What to do if supplier will not share HACCP information?
Hello,
We are building our approved supplier list and we are requesting to everyone the food safety certification, a raw material specification and a HACCP Program but one supplier answered he can not share the HACCP program. Due to this, what other information do I need to request them?
Thank you,
Malvathie
Hi malvathie,
I used to have this issue with a few suppliers. I'd get the purchasing manager to give them a call and explain that we require certain documents for our supplier approval and failure to provide these could mean we'd have to source the product from an alternative supplier in order to maintain our own compliance. The added pressure from commercial was usually enough to do the trick.
What certification do you have and does the supplier have a certification? It may be the case that if you both have a GFSI scheme cert then regarding supplier approval and risk assesmnent you wouldn't explicitly need a copy of their HACCP if you have their certificate. Also, would a visit to their site and audit of their operation and standard including HACCP be feasible?
Some processors legitimately restrict access to HACCP information, and may do so during audits too, where they believe that parts of the process are confidential intellectual property.
As Zanorias noted, it may be possible to cover this point via the processor's certification if it is an appropriate standard - certainly all of the GSFI-benchmarked schemes would arguably sufficient independent verification of the HACCP system. Commercial pressure can sometimes help, but only if you're purchasing power is very significant ;)
You could try asking them if they can provide simplified details - some sites with complex and/or confidential processes will issue a simplified process flow etc that shows an outline of the process without giving any specific details away.
Reminds me of the times I was asking a supplier for a HACCP flow/CCP table, then having to explain what a HACCP flow/CCP is - the supplier seemingly to have no knowledge of HACCP - so I'd send our flow as an example of what I'm referring to. Shortly after they'd return it - still our flow - but with their name on :huh:
there are certain documents I don't share electronically. I provide my SQF certificate and invite them to schedule a site visit if they wish to further review my documents in person.
One could ask for their product(s) flow diagram(s) showing the CCPs.
Hello,
We are building our approved supplier list and we are requesting to everyone the food safety certification, a raw material specification and a HACCP Program but one supplier answered he can not share the HACCP program. Due to this, what other information do I need to request them?
Thank you,
Malvathie
What kind of raw material ?
eg IMEX Whole fresh fish can present some conceptual difficulties ?