Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP / GAP) Certification

What are the GAP and myGAP?

Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) is an agricultural practice that addresses environmental, economic, and social aspects in order to ensure healthy and excellent quality products. In order to achieve efficiency, safety, consistency, and healthy processing, GAP is an interconnected framework for handling the hazards associated with the aspects of land, input, processes, and performance of agricultural production. The certification of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) has allowed Malaysian farmers to expand into the export market and increase rural communities' incomes. In order to ensure safe and nutritious goods, the Food Agriculture Organization describes GAP as a collection of concepts that encourage sustainable farming and post-production processes.

An accreditation process formerly known as SALM, to acknowledge farms that follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), function in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, taking into account the quality and workers' health & welfare and safe production.

GAP History in Malaysia

• Establishment -2002, referred to as SALM
• 2012 - Minister of Agriculture and Agrobusiness changes the name of SALM to myGAP - 2013
• myGAP - 3 Business Sector (Crop, Fishery, and veterinary)

Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP) enables local farms to produce high-quality goods and sell their products to foreign markets.

Any individual farm can comply with the initial criteria for land tenure, farm location, and water sanitation. The farm is expected to comply with a list of criteria set out for MyGAP certification upon application registration. There are 16 categorical elements in the MyGAP certification for agriculture, each of which contains unique guidelines or requirements depending on the Malaysian Standard MS 1784: 2005-Crop Commodities-Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).

To receive myGAP certification, agribusinesses must meet the MyGAP standard based on the following 16 elements:

The elements of myGAP certification

1. Traceability
2. Keeping records and performing internal audit
3. Raw material and rootstock planning
4. Site History and Management
5. Soil and Substrate Control
6. Managing Fertilizers
7. Irrigation and fertigation activities
8. Crop protection activities
9. Harvesting process
10. Post-harvest management
11. Management of Pesticide Residue
12. Waste Management, recycling, and re-use matters
13. Health and Safety of Workers
14. Management of Environmental Issues
15. Keeping Records of Complaints
16. Legal requirements and Withdrawal Process

Why do you Need to Get Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP)?

Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) is an agricultural practice that focuses on natural, economic, and social issues in order to ensure healthy and good quality products. But participation and receiving this certification is optional. However, when importing goods from other nations, buyers of fruits and vegetables have deemed GAP certification, myGAP as in the new name, one of their criteria.

What are the Qualifying Conditions for Enrollment in the MyGAP Application?

To qualify for myGAP Registration, the following farmers should be considered:
• Livestock sites (private / rented / temporary possession / lease) are lawfully maintained and operated.
• For at least 1 year or one cycle, the person should be running livestock and has a record production of harvests.
• Updating paperwork and databases for farmland.
• Willing to consider the Malaysian Ministry of Fisheries' comments, interpretations, and recommendations for change about the aspects of good aquaculture practices.

Quality products are accredited by the Quality Assurance Program (QAP) as evidence of their adherence to valuing quality products, nutritious food, environmental protection, animal care, and health and safety for workers.

Step 1 - Application

The State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN) must refer to applicants who are qualified and who meet the requirements, depending on the location of the farm or facility.

Using the ARF-01/2017 form available at UBPN, unregistered farms must apply for a registration submission.
Within 10 days of uploading the application form, UBPN can pre-register for record review and certification of the farm or facility.

A registration number, sent by official letter or e-mail, will be given to candidates validated by pre-registration.

Step 2 - Implementation of Audits

Applicants are required to prepare a QAP Document and must apply a formal application to UBPN and be able to be audited.

Step 3 - Appointment of Auditors

Based on previous audit experience and audit results, the audit team will be chosen.

Step 4- Audit Compliance

Visits to compliance audits are carried out by determining if the quality assurance framework recorded in QAP documentation is consistent with agricultural practices.
A Corrective Action Request where there are results that do not follow the inspection requirements can be demanded. And the owner shall complete the disciplinary steps decided upon.
To assess the corrective steps taken by the farm owner, UBPN will conduct a follow-up report.

Step 5 - Evaluation and Qualification Committee for the Fisheries Biosafety Audit (JKPP)

If the report of the auditors and UBPN is not satisfactory, the audit report submitted will be reviewed and the committee has the authority to examine and revoke the credential.

Step 6 - Acceptance

The Division Senior Director's acceptance is based on the JKPP suggestion.

Step 7 - Reward for Certificate

The successful candidate will be given the certificate and the certificate is valid for 2 years.

Categories of the Checklist for Certification

• 34 items are Major must have or do
• 66 items are Minor must have or do
• 40 items are encouraged to have or do

Minor Must (100%)

The requirements must be fulfilled and if necessary, they can be undermined. The effects on food production, the environment, and workers' safety and health are not all that significant.

Major Must (>95%)

They are critical requirements and hence, they must be fulfilled and practiced by farmers and cannot be violated in the crop production process. This would result in significant danger and effect on food production, the ecosystem, and the protection and health of the staff if these principles are not adopted.

Encouraged (>50%)

In the agricultural manufacturing process, these requirements and factors are not obligatory. These are the general requirements for good agricultural practices advised for adoption to farmers. In this situation, the threat and impact possibilities are minimal and would not result in harmful consequences on the climate, food safety, or the health and safety of employees. For example, seeds used for field planting should be ideally resistant or tolerant of large insects and pathogens.

What are the Benefits of MyGAP Certification?

• Generates quality agricultural products that are healthy for consumption.
• Reduces environmental emissions and helps grow the national agriculture sector in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way.
• Given the GAP is accepted throughout the world, it makes it easier for goods to be exported.
• It is a qualification that promotes one certification program.
• Ensures the staff's wellbeing and health.
• Supports and promotes consumer acceptance of only one certification in agricultural, livestock, and aquaculture products.
• GAP is more commercialized, unlike SALM, SPLAM, and SALT, and would not confuse customers and businessmen.
• As buyers are now very familiar with GAP products, it acts as another tool for brand awareness and advertising.

Why MyGap is Important for an Agricultural Business in Malaysia?

• Boost the number of MyGAP accredited farms to support quality and healthy food production for domestic and export markets.
• Increase the knowledge and demand of customers for premium and nutritious food items with the MyGAP logo on them.
• Significantly raise the global competitiveness of Malaysian agriculture products.
• To become validated for qualification schemes such as ASEAN GAP and Global GAP certifications.

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) of Malaysia

In the public sector, the Quality Assurance Program (QAP) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia has been in operation for over 25 years. It is a national program to ensure that the care given in all quality systems to be compatible with regional and global norms.

Objective of QAP

The QAP is intended to facilitate operational excellence in the companies of Malaysia. The aim of introducing QAP is to ensure that consumers benefit from the facilities supplied with existing resources at the optimal stage. Measures are classified to track the efficiency of different facilities in terms of service, customer management, allocation of resources, and satisfaction of consumers.

The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that the quality of services provided by the government and private health organizations is capable of improving patients, personnel, and the public's level of safety and health from the threats that could arise.

QAP – Quality Assurance Program applies to public services such as sanitation and water treatment as well as other public and private institutions related to healthcare, wellbeing, hygiene. The national criteria for surface water, free residual chlorine, e-coli bacteria, e-coli + free residual chlorine, and aluminum in tap water have been set by the Ministry of Health (MOH), under the Quality Assurance Program (QAP).

In Penang, the Central Laboratory of PBAPP and the State Health Department of Penang, under the MOH, periodically and collectively analyze and check the samples of treated water to see whether they are following the National Drinking Water Quality Surveillance Program (NDWQS).

How does the QAP Certification Process Work?

According to the requirements of the MOH functions, metrics were identified, and these measures were used to assess the efficiency of the goods and service providers in government facilities.

Audits are carried out to assess the company and, in the end, the QAP reviewer(s) will provide a briefing on the results, and when needed, the company will provide the remedial action plans recommended for execution. The assessment will take place at the premises of the companies. QAP participation is voluntary and is meant to be informative.

Fee

Depending on the company size and scope of the auditing process performed, the costs are subjective.

The Period

Under the QAP Program, the average period of site visits is 2-8 days.

Why QAP is Important in Malaysia?

QAP is a fundamental certification and proof to conduct business in Malaysia and deemed a prerequisite for many other certification procedures including myGAP.

Because it proves the company’s commitment to quality, safety, and health of both customers and staff, as well as assures that it puts a great deal of effort to produce high-quality food and agricultural products for the market.

Why Mandreel Agency for myGAP and QAP Certification Consultancy in Malaysia?

1. We empower our customers to perform better and access new markets.
2. We care for your business and provide feedback to our customers while fulfilling the required criteria for certification processes.
3. We deliver solutions based on our customer needs that are enriched by our more than 10 years of experience in the Malaysian market. Also, in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, we had hundreds of customers.
4. We also partnered successfully with many businesses, including the chemical industry, food, and FMCG industries.
5. And most significantly, we are here to support you with our years of expertise and experience in every phase of the business growth process in Malaysia and every step of the myGAP and QAP certification procedures.
6. This experience will save you time and lessen the risks of starting a quality system and making the wrong applications to the regulatory bodies.