A small but influential Steering Committee of major industry representatives with the ability to drive broad industry acceptance of common standards:

• comprised of business leaders who have authority regarding their own companies' supplier audit requirements (i.e., authorized to ultimately accept the harmonized checklist);
• who are committed to achieving the harmonization vision;
• with broad representation from the fresh produce supply chain, including suppliers, distributors, retail and foodservice businesses that have a say in produce suppliers' pre-farm gate food safety requirements; and
• who represent a critical mass of volume of produce purchased.

The Steering Committee met by web conference on August 18, 2009 and again in person on September 22, 2009.  At the September meeting, the Steering Committee endorsed the following vision and goal:

 

Vision:  Develop a harmonized food safety standard and checklist for GAP audits, and globally-acceptable auditing process, necessary to protect consumers from potential hazards that may contaminate produce at that stage of the supply chain, and that will build efficiencies into the supplier audit process.

 

Goal:  One audit by any credible third party, acceptable to all buyers.

 

The Steering Committee also commissioned the second group - Technical Working Group - which would perform the work necessary to create the harmonized food safety standard and checklist for GAP audits.