Overview

Food safety is a global concern. Not only because of the continuing importance for public health, but also because of its impact on international trade. Effective Food Safety Systems shall therefore manage and ensure the safety and suitability of foodstuffs.

In many countries world-wide, legislation on the safety and suitability of foodstuffs requires “HACCP” to be put in place by any food business or organisation, carrying out any or all of the following activities: preparation, processing, manufacturing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, handling or offering for sale or supply of foodstuffs.

According to EU Directive 93/43/EEC on Food Hygiene all food business operators in the European Union shall implement HACCP.

They shall ensure that adequate safety procedures are identified, documented, maintained and reviewed on the basis of the principles used to develop the system of HACCP (“Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point”)

The Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission describes a series of steps, including the 7 HACCP principles giving guidance for the application of the HACCP system. The General Principles of Food Hygiene, as recommended by Codex, form an intrinsic part of this document “Requirements for a HACCP based Food Safety System”

The 7 principles and the guidelines for the application of HACCP have been combined with basic elements of quality management systems (ISO 9000) to establish the Requirements for a HACCP based Food Safety System.

The food business operators shall have identified any step in their activities which is critical to ensure food safety and shall have developed, implemented, maintained and reviewed adequate safety procedures, applying the principles of HACCP, including the general principles of food hygiene, and where appropriate the relevant codes of practice and the food safety legislation.

HACCP “Requirements” are not intended for application by suppliers and / or service companies to food businesses, like suppliers of packaging, food equipment, industrial cleaning services, etc..

Food Safety :
Assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use. Food Safety Hazard: A biological, chemical or physical agent that is reasonably likely to cause illness or injury in the absence of its control

Biological Hazard

  • Pathogenic mcro organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses)
  • Parasites

Physical Hazards

  • Metal, glass, etc.

Chemical Hazard

  • Natural toxins
  • Chemical
  • Pesticides
  • Drug residues
  • Unapproved food and colour additives
  • Decomposition (safety only, e.g., histamine)

Food Safety Management System: A management system designed to enable organizations to control food safety hazards along the food chain in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of consumption.

Benefits

HACCP implementation improves / leads to

  • Conformance to Legal and Regulatory Requirements
  • Provide recognition throughout the supply chain as single standard approach to Food Safety
  • Compliance with the Codex HACCP principles.
  • Access to new markets through inclusion in the database of certified suppliers.
  • Increase profits by aligning your products to retailer/consumer requirements.
  • Improves the SAFETY and QUALITY of your product
  • Demonstrates sustainable production and manufacturing best practices
  • The ability to reduce the number and frequency of inconsistent and costly audits.
  • Systematic management of prerequisite programs.
  • Hazard analysis to evaluate threats to food safety.
  • Dynamic communication on food safety issues with suppliers, customers, regulators and other interested parties.
  • A systematic and proactive approach to identification of food safety hazards and development and Implementation of control measures.
  • Customer Confidence, Satisfaction and TRUST
  • clear responsibilities and authorities agreed for all staff
  • improved use of time and resources
  • greater CONSISTENCY and TRACEABILITY of products and services
  • Level of Assurance in Organisational QUALITY
  • Organisational PROFITABILITY
  • Ability to Differentiate Organization for Competitive Advantage
  • Organisational Credibility & Reputation.

Training

We offer a customized training programme on HACCP forfor

  • HACCP – Awareness on implementation and documentation requirements

HACCP- Internal Auditor training