GMP+ Feed Certification Changes from March 2, 2026: What Certified Companies Need to Do

The GMP+ announcement specifies two key dates:

• February 17, 2026 — official announcement of the change package;
• Monday, March 2, 2026 — publication of changes in the scheme documents.

It is also explicitly stated that a one-year implementation period will apply after publication. This means companies have time to adapt, but postponing preparation until the end of the transition period is risky: the later you start, the greater the burden on your team, audit preparation, and internal procedures.

GMP+ International reports that the change package was prepared jointly with specialized subcommittees and the International Expert Committee. The official communication highlights several key areas.

Some changes involve clarifications of wording and interpretation of requirements. In practice, this is important because even minor text adjustments can alter the logic of evidence during an audit. Companies should review not only the 'major' sections but also terminology, references, and technical notes.

GMP+ reports that new items have been added to the forbidden list. For businesses, this is one of the most sensitive parts of the update, as it directly affects procurement, supplier qualification, incoming control, and raw material acceptance decisions.

It is noted that changes have been made to certification requirements in connection with a new approach to examination and mandatory harmonisation materials. This means that companies need not only to update their document packages but also to synchronize their internal practices with the approach that certification and audit bodies will apply.

The announcement separately emphasizes the introduction of new minimum audit times for the FRA module. For teams, this affects resource planning: audit schedules, availability of key personnel, preparation of the evidence base, and coordination with the certification body.

GMP+ also announced that, due to the growing number of certified companies in Brazil, the most relevant scheme documents will be available in Portuguese. At first glance, this is a regional update, but in practice it demonstrates a broader trend: the scheme is becoming more scalable and focused on accessible implementation across different jurisdictions.

For international supply chains, this is a positive signal, as better document availability reduces the risk of misinterpretation, increases implementation consistency, and decreases the number of errors during the requirements interpretation stage.

In the official announcement, GMP+ reminds users about the document version comparison feature available after logging into the GMP+ Platform. The mechanism is straightforward: through the View Online button, you can see exactly what has changed between versions and download the current documents.

For compliance and quality teams, this is one of the most practical features, as it allows you to:

• quickly identify actual changes without manually reading the entire document;
• correctly update internal procedures;
• save time on coordinating changes between departments;
• avoid situations where outdated wording remains in circulation.

If a company has not yet integrated this practice into its regular workflow, 2026 is a good time to make it standard for all scheme document revisions.

The announcement directly lists the actions that GMP+ expects from scheme participants. Essentially, this is a ready-made checklist for starting the transition:

1. Review the published updates and understand what exactly has changed.
2. Assess the impact on the management system, procedures, audit presentation, and training.
3. Plan implementation according to the transition timeline, taking into account S9.1 List of changes GMP+ FC scheme 2020.
4. Inform relevant colleagues so that changes are applied on time.

This list is important because it covers not only documentation but also change management within the organization. This is where failures most commonly occur: the document has already been updated, but the operational team is still working according to the old version of the process.

Even with a one-year implementation period available, the transition needs to be structured. A practical approach for most companies may look as follows:

Within the first 2–3 weeks after publication, it is advisable to conduct a brief analysis of the new requirements and create an impact matrix: which documents, processes, roles, and control points need to be changed.

First priority should be given to changes that affect:

• raw material acceptance and forbidden products;
• certification evidence;
• preparation for FRA audits;
• critical elements of personnel training.

After updating documents, it is important to verify that changes are actually being applied in practice. This requires brief internal checks, role-based briefings, and monitoring of the first execution cycle.

Before the next audit, the company should conduct an internal 'stress test': go through the most sensitive points and verify that the team interprets the new requirements consistently in practice.

In practice, the difficulty usually lies not in the changes themselves but in organizing them. The most common risks include:

• postponing analysis until the final months of the transition period;
• updating documents but not updating training and practices;
• underestimating the impact of new minimum audit times on planning;
• not synchronizing procurement with the updated forbidden list;
• working without a single transition owner within the company.

The sooner these risks are brought under control, the smoother the adaptation and the lower the burden on the team before an audit.

The changes announced by GMP+ International, to be published on March 2, 2026, set a new cycle of requirements for GMP+ Feed Certification participants. The key points are clear: clearer documents, an updated forbidden products list, adjustments to certification requirements, new minimum audit times for FRA, and a structured one-year transition.

For Ukrainian companies operating in international feed supply chains, this is not a routine news item but a practical signal to begin preparations immediately after the updates are published. The best strategy is to combine a quick analysis of changes with real implementation into procedures, training, and audit readiness.

If the team acts systematically, the one-year transition period is sufficient for a managed update without operational disruptions and unnecessary stress before external audits.