Hello Weloveplastic,
It's good that you launched the topic on this forum. I understand exactly what you're talking about. You worded the feeling of a large amount of quality people. It looks like the lists of more requirements coming from all sides is unstoppable.
However, you have to deal with it.
One of the tasks of the quality manager is to translate the theorical part to a practical workable situation. In such a way, that your products comply to all the requirements. So it's a combination of theory and practice.
What helps, is to look to your company from an objective standpoint of view (or look to other sectors where certification and compliance is of huge importance, such as in aviation and medicine). A company is a lot of different processes interfering together.
A certification scheme is a compilation of all the customer requirements. That makes it easier for customers to chose for your company. That's often forgotten, especially by the companies and people who already have the certificate.
The certificates evolve with the actuality, you and your company need to evolve together. Current developments are built into the certification standards, to keep their value and to guarantee the quality and food safety of your products. It's up to you to translate these in the company.
The certification standards and requirements are well thought, by very smart people who have an overview of our beautiful sector. That's why certification is a good basis for quality, food safety and customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, there is this forum, to find out how others gave input to fullfil the requirments of all kinds of food standards.
Kind regards,
Gerard