December 7, 2009
GMP+ certification scheme becomes GMP+ International
The General Board of Product Board Animal Feed (PDV) has decided on December 2 to make the GMP+ certification system autonomous.
There will be no changes with respect to content for the GMP+ certified companies.
The new organisation will, however, have a new name - GMP+ International. The new name fits the international orientation better. There will also be a new quality mark for the participating companies with an introductory period of three years.
The increasingly international participation in GMP+ meant that its activities no longer fitted within the public law business format of the PDV.
The board was been established for the Dutch feed column. There are currently more than 10,900 participants in GMP+ of which one third are in the Netherlands and the others are in 65 other countries.
There are also developments that demand autonomy in combination with internationalisation.
Companies with a sales market other than North-West Europe have, since 2007, shown interest in GMP+ as a means of distinguishing themselves positively in the market or of providing for the need to guarantee feed safety for their customers all over the world.
Among various groups of foreign participants, there is a need arising from a positive commitment to the GMP+ scheme for active participation in the preparation of policy and in decision making. This need can be met in the new GMP+ International organisation.
In addition, opportunities will be provided to meet the specific desires of certain countries which should be included as an addition to the international basis to meet specific market needs.
The personnel team which was responsible within PDV for GMP+ will cross over to GMP+ International.
Johan den Hartog has been appointed as Managing Director of GMP+ International and he will remain as Secretary of the PDV until the end of December. This allows continuity of service to be guaranteed for the GMP+ certified companies. These companies will have three years to start to use the new quality mark.