Environmental Monitoring Programs – From Risk to Digital Implementation

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$97.00 (EU/UK Customers Charged 20% VAT)  

Next Live Training October 20, 2026

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Includes the full 4-hour training session, presentation slides, templates, and a certificate of attendance.

Instructor: Vladimir Surčinski, Auditor and Trainer
Facilitator: Simon Timperley, Administrator, IFSQN

Cost per attendee: $97.00 USD

Training Course Outline:

Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) has become a mandatory pillar of food safety management, with GFSI schemes (FSSC 22000 v6, IFS Food v8, BRCGS Food v9, SQF 9) and legislation worldwide requiring documented, risk-based programs. Despite this, many facilities struggle with limited resources, unclear responsibilities, and difficulties integrating EMP into daily operations.

This training provides a practical, modern approach to designing and implementing Environmental Monitoring Programs. Participants will learn how to:

• Interpret and apply standard and legal requirements.
• Build a risk-based zoning and sampling plan tailored to their facility.
• Use AI and digital tools for data analysis, trend monitoring, and predictive modelling.
• Prepare for audits by understanding what certification bodies and customers expect.

The webinar combines technical microbiology insights with practical tools (templates, checklists, sampling plans), and includes real case studies to demonstrate how to set up and continuously improve your program.

What Participants Will Learn:

• Trends in microbiology and hygiene relevant to EMP.
• GFSI and legislative requirements for environmental monitoring.
• How to define production environments and risk zones.
• Practical tools for risk assessment, zoning, and sampling.
• Step-by-step guidance to build an effective EMP plan.
• How to collect, record, and evaluate environmental data.
• AI-driven approaches to trend analysis and predictive detection of hygiene issues.
• Digitalisation of EMP – dashboards, automated alerts, and record-keeping.
• How to handle non-conformities and corrective actions.
• Auditor’s perspective: evidence expected during certification and customer audits.

List of Topics Covered:

Part 1: Standards & Microbiological Foundations

• Trends in microbiology and hygiene in food production.
• Updates in certification schemes (GFSI, FSSC 22000, IFS, BRCGS, SQF).
• Legislative requirements (EU, FDA, Codex Alimentarius).
• Types of microbiological contaminants: pathogens, spoilage organisms, indicators.
• Case studies of incidents linked to inadequate hygiene and monitoring.

Part 2: Risk-Based Zoning & Program Design

• Defining the production environment and identifying risk areas.
• Creating risk-based environmental sampling zones (Zones 1–4).
• Tools for risk analysis and prioritisation (checklists, scoring models).
• Building a sampling plan: what to test, when, and how.
• Templates for EM program documentation and monitoring plans.

Part 3: Implementation, Digitalisation & AI

• Collecting and managing EM data effectively.
• Digitalisation of EM programs – software tools, dashboards, and alerts.
• AI applications in EM – predictive analytics for identifying contamination hotspots.
• Using automated trend analysis for proactive hygiene control.
• Integration of EM results with HACCP, verification, and management review.

Part 4: Auditing, Corrective Actions & Case Studies

• What certification bodies and customers expect during EM audits.
• Linking EM results to corrective and preventive actions.
• Reporting and KPI development for EM performance.
• Case Study 1: Implementation of EM in a ready-to-eat facility.
• Case Study 2: Using digital tools for EM trend analysis in a meat plant.
• Lessons learned and continuous improvement of EM programs.

All Attendees Receive:

• Training slides (PDF) and templates for risk zoning, sampling plans, and trend analysis.
• Example digital EM dashboard (demo format).
• Personalized IFSQN Training Academy Certificate.
• 30-day access to webinar recording.
• Post-webinar contact with the presenter for advice.