All Farm Base

Site Risk Assessment and Management Plan

One of the major objectives of the All Farm Base Module is to assess whether a site is suitable for agricultural production. To do so, either the producer or a consultant will conduct a written Site Risk Assessment. (AF 1.2.1)

GLOBALG.A.P. has developed two supporting guidelines to help producers conduct a risk assessment and identify the most common risks with regards to food safety and the environment (e.g. site management).

The Site Risk Assessment specifically takes into consideration a wide range of important aspects, including the previous use of the site, impacts from the adjacent environment, and legislative regulations.

Site Risk Assessment

Producers are required to have completed the Site Risk Assessment before the initial inspection.

Producers running multi-site operations are not required to perform a Site Risk Assessment for each site.

In many cases, the identified risks are manageable and producers can minimize or even eliminate them by implementing precautions (control measures). These measures are addressed in a management plan (preferably – but not necessarily in a written format) that describes the strategies and validates that the site is suitable for agricultural production. (AF 1.2.2)

As risks can change from one moment to another, it is important to always maintain an up-to-date Site Risk Assessment. Hence producers are required to include new hazards that arise as well as conduct a review at least once a year. The management plan should then be adapted accordingly.

Question (QQAF001)
Grapes producer
A producer wants to certify his grape production process against Version 4. The production site has been used for agricultural production for many generations. Which of the following statement(s) is correct?
No written Site Risk Assessment is required.
A written Site Risk Assessment is required if it is an initial inspection.
A written Site Risk Assessment is required if the producer has changed certification body.
A written Site Risk Assessment is required for subsequent inspections when risks have changed from the previous year’s inspection.
A written Site Risk Assessment is always required.
Question (QQAF002)
A producer has developed a Site Risk Assessment. In the next year, he concludes that the risks have not changed and no new risks have developed. He simply writes the date of the review at the bottom of the page of the documented risk assessment. Is this sufficient?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF003)
A producer was certified against IFA Version 3 which only required a Site Risk Assessment for sites where no agricultural production had ever been done before. Is this producer now expected to develop a Site Risk Assessment?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF004)
A producer has developed a Site Risk Assessment in order to certify the carrot production process. For the next external inspection, the producer decides that he also wants to include his beetroot production process for certification. Is he required to review the Site Risk Assessment?
Yes
No
Question (QQAF005)
A producer joins a regional farming association. This association has developed a general Site Risk Assessment for its members. Is this sufficient?
Yes, as long as it is specific to the site in question.
No, the producer must appoint a consultant to conduct it.


A site is a production area where the same input factors (such as water supply, soil, equipment, workers etc.) are used to produce agricultural goods. It is owned or rented by one legal entity – namely the producer – and managed by either one or more persons, called the management.
See Annex AF 1 GLOBALG.A.P. Guideline General Risk Assessment and Annex AF 2 GLOBALG.A.P. Guideline Site Risk Assessment
Initial inspection is conducted when:
  • A producer seeks GLOBALG.A.P. Certification for the first time.
  • An already certified producer changes the certification body.
  • A producer seeks to certify a production process that is not yet part of his GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate.
Correct!
Incorrect!

A written Site Risk Assessment must be available at the initial inspection for all sites registered for certification. Initial inspection is conducted when the applicant seeks GLOBALG.A.P. Certification for the first time, changes the certification body, or adds new products to the GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate.

Correct!
Incorrect!

It is sufficient. But the CB inspector is required to verify and confirm that no new risks have developed and nothing has changed to the current site.

Correct!
Incorrect!

The Site Risk Assessment is not required because of the version change. It would only be required if this were an initial inspection, or there was a change in the production process or farm environment that may have altered the risks.

Correct!
Incorrect!

The Site Risk Assessment must be reviewed annually.

Correct!
Incorrect!

This may be accepted only if the risk assessment is specific to the site. If it is a very general risk assessment for an area, it cannot be accepted.