GMP+ requirements per module and scope

The GMP+ requirements are not in one document. They are set out in the scheme documents of GMP+ International , split by module and by scope. Which requirements apply to you depends on what you do: produce, trade, store or transport. The scheme has two modules: GMP+ FSA for animal feed safety, and GMP+ FRA for responsible feed.

This page gives you the main themes. You will find the exact requirements in the current documents for your scope. Ask your certification body for these. Legislation on animal feed hygiene is set out in EU Regulation 183/2005 (the EU feed hygiene regulation), which you can find on the legislation page.

Decide first, then arrange. Choose the module and scope that match your activity first. Only then do you obtain the requirements.

Modules and scopes

The FSA module focuses on the safety of animal feed. The scopes run along the whole chain: production, trade, storage, transport and laboratories. GMP+ refers to the FSA standards for production, trade, transport and storage, and for laboratory work. The FRA module covers responsible feed. Sustainable soya, for example, belongs to it.

Module	What the requirements cover	Examples of scopes
GMP+ FSA	Safety of animal feed in the chain	Feed production, trade, storage, transport and laboratories
GMP+ FRA	Responsible and sustainable feed	RTRS soya, responsible pig and poultry feed, GMO Controlled, CO2 footprint

The B documents contain the requirements per scope. B3 covers trade, collection, storage and transshipment, and B4 covers transport. A company can be certified for one module or for both.

The themes of the requirements

Whatever your scope is called, the requirements revolve around a few topics. You will recognise them in the documents.

Safe way of working. You describe what you do and how you prevent risks. For all companies that do not carry out primary production, the EU regulation requires a permanent written procedure based on HACCP principles. This is set out in Article 6 of Regulation 183/2005 .
Traceability. You must be able to show where a batch comes from and where it goes.
Purchasing and suppliers. You select suppliers carefully and record what you check. In the chain, you work with other GMP+ companies.
Internal control. You check yourself whether your procedures work, before the external auditor visits.

The precise wording for each theme is in the B documents for your scope. Read those alongside this list.

How to prepare

Do not treat the requirements as a checklist that you tick off in one go. Start with your scope and the procedures you already have, then fill in the gaps.

Determine your scope. Which activities do you carry out? That determines which B documents apply.
Obtain the current documents. Use the GMP+ documents on gmpplus.org and ask your certification body for the right version.
Record your procedures. Write down what you do, without a manual. A short document per process is enough.
Carry out an internal check. Go through the requirements with someone who does not carry out the process themselves.

Example: a feed trader with storage

Voerhandel De Groot B.V. is a fictional company that buys feed raw materials, stores them and resells them to livestock farmers. It does not produce feed itself. The owner wants GMP+ for trade and storage. His first step is to determine the scope, after which he obtains the trade and storage documents. He writes the procedures for purchasing and traceability and has a colleague go through the requirements. Only then does he request a quote.

The company uses the trade and storage scope. An FRA scope is only added if a customer asks for it. That last step is a choice, not an obligation.

Frequently asked questions about the GMP+ requirements

Which GMP+ requirements apply to my company?

That depends on your scope. A producer of compound feed has different requirements from a transporter. First determine your scope, then obtain the documents for that scope. Your certification body can help you with this.

Do I have to meet the requirements for both FSA and FRA?

No. You can be certified for one module or for both. Only the scopes you choose apply to you. See FSA and FRA for help with the choice.

Where can I find the current requirements?

On the documents page of GMP+ International at gmpplus.org . The scope documents are published there. Always use the version your certification body applies.