This newsletter is intended to provide you with information on a number of specific steps. In addition, we should like to provide you with some insight into proposed changes which still have to be worked out in detail. More newsletters will follow in the coming period to keep you informed of the modifications.

This newsletter addresses:

• a general overview of planned changes
• withdrawn standards: Which? When? And now?
• new GMP⁺ B2 standard: What? When? And now?

1.         General

A thorough evaluation of the structure and content of the GMP⁺ certification scheme came to the following general conclusions:

• The content of the requirements is mostly to be maintained. The GMP⁺ requirements comply with all the current requirements with respect to the assurance of feed safety. Excessive, outdated or detailed requirements will be removed.
• The current basic structure of the GMP⁺ certification scheme will remain. This means: there will be several standards aimed at target groups. There is currently a lot of overlap in the standards. For this reason some standards will disappear or their scope will be limited. This will make the scheme more transparent and easier to participate in it.
• We will work out a number of areas in more detail (especially with respect to certification). This will be done in consultation with, among others, the certification bodies.

We made a start this year on the streamlining by deleting a large number of appendices. These contained many (detailed) requirements. A subsequent decision which is now being implemented is the deleting of a number of standards. The coming publication of the new GMP⁺ B2 standard - the GMP⁺ B2 (2010) - is also a major step. The following chapters contain more information on these two steps.

2.         Withdrawal of a number of standards and transfer facilities

2.1       Withdrawn standards

It has been decided to withdraw a number of GMP⁺ standards. In addition to the current GMP⁺ B2 standard these are:

• The GMP⁺ B3-2006 standard
• The GMP⁺ B5 standard
• The GMP⁺ B7 standards (were never certifiable)
• The GMP⁺ B9 standards

We are also deleting the IFIS standard. This is not officially part of the GMP⁺ scheme. More information on the GMP⁺ B2 standard will follow in chapter 3.

2.2       Time schedule

The time schedule within which things are going to happen is important. In consultation with certification bodies, it was decided to have a time period which was long enough to enable each participant to adjust easily to the new situation. We will respect existing contracts with certification bodies.

Table 1 shows until which date the deleted GMP⁺ standards will be certifiable.

Table 1: Certifiability of the ‘withdrawn' GMP⁺ standards

YearCertification in accordance with	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	etc.
GMP+ B2 current			<
IFIS		<
GMP+ B3-2006		<
GMP+ B5-2006		<
GMP+ B7.1
GMP+ B7.2
GMP+ B9.1		<
GMP+ B9.2		<

green: the standard is still certifiable
yellow: new certification and recertification is no longer possible. Existing certification contracts can continue until their end. 
red: certification is no longer possible (and any certificates are no longer valid

NOTE:

• Table 1 specifies the standards which will be withdrawn. Other standards continue to be included in the GMP⁺ certification scheme (see also Chapter 4. In conclusion).
• For developments in the new GMP⁺ B2 standard (version 2010), see chapter 3. New GMP⁺ B2 standard (2010).

2.3       Transfer possibilities

Table 2 specifies the most important possibilities for transferring to other standards now that certain standards will be withdrawn.

Table 2: Transfer possibilities

Standard	Can be certified up to	Transfer to 1]
GMP+ B2 current	31-12-2010	GMP+ B2 (2010) for the production of feed materials, or,GMP+ B3 (2007) for trade, collection and storage & transhipment
IFIS	31-12-2009	new GMP+ B2
GMP+ B3-2006	31-12-2009	GMP+ B3 (2007)
GMP+ B5-2006	31-12-2009	GMP+ B3 (2007)
GMP+ B9.1	31-12-2009	-
GMP+ B9.2	31-12-2009	-

[1] In a number of cases the GMP⁺ B1 standard is to be applied (as a universal standard). 

3.         New GMP⁺ B2 standard (2010)

As stated, the withdrawal of a number of GMP⁺ standards will coincide with the introduction of a new GMP⁺ B2 standard (version 2010). This is an important step because many companies apply the GMP⁺ B2 standard. This chapter discusses this in more depth.

3.1       Scope

The scope of the GMP⁺ B2 standard (version 2010) is limited to the production (including the selling) of feed ingredients (feed materials and feed additives). If a company (also) carries out other activities then another standard must (also) be applied (see also section 3.3 ‘GMP⁺ B3-2007 standard').

3.2       Time schedule

We will publish the GMP⁺ B2 standard (version 2010) in 2009. Certification is possible from 2010 onwards. The current GMP⁺ B2 standard will remain certifiable during 2010 as shown in Table 1 in Section 2.2. In 2010, a company can therefore be certified or recertified in accordance with the current GMP⁺ B2 standard including for trade, collection or for storage & transhipment.

From 2011 onwards it will no longer be possible to be certified in accordance with the current GMP⁺ B2 standard. Table 3 also shows this.

Table 3: Certification for old and new GMP⁺ B2 standard

Year Certification in accordance with	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	etc.
GMP+ B2 current			<
GMP+ B2 (2010)		>

green: the standard is still certifiable
yellow: new certification and recertification is no longer possible. Existing certification contracts can continue until their end.
red: certification is no longer possible (and any certificates are no longer valid). 

NOTE: IFIS-certified companies should ‘transfer’ with effect from 2010. From 2010 onwards, a company can no longer be certified or recertified in accordance with the IFIS standard.

There are currently some companies which are GMP+ B2-certified for both the production of feeds (including their sale) and for trading in feed (produced by third parties). These compa-nies should eventually apply both the new GMP+ B2 standard and the GMP+ B3(2007) stan-dard in combination. In order to make this as easy as possible, we will make the structure and content of these standards as identical as possible. To do this we will amend the current version of the GMP+ B3(2007) standard to a small extent. We will publish the new version of the GMP+ B3(2007) standard in the spring of 2010.

Combined application will be immediately possible from the moment (2010) when the new GMP+ B2 standard is certifiable.

3.3       GMP⁺ B3 (2007) standard

The scope of the new GMP⁺ B2 standard is limited to the production of feed ingredients (see also section 3.1). Companies which apply the current GMP⁺ B2 standard for the quality assurance of trade, collection and/or storage & transhipment can no longer have this certified as such with effect from 2011. These companies can then apply the GMP⁺ B3 (2007) for this. Another option is to apply the GMP⁺ B1 standard.

There are currently some companies which are GMP⁺ B2-certified for both the production of feeds (including their sale) and for trading in feed (produced by third parties). These companies should eventually apply both the new GMP⁺ B2 standard and the GMP⁺ B3(2007) standard in combination. In order to make this as easy as possible, we will make the structure and content of these standards as identical as possible. To do this we will amend the current version of the GMP⁺ B3(2007) standard to a small extent. We will publish the new version of the GMP⁺ B3(2007) standard in the spring of 2010.

Combined application will be immediately possible from the moment (2010) when the new GMP⁺ B2 standard is certifiable.

4.         In conclusion

We will take further steps to streamline the GMP⁺ certification scheme. This will involve, among other things:

• simplification and merging of the transport standards
• simplification of the tariff structure
• uniform specification of the scope(s) on the certificate and in the database.

Once specific decisions have been taken we will provide you with information on this.