Committees
Beside the EurepGAP Board and the EurepGAP Secretariat in Cologne, three other committees have a special importance for the conceptual development of EurepGAP.
* The Technical Standard Committee (TSC). In 2007 the TSC will be replaced by the Sectors Committees.
* The EurepGAP Certification Body Committee
* The National Technical Workgroups
National Technical Working Groups (NTWG)
EurepGAP intends to link its global implementation activities closer to the growers, while at the same time seeking to gain qualified input from national experts with respect to legal and structural conditions within the different areas covered by EurepGAP. This goal will be achieved by the establishment of Technical Working Groups (NTWG) and the development of NTWG Interpretation Guidelines. National Technical Working Groups are established voluntarily by EurepGAP members in a country where there is a need for clarification of implementation of EurepGAP locally. The guidelines developed by these groups are approved by the relevant Technical and Standards Committee (TSC) and are published on the EurepGAP website. The groups work in close cooperation with the EurepGAP Secretariat and the TSC and support the EurepGAP implementation and continuous improvement based on the specific interest area needs.
Please find here a list of the EurepGAP National Technical Working Groups.
EurepGAP Certification Body Committee (CBC)
EurepGAP wants to link its worldwide activities with consultation and involvement of the EurepGAP approved CBs. The establishment of a Certification Body Committee is one important step towards this goal.
The main function of this committee is to discuss EurepGAP implementation issues and provide feedback, as well as represent the CB activity within the EurepGAP System. The CBC is composed of experts employed by Certification Bodies that are EurepGAP Associate members and ISO Guide 65 accredited to at least one EurepGAP scope. Find here a list with the elected members of the CBC.
The CBC will work mostly independent from the SCs but will be supported and facilitated by the EurepGAP Secretariat. Any proposals for change that has been put forward by the CBC needs to be finally approved by the Sector Committees. The Standard Director of EurepGAP will regularly inform the SCs about the progress of the CBC.
Technical and Standards Committee (TSC)
The TSC is constituted of EUREPGAP Members only and are elected by their peers. The individuals have the appropriate technical ability and are not appointed to act as company representatives but to provide personal expertise to the work of the Committee. Members are required to act collectively and in the best interests of the EUREPGAP initiative.
From time to time it may be necessary for the TSC to draw on the expertise of external experts to provide advice on specific scientific and technical matters
The role of the Technical and Standards Committee is to review, evaluate and approve:
* Benchmarked Schemes submitted to the EurepGAP secretariat
* National Technical Working Group Interpretation Guidelines
* a regular revision of the EurepGAP Standard documents
* Propose, agree and endorse revisions to the General Regulations and other relevant documents arising out of practical experience
* To act in the official technical capacity as required by accreditation auhorities
The TSC also operates as a consultative body and may from time to time be requested by the Board of EurepGAP to deal with any specific matter that requires a technical or scientific input. Find here a list with all TSC members.
The EurepGAP Sector Committees (SC)
The EurepGAP Sector Committees were established by agreement of the EurepGAP Board in March 2006. In 2007 the SCs will replace the TSC. The SC members will be elected end Nov 2006 for a period 3 years by their peers (Supplier and Retailer EurepGAP members). The Terms of Reference for these committees will be established and signed during the first meetings in 2007.
The SCs will work mostly independent from the Board and make their own decisions supported and guided by the EurepGAP Secretariat. The Board needs to finally approve any Standards developed or revised by the SCs.