United Fresh Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Technology Dr. David Gombas spoke on the importance of harmonizing audit standards last week at the GLOBALGAP TOUR 2009 in Alexandria, Va. The fourth stop on GLOBALGAP's world tour, Dr. Gombas' address and other event programming focused on outreach and consultation to key stakeholders.

The topic of Dr. Gombas' presentation was the newly-initiated Produce Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Harmonization Initiative.

"The intention of the fresh produce industry's Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative is to partner with all willing GAP standard owners, including GLOBALGAP, in a mutual goal of standards harmonization," David told the audience. "It would be ideal if a North American GAP standard, developed through the Harmonization Initiative, would also serve as interpretation guideline for GLOBALGAP in North America."

In support of that goal, GLOBALGAP Managing Director Dr. Kristian Moeller announced that a National Technical Working Group for GLOBALGAP will be established in conjunction with the first meeting of the Technical Working Group of the Harmonization Initiative next week in Herndon, Va., so that the two efforts can operate in concert.

For more information about the Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative or GLOBALGAP, please contact Dr. Gombas at 202-303-3400 ext. 411.