What are NTWGs
What are national technical working groups?
National technical working groups (NTWGs) consist of GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, qualified experts, and relevant stakeholders in a specific country. Participants include producer organizations, certification bodies (CBs), retailers, and supply chain members. NTWGs identify adaptation and implementation challenges arising from local legislation or structural conditions, and develop national interpretation guidelines (NIGs) that help producers and CBs apply and audit against GLOBALG.A.P. principles and criteria (P&C) at a local level.
NTWGs are currently active in more than 40 countries, tapping into national networks of experts to gather knowledge about diverse legal and operational contexts. They serve as the technical entry point into a new market and as the local contact point when Agraya GmbH needs local input. This helps ensure that GLOBALG.A.P. farm assurance solutions are fit for purpose in different conditions and improves the efficiency of the audit process.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| IFAIntegrated Farm Assurance | Integrated Farm Assurance — the flagship farm certification standard covering food safety, environment, workers’ well-being, and animal welfare |
| P&CPrinciples & Criteria | The principles and detailed requirements audited under IFA |
| NIGNational Interpretation Guideline | A national interpretation of the global standard adapted to each country’s legislation and conditions |
| GRASPRisk Assessment on Social Practice | Risk Assessment on Social Practice — an add-on assessing the safety, health, and welfare of agricultural workers |
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of an NTWG
NTWG activities follow the operating rules set by Agraya GmbH (the NTWG Terms of Reference). The main responsibilities are as follows.
- Translation & proofreading supportAssisting with the translation and proofreading of official GLOBALG.A.P. standard and add-on documents into the host country language.
- Developing NIGsDeveloping national interpretation guidelines for GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons in collaboration with the technical working groups.
- Supporting the working groupsSupporting the technical working groups with expertise on country-specific conditions and proposals for standard revisions.
- Organizing meetingsHolding at least two meetings per year and providing Agraya GmbH with minutes, participant lists, and key issues.
- Benchmarking peer reviewParticipating in the peer review of GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking activities for schemes operating in the host country.
- Updating member informationRegularly updating Agraya GmbH with the names, organizations, and email addresses of all members.
In Korea now
What we are doing now
Since its establishment, Korea NTWG has pursued standard translation and NIG development step by step. The key ongoing tasks are as follows.
IFA v6 P&C Korean edition
The draft translation and terminology review are complete, and the document is in the Agraya GmbH review process. Once finalized, it will be published as the official Korean edition.
GRASP NIG review
The NTWG peer-reviewed the draft GRASP national interpretation guideline and reported the results to Agraya GmbH.
P&C NIG development
We are developing the national interpretation guideline for the IFA Fruit and Vegetables (FV) standard, now being aligned with Agraya GmbH after two rounds of review.
Organizational base
We are reviewing an organizational base (such as a legal association) to sustain activities and expand external cooperation.
Where we are heading
Where we are heading
Beyond developing national interpretation guidelines, Korea NTWG aims to spread the value of responsible agriculture across the country and connect Korea’s quality-management expertise to international standard-setting.
Advancing responsible agriculture
Spreading responsible-agriculture agendas — climate adaptation, environment, and workers’ welfare — into domestic production and policy discussions.
Global standardization of produce quality management
Bringing Korea’s accumulated experience and theory in produce quality management into international standard revision and standardization.
Promoting GLOBALG.A.P. activity in Korea
Promoting the adoption and use of GLOBALG.A.P. among domestic producers, distributors, and public institutions to broaden the base for K-Food exports.
National Interpretation Guidelines
What are national interpretation guidelines?
The core mission of an NTWG is developing national interpretation guidelines (NIGs). An NIG interprets GLOBALG.A.P. solutions based on each country’s legal and structural conditions, combining a translation of the standard with the national legislation that complements the principles and criteria (P&C). The finalized NIG applies to both implementation and the audit process. An NIG is designated through the following steps.
History
Milestones of Korea NTWG
- Yonam University
Kick-off meeting. Elected the first chair and secretary and agreed on the NIG approach and operating plan.
- Chungju
GRASP NIG draft review seminar. Discussed alignment with domestic labor law.
- Chungju
Review of the IFA v6 P&C Korean translation. Agreed on industry-standard terminology.
- Yonam · Control Union · Gimcheon
P&C NIG review; discussed membership growth, joint marketing, and organizational strengthening (four meetings).
- Osong
First meeting of 2026. Elected the new chair and set activation plans and government-cooperation tasks.
Join us
Join us
NTWGs have no fixed term and work continuously, always welcoming new members. Participation is free of charge for all groups worldwide. By joining an NTWG you gain the following opportunities.
Applicants become members subject to approval by the NTWG and Agraya GmbH.
- Contribute to NIG development for GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons
- Take part in the peer review of domestic benchmarking and recognition activities
- Provide expert input to the continuous improvement of farm assurance solutions
- Help domestic producers achieve certification and raise awareness of responsible farming
- Expand your networks by connecting with one of the industry’s largest communities
- Get early access to GLOBALG.A.P. technical news, standard revisions, and training
Who takes part
Research & universities
Research institutes and universities in responsible agriculture and quality management
Testing & certification
Organizations specializing in GLOBALG.A.P. certification and testing
Consulting & companies
Certification consultancies and agri-food companies
Growing participation
Producer groups, distributors, and public institutions
Apply for membership
If you would like to join the Korea NTWG, please complete the form below. Each application is reviewed by the host and registered as a member after the NTWG and Agraya GmbH approval process.