The process was a truly international effort, sponsored by McDonald´s Europe in association with Brazilian companies Sadia, LAR, Penasul, C. Vale and BR FOODS together with US firm Cargill, Germany’s ESCA and Moy Park from Northern Ireland.

The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat used comments from the 2010 workshop to help develop the new standard version, and producers then tested it in its interim form. Results from these interim assessments featured in the planning of the final version, which acted as a reference for further audits during 2011.

Norbert Rank, European Quality Lead (Poultry), of McDonald’s Europe and Chairman of the GLOBALG.A.P. Stakeholder Committee on Animal Welfare, said: “During 2011 we were working with our Brazilian poultry suppliers to implement the international food safety and sustainability criteria of the GLOBALG.A.P. Standard. McDonald´s Europe is very pleased with the outcome of the project as it helped us to strengthen our relations with our suppliers."

There are now 519 GLOBALG.A.P. certified chicken producers in Brazil, with an annual production of over 500,000 tons of chicken.