QS and Vegaplan (Vegaplan vzw) mutually recognise their standards for the production of fruit, vegetables and potatoes as well as for residue monitoring. Producers with a valid Vegaplan audit certificate can deliver into the QS scheme if they can provide evidence of individual Vegaplan certification. For this purpose, they are registered in the QS database. They are primarily coordinated through Vegaplan. Their delivery eligibility can be accessed in the QS database. In return, businesses with a QS audit certificate are also eligible to deliver into the Vegaplan scheme.
Around 90 % of the fruit, vegetables and potatoes grown in Germany are QS certified. The QS inspection system ensures thorough and reliable quality assurance based on clearly defined and coordinated requirements from farm to shop.
The standards apply across borders and simplify international trade in goods. Independent auditors monitor whether and how the requirements are fulfilled. The front-to-end inspections form the basis for the consistent process control and traceability in the QS scheme.
26/01/2023
Results of laboratory performance assessment Residue monitoring 2022/2
74 laboratories from 19 countries successfully participated in the laboratory performance assessment residue monitoring 2022/2. 84% of the...
11/01/2023
December 2022 - Overview of new QS scheme participants
Every month, new companies decide to participate in the QS scheme and thus give a signal to their customers that all their operational processes...
09/12/2022
Revision 2023: QS guidelines and checklists published in English, Spanish and...
The English, Spanish and Italian language guidelines and annexes valid for the coming year 2023 can now be viewed and downloaded from the QS...
Contamination risk in flooding areas - Identify and evaluate risks
The catastrophic floods in the past weeks have caused much human suffering and terrible damage. Many producers for fruit, vegetables and potatoes have also been hit badly and are struggling to cope with the economic impact. To assist you, below you will find tips for identifying and assessing potential contamination risks. For your further support, QS-approved laboratories offer free analysis for possible sources of contamination.
Residue Monitoring
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Residue Monitoring
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QS Agreements
QS actively promotes cooperation with other standard owners across national borders, so that everyone can rely on each other. In the interests of food and feed safety, QS maintains a close exchange with the standard owners- a good basis for joint further development.
Vegaplan
IFS Logistics, IFS Food, IFS Cash&Carry/Wholesale, BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety and GMP
QS recognizes IFS Logistics IFS Food or IFS Cash&Carry/Wholesale certificates for logistics services in the QS scheme.
For the transport of unpacked, loose potatoes and onions as bulk goods or goods in bulk packs, the right to deliver into the QS system can also be obtained by a certification according to the QS guideline Feed Sector (production scope road transport) or certification according to GMP+ (scope road transport).
The participation via a recognized certificate takes place by the responsible certification body entering the runtime of the IFS or GMP+ certificate in the QS database.
Further information can be found in the document Steps to becoming a scheme participant - Logistics.
GLOBALG.A.P.
GlobalG.A.P and QS (with QS-GAP) have mutually recognised their standards. Producers with a QS-GAP certification must be registered in the GlobalG.A.P. database to be allowed to deliver into the GlobalG.A.P scheme. Businesses with a valid GlobalG.A.P. audit certificate can deliver into the QS scheme if they register through a QS coordinator and participate in mandatory QS residue monitoring.
Production businesses with several locations certified according to the GlobalG.A.P. standard in a multi-site procedure who would like to participate in the QS scheme must arrange for auditing and register of each site. For companies with a multisite with QMS, analogous requirements (see information sheet) apply as for companies with a GlobalG.A.P. Option 1-certificate.
Producers and certificate holders with a GlobalG.A.P. Option 2-certificate (group certification) can find more information on participation in the QS scheme here.
AMAG.A.P.
QS and Agrarmarkt Austria Marketing GesmbH, standard owner of the Austrian AMAG.A.P quality standard, mutually recognise their audits for the production of fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Producers with a valid AMAG.A.P certificate can deliver into the QS scheme if they register via a coordinator in the QS scheme. They obtain their eligibility to deliver following registration and through participation in QS residue monitoring. In return, businesses holding a QS-GAP certificate are also eligible to deliver into the AMA-Gütesiegel
quality assurance scheme.
