Hi Steffen
Below is an extract from an SOP I created to cover dealing with product contamination which you may find useful.
Best Regards
Lawrence
Procedure
Deliberate Contamination
If evidence of deliberate damage or contamination is discovered, the stock concerned must be placed on hold and separated from the rest of the stock. All base stock or material placed on hold must be labelled accordingly and moved to the QA quarantine area.
An investigation will then be carried out to determine the cause of the contamination or damage. If there is any doubt about the safety and integrity of the products involved, all stock should be destroyed following permission from
Examples of deliberate contamination include:
(a) Security seals broken
(b) Sealed boxes open
© External contamination with foreign material such as oil
(d) Faecal/urine contamination from stowaways
Accidental Contamination
If evidence is found of any rodent or insect infestation, the product involved must be placed on hold and separated from other stock. If evidence of live infestation is discovered the product involved must be physically removed from the building and isolated prior to treatment.
Products infested with or contaminated by rodents or other small animals are not recoverable and must be destroyed following permission from Unit loads and shippers infested with insects might be recoverable by fumigation with Methyl Bromide as long as the infestation has not entered any of the consumer units. Any contaminated shippers, bundles or consumer units must be destroyed.
All incidents of pest infestation must be included into the action plans of the pest control system to ensure that the infestation is controlled and eliminated
Mould Contamination
Mould will grow on products if they are exposed to damp or humid conditions or if the pallets they are stored on are already contaminated. Lightly contaminated shippers and bundles might be reclaimed as long as there is no evidence that the contamination has reached the consumer units.
Water Contamination
Products may become contaminated by water from:
(a) Leaking warehouse roof
(b) Faulty trailers letting rain in
© Loading / unloading outside during inclement weather
If the water is clean it may be possible to reclaim lightly contaminated stock by replacing shippers or shrink-wrap. If there is damage to any of the consumer units then the stock must be destroyed
Chemical Contamination
Shippers, bundles or consumer units contaminated by spills from other products or co-stored materials must be destroyed unless the contamination is caused by an inert powder that can be easily and completely removed with no residue marks by brushing, vacuuming or wiping with a clean dry cloth. Products contaminated by corrosive or other dangerous chemicals must be isolated from other stock and destroyed following permission from
Odour Contamination
any products contaminated with strong odours are not reclaimable and should be destroyed. Sources of odour may include:
(a) Perfumes from other products
(b) Smoke damage
© Paint or other solvents
Glass Contamination
Glass contamination poses a major safety issue to both staff and consumers using the products. Light bulbs used in the warehouse and customisation areas must be covered to prevent shards of glass from contaminating product. Light bulbs must be replaced by qualified personnel using appropriate equipment. For palletised storage areas, the loads under and immediately adjacent to the point of impact of the shattered bulb must be destroyed. In picking areas, all stock within a 1 metre radius of the point of impact must be destroyed.
Other Physical Contamination
Products contaminated with dust or dirt must not be shipped. If the contamination cannot be easily and completely removed by brushing, vacuuming or wiping with a clean, dry cloth, the product must be destroyed.
