimize costs,” he said.

Richard Lee, compliance coordinator with the Leamington-based Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association, said the industry needs a single set of rules.

“We need a set platform, and we’re asking domestic producers (in Canada) to apply international standards,” he said.

The Food Safety Modernization Act, of which the Food and Drug Administration released some rules in early January, is another factor, said Hank Giclas, vice president for science, technology and strategic planning for Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers.

“I think there are efforts to harmonize, and I know some of our closer trading partners in Canada and Mexico are working with FDA to stay abreast of the new rules,”