From now on, growers starting out with MPS-ABC who keep usage records on time will be awarded s-status. This status indicates that a grower has just started participating in MPS-ABC and has therefore not yet been awarded a qualification. This is in place of the NQ (Non-Qualified) status that was previously assigned to growers who had not been logging their usage data long enough to receive an MPS-A+, -A, -B or -C qualification. The new status has been introduced to meet the demand from the market to be able to distinguish new participants who are on the way towards a qualification from growers with NQ status. NQ will still be assigned to companies that are behind on their record-keeping (this applies to both starters and growers with a qualification), do not pay their membership fees on time or have been sanctioned. S-status is not intended as an official certification standard and is not FSI-compliant.
S-status will be awarded to growers starting out with MPS-ABC who meet the following criteria:
- They have been keeping usage records for a full (qualified) MPS quarter (and all periods from the date they joined MPS-ABC).
- They have been keeping usage records for a maximum of 18 periods from the date they joined MPS-ABC.
