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GRASP: Social Practice Risk Assessment

Social practice add-on assessed alongside a GLOBALG.A.P. farm audit.

social

  • Assessment typeAdd-on
  • Point of assessmentFarm level
  • OutputResult, not certificate

Overview

GRASP (GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice) is an add-on module assessed together with a GLOBALG.A.P. IFA audit. It evaluates social practices on the farm — including worker representation, grievance mechanisms, working conditions and the protection of seasonal workers — and results in a letter of conformance rather than a stand-alone certificate.

Social compliance at farm level has become a standard expectation in European fresh produce sourcing, driven by retailer codes of conduct and supply chain due diligence requirements. For berry supply chains that rely on seasonal harvest labour, GRASP provides structured evidence that social risks are identified and managed, complementing farm-level food safety certification.

  • An assessment, not a certification

    GRASP produces a compliance level published in the GLOBALG.A.P. database rather than a certificate. Buyers read the level, not a pass or fail.

  • Assessed with the farm audit

    It is carried out during the IFA audit, so the incremental cost is low compared with a standalone social audit.

  • Worker representation is the core

    The presence of a functioning workers' representative, employment records and evidence that workers know their conditions are the parts that generate findings.

Structure of the Standard

How the requirements are organised.

RefRequirement
VOICEWorkers' Voice and RepresentationWorker representation systems and documented communication between workers and management.
GRIEVGrievance MechanismsAccessible, confidential complaint procedures with follow-up and records.
CONTRContracts and Working ConditionsWritten terms, working time, wages and benefits consistent with applicable law.
HSHealth and SafetyRisk assessment, training, protective equipment and access to facilities for farm workers.
YOUNGProtection of Young WorkersMeasures preventing child labour and protecting young workers, consistent with ILO principles.

Where it Applies

  • Retail social compliance requirements

    Several European retailers ask for GRASP alongside IFA rather than a separate ethical audit.

  • Seasonal labour risk

    Berry and vegetable harvesting is labour-intensive and seasonal, which is precisely where the risk sits.

  • Producer groups

    Assessed at group level with sampling of member farms.

How it Compares

Positioning against neighbouring schemes.

  • Versus SMETA

    SMETA is a fuller ethical audit methodology applied to any site type. GRASP is lighter, farm-specific and bundled with IFA.

FAQ

Is GRASP mandatory?

Not under IFA itself. It becomes mandatory when a buyer specification requires it.

How is the result expressed?

As a compliance level visible in the scheme database to buyers the producer has authorised.

Does it replace national labour law compliance?

No. It checks evidence of compliance; the legal obligation is unaffected.

Sources & References

Evidence confidence: partial

Next step

Need these specifications confirmed for your order size?

Send the volume and destination and we reply with availability, packaging options and the documents required.

Vorezan publishes reference information for buyers and suppliers. We are not a certification body, a customs broker or a guarantor of any third party. Regulatory references point to the framework in force at the review date; verify the current consolidated text and your own obligations before relying on them commercially.

Last updated: August 22, 2026Sources & references