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Comparing FSSC 22000 against FSMA Preventive Controls Rules

Aug 09 2016 06:16 PM | Tony-C in

A recent comparison of the FSSC 22000 Certification scheme against the FSMA Final Preventive Controls (PC) Rule for Human Food concluded that there is alignment between FSSC 22000 and the PC rule and that where the FSSC 22000 scheme requirements are not exceeding those of the PC rule they are in very large measure comparable.



Read story →    0 comments    *****    fssc22000, fsma

Adding Value to an Internal Audit System

Jun 06 2016 05:27 AM | Tony-C in

Internal auditing is included in Food Safety Management Requirements of the GFSI Guidance Document Sixth Edition Version 6.4 and as such is a compulsory element of GFSI benchmarked standards including BRC, SQF, IFS and FSSC 22000. Whilst at first the aim of your internal auditing system may be to confirm that your food safety management system is effective in meeting customer statutory and regulatory requirements, an effectively implemented and managed internal audit system can add significantly more value to your business.

 

Internal auditing is not just about identifying compliance and non-compliance, by taking a proactive approach your internal auditors can contribute to the performance of your business by identifying areas for improvement.

 

We’ll come back to this later but first let’s go through some relevant information regarding internal audit systems in the food industry.



Read story →    3 comments    *****    internal audit

The Solution to a Combined HACCP & HARPC System!

Jun 01 2016 05:59 PM | Simon in

On first glance HACCP and HARPC may look similar. But be warned, no matter what you may have been told, they are not!

 

There are key differences between the two systems and so, if you’re trying to comply to both, it’s really important that you understand what those differences are.

 

More than that, there is one fundamental contradiction in the two systems, that if not addressed prior to setting off down the food safety path, may just trip you up!

 

I believe the publication of the FDAs Food Safety Modernization Act and the requirement for a risk-based preventive control plan (HARPC), is going to turn the world of HACCP on its head.

 

Although HACCP is well-established and the recognized way of carrying out food safety risk assessment, the NACMCF and Codex Alimentarius principles will need to make way for the new preventive control rule.

 

Even with the introduction of HARPC, food facilities will continue to be required to adhere to HACCP principles by their local law, by their customers and in order to meet standards such as those recognized by the GFSI.



Read story →    1 comments    -----    HACCP, HARPC


The Major Contaminants in Compressed Air

Mar 16 2016 08:00 PM | Simon in

The quality of compressed air used in the food industry has come under the microscope recently. As the awareness grows of the critical nature that compressed air plays in the quality of products, several organizations have addressed the growing realization.



Read story →    2 comments    *****    compressed air contaminants and 1 more...

BRC Packaging Standard Issue 5 Gap Analysis

Sep 01 2015 08:08 PM | Simon in

Issue 5 of the BRC Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials was published July 2015 with the new set of requirements coming into force on January 1, 2016. To prepare for the changes the IFSQN have conducted an initial gap analysis of Issue 5 against issue 4 requirements HIGH HYGIENE CATEGORY highlighting the new requirements and key changes.



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TACCP & VACCP Demystified!

Aug 25 2015 06:05 PM | Simon in

One of my main lines of work at the moment is helping my manufacturing clients complete their TACCP/VACCP study. The understanding within the industry of what TACCP and VACCP is, is very confused right now. There have been many mixed messages on this subject and many conflicting explanations as to what TACCP and VACCP are and which should be applied to what situation. Within this short article I intend to clarify the subject.



Read story →    6 comments    *****    TACCP, VACCP

How Food Safety Agencies Protect Consumers with Food Labels

Jul 22 2015 07:30 PM | Simon in

The main goal of food safety agencies worldwide is to protect consumers from food products that are potentially harmful to their health. For that reason the agencies constantly introduce new and review old regulations for proper food production and labeling. These laws differ from country to country, and even from region to region within one country.



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Product Withdrawal & Recall Survey

Jul 08 2015 10:21 AM | Simon in

We asked the IFSQN members to share their experience with product recalls and withdrawals within their businesses. Below are the main findings along with some commentary and links to helpful information resources.



Read story →    6 comments    *****    product recall and 1 more...

ACET Global Consulting to Provide IFS Academy Training

Jun 27 2015 06:08 PM | Simon in

ACET Global Consulting LLC, a US-based global food safety organization is now an IFS Academy training provider. ACET Global has personnel and alliances worldwide having food safety and GFSI expertise including production, storage and distribution, and packaging materials.



Read story →    0 comments    -----    IFS, training, consultancy


The International Food Safety & Quality Network Annual Conference

Jun 21 2015 06:47 PM | Simon in

Food Safety Live is the world’s first online food safety learning and networking conference. Join us from the comfort of your own office and watch four unmissable live debates with our team of expert panelists.



Read story →    0 comments    -----    Food safety live, conference

New System Redefines Performance for GC-MS Applications

Jun 01 2015 06:08 PM | Simon in

Laboratories performing food safety and authenticity, pharmaceutical, metabolomic, anti-doping and other analyses using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can now achieve new levels of performance using high-resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) Orbitrap mass spectrometry, bringing the highest level of detection and identification capabilities to GC-MS studies.



Read story →    0 comments    -----    Thermo Fisher Scientific