Classification of Rules of SALM Standard
The identified rules of the different elements in the SALM Standard are,
based on the analysis of the hazard types and risks, classified into two
basic categories. These are:
a) MUST – rules that are critical and mandatory if the objective of the
optimum degree of order in agricultural production is to be realized, i.e.
sustainability, environmental protection, products which are safe to
consumers and protection of workers health and safety. The rules of this
type must be complied with by all users of the standard and, in no way, shall
they be compromised during the crop production process. If the rules are
not respected, the hazards associated with the rules are consequently not
controlled, mitigated or eliminated, thus resulting in severe impacts to the
characteristics mentioned above. In the documentation of the Good
Agricultural Practice Standard, the MUST rules are normally expressed in
“shall” or “must” format, e.g. the produce shall be traceable to the farm, or
any application of nitrogen in excess of national or international limits must
be avoided.
The MUST rules of good agricultural practice are also further sub-divided
into two types – MAJOR MUST and MINOR MUST. As the names suggest,
MAJOR MUST rules (boxed in red) are rules that must be complied with,
which if not strictly followed by producers, will result in hazards and impacts
that are very severe to the environment, food safety, workers safety and
sustainability. MINOR MUST rules (boxed in yellow), on the other hand, are
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also rules that must be complied with but the impacts in this case are not
very severe.