The MAPA proposes a new royal decree to improve animal welfare in livestock farms
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has begun a period of prior public consultation of a draft royal decree that aims to improve animal welfare on livestock farms and guarantee a harmonized approach on official controls on conditions of the animals involved in the food chain, including aquaculture.
ENAC accredits ACERTA to certify with the new version 2.3 of IFS Logistics
Since October 2021 ACERTA has already been accredited by ENAC to begin certifying and conducting audits with this new version 2.3 of the IFS Logistics standard. IFS Logistics is the benchmark certification in Europe for storage, distribution and transportation, as well as loading and unloading activities for food and non-food products.
ACERTA has been authorized by BRCGS to audit the Packaging Materials V.6 standard
Since October 4, 2021, ACERTA has been authorized by BRCGS to carry out audits of the BRCGS Packaging Materials Version 6 standard. It is a standard that is internationally recognized, that complies with the requirements of GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and that provides a solid framework for producing quality…
ACERTA participates in the International Fair for Animal Production and delivers the first WOW certificate.
From September 21 to 24, the International Fair for Animal Production (FIGAN) took place in Zaragoza, with the participation of 827 exhibitors from 27 countries. (…) The first conference presentation was made by Matías Romero, director of ACERTA, who presented the guarantee mark WOW (Welfare On Wheels) developed by…
105 million euros to subsidize R&D projects in ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR INTEGRATION IN THE VALUE CHAINS (includes AGRO-FOOD sector)
On July 23, 2020, the Digital Spain 2025 Plan was presented, an updated Agenda that promotes the Digital Transformation of Spain as one of the main levers to relaunch economic growth…
ACERTA expands its accreditation portfolio with LEAF Marque
ACERTA has obtained ENAC accreditation for the Leaf Marque standard certification. With this new accreditation, ACERTA already has 16 accredited scopes, including IFS Food, IFS Logistics, BRCGS Food Safety, Integrated Production and 11 from GLOBALG.AP, in addition to the almost 20 authorizations from standards promoting…
The Spanish Chorizo Consortium exports 12% more and reaches New Zealand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Lebanon
1,800 tons of Spanish chorizo. It is the amount that arrived abroad this first semester, to places such as Vietnam, Romania, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Lebanon and Kenya, 4% more than the previous year, from the hand of the Spanish Chorizo Consortium, a group that brings together to 22 Spanish companies that are dedicated to the…
Opening of deadlines for Export Campaigns
September 15, beginning of the following export campaigns:
– Peppers from greenhouses in Alicante and Almería to the United States
– Tomatoes from greenhouses to the United States
– Avocados to the United States
– …
The first WOW certificate – Animal welfare in transport – has already been issued
Last Thursday, September 2, the first WOW – Welfare On Wheels certificate was issued to the company Transports Jaume Gabarrella Bergé S.L., to guarantee its commitment to Animal Welfare in transport. This certification has been developed at the initiative of the National Association of Live Animal Transporters (ANTA) in collaboration with ACERTA’s animal welfare department.
Strengthening the Spanish science and innovation system, an objective of the “España puede” plan that will indirectly boost tax deductions for business R&D&i.
Once the National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan has been approved by the Council of Europe (7/13/2021), it is interesting to assess specific aspects of its content and, especially, those that refer to the reform proposals and Investments of the component 17 focused on institutional reform and strengthening the…
The products certified in WELFAIR by ACERTA reach the main supermarkets
As a result of ACERTA’s work of many months with hundreds of producers, from cattle, pig and sheep farms to the end of the chain, in industries that process and pack products, these foods can now be obtained packaged and labeled with the seal of Animal Welfare «WELFAIR certified by ACERTA» in the main supermarkets. In this case, El Corte Inglés has relied on the WELFAIR certification by ACERTA to differentiate its Selección range products.
IFS version 7 is mandatory from July 1, 2021
From March 1, 2021, version 6.1 and version 7 could be applied in parallel. However, since July 1, 2021, only evaluations according to the new IFS version 7 are allowed. IFS Food is a food safety standard recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) to audit companies that manufacture food or companies that package…
Galletas Gullón renews the COVID-19 prevention certificate with ACERTA
The company, which was the pioneer in the agri-food sector in obtaining the COVID-19 Prevention / Food certificate, revalidates the Contingency Plan that has allowed to keep the coronavirus industry isolated and ensure the health of employees and the supply of cookies to the market .
Imminent consequences of BREXIT for the export to the United Kingdom of products of animal origin.
The implementation of BREXIT continues to advance in the different economic sectors. On October 1, 2021, it is the turn of companies that want to export products of animal origin to the United Kingdom. The authorities of this country have published details on the conditions applicable from this date to the import …
ACERTA multiplies its staff and approaches 150 employees.
ACERTA, a leading company in the field of certification, continues its growth and its team is close to 150 people internationally. Despite the pandemic situation, ACERTA has relied on young talent and over the last year has created more than 10 jobs in its Food Certification, Animal Welfare and R & D & I areas.
ACERTA certifies AGAMA’s livestock farms in Mallorca with the WELFAIR seal of animal welfare
Last Thursday, June 17, the WELFAIR Animal Welfare certificates were delivered to AGAMA’s dairy farmers in Mallorca. The event was attended by the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mae de la Concha, who delivered the certificates, the General Director of Agriculture …
ANCOPORC celebrates its XXIV assembly betting on animal welfare, biosecurity and sustainability
The National Association of Swine Cattle Traders this past Wednesday, June 16, organized its twenty-fourth National Congress, an act that year after year strengthens its position as a meeting point for all agents in the sector. Matías Romero Olmedo, CEO of Acerta presented the new guarantee brand WOW (Welfare on…
GLOBALG.A.P. authorizes the ACERTA subsidiary in Morocco to start certifying the IFA F&V standard.
ACERTA’s affiliate company in Morocco (ACERTA Certification SRL) has been authorized by GLOBALG.A.P. to start the evaluation processes of the IFA standard for Fruits and Vegetables, v. 5.4. The team that makes up this new company accumulates long experience in evaluating this standard …
Food Safety – Green light to a new food: the yellow mealworm.
The EU has given the green light to the commercialization of the dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor), as a new food, to be consumed whole as a snack, or as an ingredient in other food products.A “new food” is considered to be one that was not significantly consumed in the EU before May 15, 1997, the date on which the first…
Food Safety – GGN label – The GLOBALG.A.P. Tag. that the consumer will be able to see in certified products.
The GGN label was first launched in 2016 for aquaculture products and in 2017 for floriculture products. Now, from April 2021, it can also be carried by fruits and vegetables. Kristian Moeller, CEO of GLOBALG.A.P., Assures that “transparency is the essence of the GGN label. We help…
R&D&I – NATIONAL PLAN FOR RECOVERY, TRANSFORMATION AND RESILIENCE PRESENTED IN BRUSSELS.
On April 30, the Government of Spain presented the National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan in Brussels. The content of this document is essential so that European Next Generation recovery funds can be channeled in Spain …
FOOD SAFETY – We start auditing with the new version 7 of IFS.
The new version 7 of IFS has been waiting. Nine years have passed since version 6 was published in March 2012, with the consolidated editions of 2014 and 2017. From March 1, 2021 it is possible to carry out IFS Food V7 evaluations, version 6.1 up to the June 30, 2021 …
LITERA MEAT – The largest pig slaughterhouse in Europe, renews its WELFAIR ™ Animal Welfare certificate with ACERTA.
The WELFAIR™ Animal Welfare seal has been recognized as one of the most innovative projects in responding to the current needs of society and committing to a responsible consumption model. Litera Meat has renewed for the second consecutive year the WELFAIR ™ Animal Welfare certification approved by IRTA …
A great project of the national meat sector that will boost its commitment to animal welfare.
The meat sector ranks first in the entire food and beverage industry in Spain, with a turnover of more than € 26,800 million, which is equivalent to 22.5% of this entire sector at the national level. These data represent 2.4% of the total Spanish GDP, generating direct direct employment for more than 97,000 workers …
R&D&I spending in Spain, current situation and future prospects
When it seemed that the Spanish innovative effort was beginning to rise after the economic-financial crisis of 2007, with indicators that encouraged optimism, especially focused on the increase in the private sector’s commitment to investment in R&D&I compared to public investment…
ACERTA 2020 balance in R&D&I
According to the latest report from the Sub-Directorate General for the Promotion of Innovation, published in January 2021, ACERTA certified in 2019 almost 5% of all projects with a request for a Binding Motivated Report, becoming the fourth entity in Spain by volume of projects certificates. In the six years of our R&D&I project evaluation activity, we have evaluated 2,217 files, 721 of them in 2020.
BeVeg, first brand for vegan products and services, certified under accreditation.
The BeVeg scheme for vegan products and services is promoted by the US-based organization BeVeg International. It is the first brand for vegan products to be certified under ISO17065 accreditation, making it the most transparent and reliable currently on the global market.
BeVeg is the benchmark brand for vegan consumers in the US and for…
More than 4.000 Spanish supermarkets will buy animal products certified under WELFAIR™ seal.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for products made under ethical and sustainable development criteria among consumers of products of animal origin. There is a growing interest in knowing the production systems and more and more ethical practices are demanded and that they guarantee that the conditions in which farm animals live are optimal for a life without suffering or stress…
Innovative SMES in Spain aim to lead the new R&D Framework Programme: Horizon Europe 2021-2027
The R&D Framework Programme for the period 2021-2027 is already in operation. Known as Horizon Europe, it follows on from the previous Horizon 2020 Program which, with a budget of more than € 70,000 million, was fully executed between 2014 and 2020. It is a new program that will have a budget …
ACERTA, benchmark in certification of the WELFAIR™ seal of Animal Welfare.
Despite the movement restrictions caused by the pandemic situation, ACERTA has far exeeded expectations for its first year of activity in animal welfare certification, and has established itself as a benchmark in the bovine animals for fattening sector.
110.000 certified fattening calves in more than 500 farms.
AGRIFOOD SECTOR – Spanish SMEs in the agri-food sector will benefit from € 1.8 Billion of European funds for 2021-2027.
Faced with the reality of the health crisis that we are seeing in the world, a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, responsible in turn for the serious economic crisis that accompanies us, hope is once again called Europe. The opening of a new programming period for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027…
ANIMAL WELFARE – European Council conclusions on the Community Animal Welfare label
The European Council has adopted conclusions on a Community-wide animal welfare label and underlined that its aim is to improve the welfare of the largest possible number of food-producing animals. The Council invites…
AQUACULTURE – ACERTA continues to increase its certification activity in GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture despite the pandemic
The global pandemic of COVID19 has forced harsh restrictions on the mobility of the general population in all countries, and this has been a serious handicap for the certification bodies that develop a significant part of …
ANIMAL WELFARE – ACERTA strengthens its services for the poultry sector with the qualification of new Animal Welfare auditors
ACERTA has recently reinforced its WELFAIR™ standard evaluation team with the qualification of two more auditors for the poultry production sector, with which we cover the activities of production and slaughter of turkeys and chickens, in this …
ACERTA – ACERTA expands its Chain of Custody accreditations
Throughout 2020, ACERTA has expanded its accreditation for the certification of the GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody (CoC) standard in its version 6 for the scope of Supply Chain in the areas of livestock and aquaculture, which are added to the …
ANIMAL WELFARE – The WOW quality seal is born to certify animal welfare in the transport of animals
The National Association of Live Animal Transporters (ANTA) has published the Animal Welfare on Wheels – WOW seal of quality in the hands of ACERTA’s Animal Welfare Operations Department, a certification body specialized in…
ACERTA – GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Certification for ANIMAL PRODUCTION (LIVESTOCK) by ACERTA
The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Scope for ANIMAL PRODUCTION (LIVESTOCK) certifies good livestock practices on farms by evaluating food safety, traceability of livestock, biosecurity on the farm, accommodation …
WELFCERT – Animal Welfare CHILE. Collaboration contract between FS TEAM and ACERTA – Animal Welfare.
ACERTA has recently signed an agreement with the Chilean company FS TEAM to develop in Chile the WELFCERT® certification scheme, Animal Welfare.
FOOD SAFETY – 14 compound feed factories in 7 countries have already the GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate: CFM by ACERTA
After obtaining ENAC accreditation in 2019 to certify GLOBALG.A.P. CFM (Manufacture of Compound Feed), ACERTA already certifies 14 feed production plants for livestock and aquaculture, distributed in 7 countries.
FOOD SAFETY – Citrus Nostrum 100% Sweet Almond Certification
Francisco Guanter, technical director of Citrus Nostrum: “This new seal, 100% Sweet Almond, which is certified by ACERTA, has the objective of responding to the demand for food safety of an increasingly professional sector that is oriented to… “
ANIMAL WELFARE – AVIGASE entrusts ACERTA with the certification of animal welfare for its beef farms
The Segovian cooperative AVIGASE has contracted ACERTA to carry out the animal welfare certification of all its beef farms. With this, the company fulfills one of its objectives set for 2020.
ANIMAL WELFARE – Training in Animal Welfare from the ASN commercial network
ACERTA has given a training session on Animal Welfare to the technicians of the company ASN (Alternative Swine Nutrition), helping to expand the knowledge of its commercial network in this field.
COVID19 – La Ópera Café has been the first hotel establishment in Spain to achieve the Safe Site FOOD® certificate
The Café de la Ópera, restaurant and cafeteria of the Hotel Ópera, an emblematic hotel establishment in the historic center of Madrid, located in front of the Royal Theatre, has received the first Safe Site FOOD® certificate for the restaurant business.
ANIMAL WELFARE – BOS NOSTRUM obtains the WELFAIR™ certificate for animal welfare
ACERTA has awarded the WELFAIR™ Animal Welfare certificate to BOS NOSTRUM, a company made up of a team of veterinarians who are experts in beef cattle production and in which more than 25 livestock families highly committed to changing times collaborate …
ANIMAL WELFARE – ACERTA will certify the animal welfare of COPESE Food Group
ACERTA has been the entity selected by COPESE Food Group to evaluate its beef cattle farms for the next three years with respect to the requirements of the WELFAIRTM animal welfare standard, promoted by IRTA.
FOOD SAFETY – ACERTA has been accredited for IFS Logistics
ACERTA increases its portfolio of specialized accreditations in the agri-food sector. The IFS Logistics standard provides transparency and trust throughout the food supply chain. The audits must be done by specialized auditors.
COVID19 – Gullón cookies certified in prevention of COVID-19
ACERTA has granted the COVID-19 Prevention / FOOD certificate to two production centers of the largest biscuit company in Europe.
ANIMAL WELFARE – The EU launches a public consultation on the Strategy for Animal Protection and Welfare
The European Commission has published a 12-week open consultation on the EU Strategy for Animal Protection and Welfare for the period 2012-2015. Citizens, experts and interested sectors are invited to provide their comments before June 15, 2020.
ANIMAL WELFARE – ACERTA has been authorized for all modules of Welfair Animal Welfare
ACERTA currently has AUTHORIZATION (qualified auditors) for ALL modules of the WELFAIRTM Animal Welfare Certification Scheme.
ANIMAL WELFARE – ACERTA organizes the In House Training course within the scope of Livestock (livestock) of GLOBALG.A.P
Between February 18 and 21, the GLOBALG.A.P. In-House Trainer Livestock v5 (livestock) course, taught by Dr. Roland Aumüller, was held at ACERTA’s headquarters.
ANIMAL WELFARE – ACERTA certifies the animal welfare of the largest pig slaughterhouse in Europe
ACERTA has been the entity in charge of evaluating compliance with the animal welfare requirements of the company located in Binéfar (Huesca). The audit concluded with a very positive score, bordering on the degree of excellence.
ANTA and ACERTA develop the regulations for the new brand WOW – Animal Welfare during transport
The National Animal Transportation Association (ANTA) has commissioned ACERTA to develop an animal welfare seal for transportation. It is expected to be operational in the coming months.
New ACERTA brand – ACERTA launches the new brand that will guide its strategic project 2020 – 2022.
Since its foundation, ACERTA has always remained faithful to its values: independence, impartiality, technical competence and objectivity. This has allowed us to become one of the most reliable certification entities in the market, which is guaranteed by being one of the few that have managed to keep the 5 stars of BRCGS in all…