Introduction

This Market Initiative (MI) document has been created in close collaboration between the Market Initiative Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) and GMP+ International. The main goal is to provide GMP+ certified companies the possibility for an add-on certification for the production and trade of RTRS certified soy.

Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS)

The objective of the RTRS is to promote the growth of production, trade, and use of responsible soy through cooperation with players in and relevant to the soy value chain, from production to consumption in an open multi-stakeholder dialogue including producers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions, civil society organizations and others.

RTRS also sets the standards for the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production and the Chain of Custody.

1. The RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production scheme ensures that RTRS soy not only meets the highest environmental criteria (including a guarantee of third party-verified zero deforestation and zero conversion) but also a wide-reaching set of social and labour requirements. It is based on five principles:
   
   

• Legal Compliance and Good Business Practices
• Responsible Labour Conditions
• Responsible Community Relations
• Environmental Responsibility
• Good Agricultural Practices
  
  

2. The Chain of Custody Standard, developed in 2010, describes the requirements for the different traceability systems an organization can implement to keep control of RTRS-certified material inventories, either soy beans or soy products. It can be applied across the entire supply chain and it is mandatory for organization wishing to receive, process and trade RTRS certified soy.

1. Scope of this document

See § 3.5 in F0.3 Scopes for certification.

2. Normative references

This MI document must always be used in combination with the R5.0 Feed Responsibility Management Systems Requirements which ensures the implementation of a Feed Responsibility Management System (FRMS). The combined use enables a company to provide responsible feed products and feed services in accordance to the request from the Market Initiative.

This document is to be used:

1. in addition to the GMP+ FSA module, or;
2. in combination with an equivalent feed safety standard (see TS1.2 Purchase), or;
3. without additional certification.

3. Terms and Definitions

See F0.2 Definition list.

4. RTRS

4.1. Feed Responsibility Management System

The certified company must meet the following requirements in the standard R5.0 Feed Responsibility Management System requirements:

4.2. Purchasing requirements

4.2.1. Purchasing requirements for RTRS Segregation

All feed labelled as compliant with RTRS Segregation must comply with the purchasing requirements below.

The certified company must purchase its responsible soy from a supplier that is certified according the following specifications:

Note: In addition to the accepted certification schemes as mentioned in the table above, it is also accepted to purchase responsible soy from companies that are certified for a certification scheme which is approved by RTRS as equivalent. All RTRS approved certification schemes are published on the RTRS website: www.responsiblesoy.org .

4.2.2. Purchasing requirements for RTRS Mass Balance

All feed labelled as compliant with RTRS Mass Balance must comply with the purchasing requirements below.

The certified company must purchase its responsible soy from a supplier that is certified according the following specifications:

Note: In addition to the accepted certification schemes as mentioned in the table above, it is also accepted to purchase responsible soy from companies that are certified for a certification scheme which is approved by RTRS as equivalent. All RTRS approved certification schemes are published on the RTRS website: www.responsiblesoy.org .

4.2.3. Purchasing of services

When a certified company outsources storage, transshipment, or transport services to external third parties, the certified company must ensure that the external independent third party complies with the relevant requirements with demonstrable evidence.

4.3. Online Platform

The GMP+ certified company must register every transaction (purchase and sale) and redemption of RTRS soy on the online platform for the registration of RTRS certified material transactions.

4.4. RTRS logo & claims

Companies certified for the RTRS scope within the GMP+ FRA module are allowed to use the RTRS logo and RTRS claims on their products, accompanying documents and other statements. The criteria for use can be found in the document “RTRS Use of the Logo & Claims Policy” which can be found on the RTRS website.

Risk Management tools

That was a lot of information to digest and one might ask, what is the next step? Luckily we can offer support for the GMP+ Community when doing this. We provide support by means of various tools and guidances but as each company has a shared responsibility to feed safety, and therefor tailor-made solutions cannot be offered. However, we do help by explaining requirements and provide background information about the requirements.

We have developed various supporting materials for the GMP+ Community. These include various tools, ranging from Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) lists to webinars and events.

Supporting materials related to this document (Guidelines and FAQ’s)

We have made documents available which give guidance to the GMP+ requirements as laid down in the module GMP+ FSA and GMP+ FRA. These documents give examples, answers to frequently asked questions or background information.