Product Withdrawal and Product Recall

Friends,

Could anyone explain the difference between "Product Recall" and "Product Withdrawal" ? Please find the enclosed UK Food alert information. Why do they use the different way?

And this is quoted from IFS Standards:

"Product recall" : "Recall" shall mean any measure aimed at achieving the return of dangerous product that has already been supplied or made available to consumers by producer or distributor.

"Product withdrawal" : "Withdrawal" shall mean any measure aimed at preventing the distribution, display and offer of a product dangerous to the consumer.

NY

"Product recall" : "Recall" shall mean any measure aimed at achieving the return of dangerous product that has already been supplied or made available to consumers by producer or distributor.

Right.

"Product withdrawal" : "Withdrawal" shall mean any measure aimed at preventing the distribution, display and offer of a product dangerous to the consumer.

"Withdrawal" is used whenever the product has not reached the consumer yet. It's still in the warehouse or transit point or retailers warehouse BUT it is not on the shelves.

Mock exercises should really cover c. complaints, p. recall and p. withdrawal to test the full efficiency of traceability system, recovery mechanism, response time and understanding of the responsible persons in the control and handling of non-conformity products through to evidences of disposal .........including domestic and international trade borders.

I too was slightly confused between 'recall' and 'withdrawal' so thanks for the info

Apart from physical stock tracking at both trade or internal store, how far back would you go as far as evidential documentations are concerned in linking to or at least justify to yourself that you have a viable supplier assurance / quality programme measured against planned objectives of supplier / material control.

For those org. who practice "Just-In-Time", you can imagine what a minor hiccup in the supply chain can do to your production schedule vis-a-vis supply and delivery commitment.

Worth thinking about it but its frightening

This was raised as a minor nonconformity during our recent BRC audit.

Our Product Recall Manual does not mention product withdrawal, and relevant instructions.

This left us slightly confused as surely for a product withdrawal you follow the same procedure but stop onme step before recaling products from the consumer!!!

Nadine

Hi Nadine,

P. Withdrawal (WP) is indeed equally important as a Product Recall although the recovery mechanisms are basically the same albeit for different reasons. WP should be part of your food safety operating system. In your case, a minor nonconformity is justified.

This document might be of use for anyone wanting to read more about the distinction between 'withdrawal' and 'recall'
http://www.food.gov....afetyguide2.pdf
The relevant information is mainly from page 20 (The section about Article 19 of the European Directive for food business operators)

Hope that helps

Thanks Jane.

Simon

Just to make it a little bit more complicated the National Food Agency of Finland has just published these guidelines Food Withdrawal Code of Practice

Our Product Recall Manual does not mention product withdrawal, and relevant instructions.

This left us slightly confused as surely for a product withdrawal you follow the same procedure but stop one step before recaling products from the consumer!!!

This would confuse me too. Next time you do a test try doing a withdrawal instead of a recall and note the differences. If there aren't any use this as proof of the stupidity of the auditor. If there are, then change your procedure and keep quiet.

If you look at the BRC Food Standard the glossary states "withdrawal - Where certification is revoked indefinitely until the company demonstrates renewqed compliance" which confuses things even further.

Our Product Recall Manual does not mention product withdrawal, and relevant instructions.

This left us slightly confused as surely for a product withdrawal you follow the same procedure but stop one step before recaling products from the consumer!!!

This would confuse me too. Next time you do a test try doing a withdrawal instead of a recall and note the differences. If there aren't any use this as proof of the stupidity of the auditor. If there are, then change your procedure and keep quiet.

If you look at the BRC Food Standard the glossary states "withdrawal - Where certification is revoked indefinitely until the company demonstrates renewed compliance" which confuses things even further.

Hello All,

Having read these posts there seems to be a difference in what is defined as recall and withdrawal, (or maybe I am reading them wrong).

FSA guidelines in the UK define withdrawal as:
"the process by which a product is removed from the supply chain, with the exception of product in the posession of consumers"

and recall as:
the process by which a product is removed from the supply chain and where consumers are advised to take appropriate action for example to return or destroy food.

http://www.food.gov....heet23mar07.pdf

My interpretation of this is that for withdrawal some of the product may already be with the customer but a decision ( based on risk assessment isn't it always!) is taken not to go as far as a full recall.

I am in the process of reviewing our mock recall exercise plan so any clarification would be much appreciated.

(Maybe this should have been a new topic?)

My interpretation of this is that for withdrawal some of the product may already be with the customer but a decision ( based on risk assessment isn't it always!) is taken not to go as far as a full recall.

That's what I understood too.

I'm looking for reglementation about product recall and withdrawal in the EU.
Is there something else (and more recent) than the EC 178/2002 ?

I too was slightly confused between 'recall' and 'withdrawal' so thanks for the info

me too

Just saw this post and wanted to add some clarification. In the US - a withdrawal is a firm's removal or correction of a distributed product which involves a minor violation that would not be subject to legal action by the FDA, or which involves no violation. It is the same as a recall but it is not a hazardous or illegal product.

Thank you for informations

Hi
I worked for a company years ago who supplied major UK supermarkets. We had an issue with some pack labels which had gone from the depot onto the shelves of the supermarket before the customer picked up the issue (not us, the supplier). The product was removed from shelves and was classed as an EPW - Emergency Product Withdrawal.
I once asked this question at a BRC V6 training session and the questions was 'rolled around' and no straight answer was given.
Just to add to the confusion!!