.png)
PrimusGFS (also written Primus GFS) and GLOBALG.A.P. (also written GlobalGAP) are third-party food safety certification schemes recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for farm and produce-handling scopes. PrimusGFS audits farms, packinghouses, cold storage and processors through a modular program, while GLOBALG.A.P. centers on farm assurance and produce handling. Your buyer decides which one you need.
This guide explains how the two compare, where SQF fits beside them, who tends to ask for each, and how to prepare. For the wider landscape, start with our guide to GFSI schemes and how to choose the right one.
GFSI Recognition: What It Means and Where Each Scheme Stands
GFSI does not certify anyone. It benchmarks certification schemes against its requirements, and buyers then accept certificates issued under a recognized scheme. The GFSI list of recognized programmes includes PrimusGFS (version 3.2, benchmarked against GFSI's 2020 requirements, as Azzule announced), several GLOBALG.A.P. standards, SQF, BRCGS and FSSC 22000. Versions change, so check the GFSI page and your scheme owner for the edition your buyer accepts before you commit.
Two details trip people up. First, GLOBALG.A.P. is a family of standards, and GFSI recognition applies to specific ones, such as the plants and produce handling standards. Second, PrimusGFS is separate from the Primus Standard, which SCS Global Services describes as a non-GFSI option that can serve as a stepping stone to PrimusGFS.
PrimusGFS vs GLOBALG.A.P. vs SQF
| Factor | PrimusGFS | GLOBALG.A.P. | SQF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Farms through packing, storage and processing, in one modular program | Farm assurance and produce handling; also other farm-level standards | Food manufacturing, packaging, storage and primary production, depending on code |
| Structure | Modules: management system, farm GAP, indoor agriculture, harvest crews, facility GMP and HACCP, plus optional modules | Separate standards by scope; an add-on exists that addresses the FSMA Produce Safety Rule | Food safety codes by sector with a food safety management system core |
| GFSI-recognized | Yes (version 3.2 on the GFSI list) | Yes, for specific standards | Yes |
| Commonly asked for by | Buyers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America, according to SCS | Retailers and buyers sourcing internationally; growers who sell abroad | Retailers and food companies across manufacturing and packaging |
| Best fit | Fresh produce growers, packers and fresh-cut processors | Growers and packers that sell to international retailers | Manufacturers and packers of processed food |
The column on who asks for what is a tendency, not a rule. The only reliable answer is what your customer's supplier requirements document says.
PrimusGFS Modules at a Glance
According to SCS Global Services, PrimusGFS Module 1 is the food safety management system and applies to all operations. Modules 2 to 4 cover good agricultural practices for farms, indoor agriculture and harvest crews. Modules 5 and 6 cover good manufacturing practices for facilities such as packinghouses, cold storage and processing, and HACCP. Optional modules cover preventive controls, grains and pulses, and integrated pest management. Your audit scope depends on the activities you perform, and multiple operations such as a farm and a packhouse can be audited together.
A Note on FSMA
Certification and regulation are separate. A third-party audit is not a substitute for a regulatory inspection under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, whichever scheme a farm uses, as the University of California small farm food safety program notes. Manufacturers should also keep the preventive controls requirements in mind; see our guide to FSMA.
How to Prepare for a PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P. Audit
- Confirm the scheme and version. Ask your buyer in writing which scheme, edition and scope they accept.
- Get the current standard. Download the rules and checklist from the scheme owner and identify which modules or sections apply to your operation.
- Run a gap check. Compare your procedures, records and facility against every applicable requirement.
- Close the gaps. Write missing procedures, train people, fix facility issues and start keeping the records the audit will sample.
- Hold records for long enough to show a pattern. Auditors look for consistent practice, so run the system before you book the audit.
- Choose an approved certification body and schedule the audit for your scope.
- Close audit findings with corrective actions on time to receive the certification decision.
Where Software Helps, and Where It Doesn't
Most of the work is records: monitoring logs, training, supplier approval, traceability, corrective actions. A food safety platform keeps those in one place, which is what any scheme's auditor will ask to see. IONI's gap analysis currently covers SQF, BRCGS, IFS and FSSC requirements, not PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P., so for those you would use your own checklist against the scheme documents. Where records overlap, such as the HACCP plan, monitoring logs and lot traceability, the same system can supply them. See IONI's food safety software for what is covered.
FAQ
Is PrimusGFS GFSI recognized?
Yes. PrimusGFS version 3.2 is on the GFSI list of recognized programmes. Check the GFSI page for the current version before relying on it.
Is GLOBALG.A.P. the same as PrimusGFS?
No. They are separate schemes with different owners, structures and scopes, although both are GFSI-recognized for produce-related scopes.
Which is better, PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P.?
Neither is better in general. The one your customer accepts is the one you need, and many suppliers hold more than one.
Does a PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P. certificate replace FSMA compliance?
No. A certification audit does not replace regulatory requirements or inspections.
What is the difference between PrimusGFS and the Primus Standard?
PrimusGFS is the GFSI-benchmarked scheme. The Primus Standard is a non-GFSI program that can act as a stepping stone to it, according to SCS Global Services.
Last updated: October 14, 2026
Keep the records every audit asks for in one place. Explore IONI's food safety software.
