Superintendents organisations are engaged in the profession of inspection, appointed by or on behalf of Buyers and Sellers under the terms and conditions of Gafta Contracts.
A Superintendent may issue reports and certificates relating to its operations and render advisory services.
All Registered Superintendents have agreed to abide by a code of good practice to ensure their independence and neutrality in the supervision of cargoes and compliance with Gafta Sampling Rules.
Registered Superintendents carry out inspections, verifications, examinations, quality and condition assessment of grains, feedingstuffs, pulses, rice and other commodities traded on Gafta Contracts Terms.
When a Superintendent is appointed to act by one of the parties to a contract incorporating Gafta terms, all operations it carries out should comply with the appropriate Rules and Contract terms.
Sampling Rules Guides
The following Guides can be read together with the No. 124 Sampling Rules (applicable to contracts from 1st September 2018) as their aim is to provide helpful guidance as to how some clauses can be applied:
Sampling Guide - Standard Method
Sampling Guide - Pre-Reduction of bulk lot samples
Sampling Guide - Reduction of contractual samples for dispatch to analysts
Phytosanitary Inspections
For exports of grain from England, Wales and Scotland to countries requiring phytosanitary certificates, a special protocol applies. By joint agreement between Gafta and the official Plant Health Authorities a General Standard Operating Procedure (GSOP1) applies to such exports. Under this system inspectors are approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (www.gov.uk/apha) to complete application forms and undertake phytosanitary inspections.
The licensing arrangement involves attending (and the successful passing of) a training course in insect identification run by the Food and Environment Research Agency. Approvals are issued by APHA for a period of 5 years. Trade Approved Inspectors are not restricted to Gafta Superintendents but may also be those involved in storage and handling of grain for export (storekeepers/silo operators etc). The Register of Trade Approved Inspectors is maintained by APHA in close co-operation with FERA. Training courses are arranged by APHA annually.
The most up to date version of the GSOP 1 is available via the below link. Access to the application form HH 93 is also available through this link. Exports from Scotland follow the same procedure except applications are submitted to a different address. This is set out in Annex V of the GSOP1.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grain-for-export-application-for-certification