GLOBALG.A.P. 2026 Changes: IFA v6, GFS v6.1, GRASP and Buyers

Where does GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6 stand in late 2026?

IFA v6 is the only version audited for fruit and vegetables, in two editions. Smart replaced version 5.2 on 1 January 2024; GFS replaced version 5.4-1-GFS on 1 January 2025. According to GLOBALG.A.P.’s IFA page, both editions are equally valid, and it is usually customer requirements that decide which one a producer implements.

The dates that matter to a Moroccan exporter, all taken from official documents:

What does the benchmarking of IFA GFS v6.1 change?

Nothing for your certificates for now. GFSI’s page of recognised programmes still lists “Integrated Farm Assurance GFS Plants – Principles and Criteria for Fruit and Vegetables – version 6.0”, for scopes BI and BIII, against version 2020 of its requirements. Version 6.1, together with the aquaculture standard, appears on the page of programmes being benchmarked against version 2024.

That page describes a seven-step process, from application (step A) to GFSI’s final decision (step G). As of 6 November 2026, GLOBALG.A.P. has completed the application, the desktop review and the office visit assessment, and is at the corrective action plan (step D); no decision date is given. The GLOBALG.A.P. documents we consulted do not give a publication or application date for IFA GFS v6.1 either: ask your certification body before planning an upgrade.

For a producer, the course of action is simple: build on version 6.0, which is audited today, follow GLOBALG.A.P.’s Technical News, and ask the certification body which version it will audit next season. Our update on GFSI-recognised standards in 2026 gives the same reading for BRCGS, IFS and FSSC 22000.

What has changed for GRASP since 2024?

Three developments directly affect Moroccan farms. They come from GLOBALG.A.P.’s Technical News to certification bodies and from the GRASP page.

• National guidelines are mandatory. The Technical News of November 2024 lists Morocco among the countries where certification bodies shall use the GRASP v2 national interpretation guideline. The April 2025 issue recalls that the exception allowing them to do without it has expired.
• Morocco is classified as high-risk. GLOBALG.A.P.’s list of high-risk countries, valid from 31 May to 31 December 2026, includes Morocco. This classification sets the GRASP methods of proof, including the presence of workers on the farm on the day of the assessment.
• Labour subcontractors are covered more precisely. A document on verification methods for subcontractors, valid since 1 August 2024, sets out which subcontractors fall under GRASP and to what extent.

The April 2025 issue also reminds auditors that they must comment on every requirement they assess, in a site-specific way. For the producer, this means named evidence: which documents, which interviews, which crews.

What other changes affect growers and packhouses?

Four clarifications from GLOBALG.A.P. change how a project is organised.

Here, RMS is GLOBALG.A.P.’s residue monitoring system and MRL the maximum residue limit. The same April 2025 issue specifies that the requirement for laboratory testing covers food safety parameters only: water, soil, product or environmental monitoring, not a soil fertility analysis.

What are buyers asking, and how should you answer?

Buyers ask three questions: which edition, which add-ons, which GGN. The 13-digit GGN lets a buyer check the certification status on GLOBALG.A.P.’s IT platform; give it with your offer.

According to the GRASP page, some buyers require GRASP, and some retailers consider other social programmes comparable. The same page cites the UK Modern Slavery Act among the due diligence laws that target human rights abuses.

Two alternative standards are also moving. SQF Edition 10, published in March 2026, has its audits expected from January 2027 according to the SQFI FAQ. PrimusGFS v4.0 is being benchmarked against version 2024. Neither replaces IFA v6 if your buyer asks for GLOBALG.A.P.

Monitoring checklist for the 2027 season:

• Each buyer has confirmed in writing the IFA v6 edition (Smart or GFS) and the add-ons expected.
  
• The GGN and the certificate status are checked on the GLOBALG.A.P. platform before each offer.
  
• Morocco’s GRASP v2 national interpretation guideline, in its current version, has been downloaded and read.
  
• Morocco’s GRASP classification for 2027 is checked as soon as it is published.
  
• The certification body has stated which version of IFA GFS it will audit next season.
  
• The November 2024 food safety policy declaration template is in use.
  
• Buyers who mention SQF or PrimusGFS have specified the edition or version expected.
  

The full framework, with editions, options and steps, is in our GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6 guide for exporters. A practical example of a buyer checking a certificate’s edition is in our case study of a European importer and three Moroccan suppliers.