GMP+, FAMI-QS, EFISC-GTP or QS — which standard to choose

Four standards, four different centres of gravity

Before comparing the standards in detail, it's worth remembering one rule: each of them was created to answer a different problem in the feed chain. GMP+ FSA is the oldest and most widely recognised standard in Europe — it covers practically every stage of the chain: production, trade, storage, transport and training. FAMI-QS was created specifically for producers of feed additives and premixes — a segment where the risk associated with highly concentrated active substances calls for a different approach than production of standard compound feed. EFISC-GTP focuses on trade in feed materials of plant origin — grains, meals, and by-products of the food industry. QS, in turn, is a German system covering the entire agri-food chain, in which the feed module is just one element of a larger whole.

In practice, this means the question "which standard is best" is the wrong question to ask. The right question is: which segment of the feed chain does my company operate in, and what do the customers I sell to — or want to sell to — require.

GMP+ — when it's the natural choice

GMP+ works well as a starting point for most feed companies in Poland, regardless of whether they are involved in production, transport, or trade and storage — the standard has separate, tailored requirements for each of these areas of activity (see GMP+ for production, GMP+ for transport and GMP+ for trade and storage). If your customers are large feed groups or animal producers working with the Western European market, GMP+ can simply be a condition for starting the relationship — regardless of how good your pricing or quality offer is.

GMP+ is also the standard most often used as a base for adding further certificates — a company that already has a quality management system compliant with GMP+ has a much easier path to FAMI-QS or QS, because some of the documentation and procedures (HACCP, records, supplier management) overlap between standards.

FAMI-QS — when it's the right choice

If your company produces, processes or distributes feed additives or premixes, FAMI-QS is usually the standard considered first — alongside GMP+ or instead of it, depending on what the market requires. FAMI-QS is more specialised than GMP+ in the area of risk associated with highly concentrated active substances — cross-contamination, dosing accuracy, homogeneity of mixing at small production scale. Companies operating exclusively in the premix and additives segment often implement FAMI-QS as their primary standard, adding GMP+ only when a specific customer requires it. You'll find more on this on the FAMI-QS page.

EFISC-GTP — when it's the right choice

EFISC-GTP is a natural choice for companies trading in feed materials of plant origin — grains, extracted meals, by-products of food processing — especially where the business involves trading intermediation (broker activity) or handling goods without physically storing them at your own facility. In many cases EFISC-GTP and GMP+ for trade and storage cover a similar scope of activity — the choice between them (or the decision to implement both) depends mainly on what specific customers and trading partners in the supply chain require. Details are covered on the EFISC-GTP page.

QS — when it's the right choice

QS comes into play practically only when your company sells or plans to sell feed products to the German market — integrators and large customers in Germany build their supply chains around the QS system and expect their feed suppliers to participate in it too. For companies not exporting to Germany, QS usually has no business justification — it is a very market-specific standard, unlike the pan-European GMP+. More information is available on the QS (Germany) page.

When it pays to combine more than one standard

Combining standards makes sense in a few recurring situations. First, when a company operates in several segments of the chain at once — for example producing compound feed (GMP+ for production) while also running its own transport (GMP+ for transport) — in this case both scopes are usually certified together, as part of a single process. Second, when a company sells into several markets with different requirements — for example GMP+ for customers in Western Europe and QS for customers in Germany. Third, when the production profile covers both standard compound feed and premixes or additives — in which case GMP+ and FAMI-QS are often implemented in parallel, since they cover different aspects of the same business.

Combining standards does not mean doubling the work. A well-designed quality management system — shared HACCP documentation, shared records, shared supplier-management procedures — can support several certificates at once, and audits can sometimes be partly combined into a single visit by the certification body, if it holds accreditation for both standards. Maintenance costs rise, but rarely in proportion to the number of standards — we've written more on this on the certification costs page.

A practical example: a production-and-trading company

Consider a company that produces compound feed, also sells raw materials to other plants, and occasionally provides transport services to external customers. Such a company might first implement GMP+ for production, since this is the area generating the largest revenue and most often required by compound-feed customers. As a next step, if raw material sales grow, it's worth extending the scope to GMP+ for trade and storage, or considering EFISC-GTP if the raw materials come mainly from plant-based trade. External transport usually comes as the last stage — only once the scale of that activity justifies a separate audit and separate procedures. Such a staged expansion of certification scope is far more practical than trying to implement everything at once from day one.

The same mechanism applies to combining standards, not just extending the scope within one of them. A company that starts with GMP+ for production and, over time, moves into the premix segment, naturally arrives at the question of FAMI-QS — and at that point benefits from the fact that some of the system documentation (records, HACCP, supplier management) was already built during the first certification.

When it's not worth certifying "just in case"

A common mistake is implementing a standard that no one is yet requiring from the company, in the hope that it will "come in handy just in case". Certification is a real cost and a real commitment of resources — documentation, staff time, annual surveillance audits. Before committing to a specific standard, it's worth checking whether there is genuine market demand for that certificate in your segment, or whether it's really just a general belief that "a certificate is always useful". A conversation with your current and prospective customers usually gives a quick and clear answer.

How to make the decision in practice

The simplest way to reach a decision is to answer three questions. First: which certificate do my current customers require — is it a formal requirement or just a preference? Second: which segment of the feed chain does my company operate in — production, transport, trade, additives, premixes — since this determines which standard (or standards) even apply at all. Third: which markets do I export to, or plan to export to — because some standards, like QS, are closely tied to a specific end market. In most cases, the answers to these questions clearly point to the right direction. In more complex situations — for example planned export growth or a change in business profile — it's worth consulting an advisor who can assess the situation as a whole.

Summary

GMP+ remains the broadest and most universal standard for feed companies in Poland, FAMI-QS is the natural choice for producers of additives and premixes, EFISC-GTP for trade in plant-based raw materials, and QS for companies exporting to the German market. In many cases, the right answer is not a single standard, but a combination of those that respond to the real requirements of your customers and your company's business profile.

Glossary

GMP+ FSA

The broadest feed safety standard in Europe, covering production, trade, storage, transport and training across the feed chain.

FAMI-QS

A standard dedicated to producers of feed additives and premixes, managed by the European industry association FAMI-QS asbl.

EFISC-GTP

A standard for companies trading in feed materials of plant origin, created from the merger of the EFISC and GTP standards.

QS system

A German quality system covering the entire agri-food chain, with a separate module for the feed sector, mainly relevant to exporters to the German market.

Mutual recognition of standards

A practice under which certain elements of one standard (e.g. HACCP documentation) can be taken into account during the audit of another standard, reducing duplication of work.

Certification scope

The formally defined area of a company's business covered by a given certificate — e.g. compound feed production, transport, trade — stated on the certificate and in the public register.