15 replies to this topic

[Sankara narayanan]

we manufacture food additive in our unit in Ghana, we want to get certified for HACCP, how do we start?

[Charles.C]

Hi,

Must admit I have never encountered this item previously in the manufacturing sense although some other expert may have.

Do you mean you are seeking information regarding HACCP itself or that you are already familiar this system but now wish to get certified (wrong word maybe but you know what I mean)?

Please clarify a little

Rgds / Charles.C

[Erasmo]

Visit www.lrqa.com

Unnacredited HACCP certifications.

[tasi]

HI

First prerequisites HACCP, visit


http://www.fsis.usda...erequisites.htm



Good luck!

[Esther]

Hello all the members on the HACCP certification discussion

Recently I found a HACCP certificate ( sent by a client of a fish manufacturing company ) issued by the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate and signed by the Director General of NAFIQAVED. I can not tell you exactly how often it must be reviewed or how long it is in force but I can say that less than one year.

For what I found out on the internet, NAFIQAVED is a official public organization but I do not know if it has been accredited to certify a HACCP system. Does anybody know something to this respect ?

There is a lot of literature about HACCP, I am wondering which guide are ruled by those CB that can certify a HACCP system.

Sincerely
Esther

[Charles.C]

Dear Esther,

If the organisation is as referred below, it is authorised to be the relevant "Competent Authority" to the EC.
Perhaps this automatically includes the authorisation to issue HACCP certification.

http://www.legaltext...f...pg=68&fr=no

Rgds / Charles.C

Edited by Charles.C, 10 May 2007 - 01:46 PM.

[Suzuki]

Hello,

I believe the entire principle of HACCP Certification comes within the ambit of Guidelines of Codex Alimentarius Commission particularly CAC-RCP 1-1969 Rev. 4. Correct me if I am wrong, does this mean that HACCP Certification is based on a guideline and not a standard.

There are private and internationals standards on Food Safety i.e. BRC, IFS and ISO 22000 respectively.

As such, I gather then that HACCP certifications can be doubtful as it is unlikely to be governed under ISO 17025 FSM audit guidelines.

And, that is probably the reason why ISO 22000 has emerged.

Regards
Suzuki

[Charles.C]

Dear Suzuki,

Technically you may be correct.
The primary HACCP specific directive AFAIK is Commision Decision 94/356/EC (++ revs. maybe) however there is probably a cross-reference somewhere in it to the Codex doc. Even the decision document itself is non-prescriptive in many places (clearly by intention). In comparison the US specifies a detailed menu of typical requirements which has become a minor masterpiece IMO.

This is a gov-gov level so maybe the rules are different to normal ‘certification” processes. For 3rd world situations / seafood, the EC seems to prefer to visit, audit, and thereby “satisfy itself” as to the competence of appropriate nominated local government organisations and then give them authority to act on its behalf as the “competent authority” which includes their approval of plant HACCP programs as a necessity for the plant being permitted to export to the EC.
However the activity of issuing HACCP certification may/may not run parallel to this presumably depending on what is stated on the certificate.

General legislation relating to export to EC is for example discussed here (esp.pt. IV) –

http://seafood.nmfs....anUnion3.06.pdf

Rgds / Charles.C

[Suzuki]

Dear Charles,

I must admit at the point of replying to your response on this matter, I have yet to read the attachment . However I agree with you that there is a lot going on between G to G.

Regardless of whether an Organization has a HACCP or a BRC or ISO 22000 Systme in place, my view points to one hopeful conclusion for all i.e. you really have to satisfy to the demand of a very good 2nd Party Auditor.

Whats the point of having a Certificate that gives you a lot of glamour but does not quite show up to speed. The end result still does not get your Organization to closing the deal anyway.

I would instead rather have a HACCP Certification that covers the fullest requirements possible of a BRC or ISO 22K standard requirements than have one of the latters and not being able to measure up.

Regards
Suzuki San

[Esther]

Dear Charles

I understand that all the CB that certify Quality Management Systems must, first, comply with the requeriments set in UNE EN 45012 ( I mean, those requeriments that the accreditation body must check to enable the CB to do it) so

Do you think that that Offical Authoriry must do so too ?

I imagine that not all the food establisments in that country need a HACCP certificate unless they export so I guess that if a food establisment want that certificate will have to pay for it. What do you think about paying for an inspection/audit which should be carried out anyway by the authorities?

I almost forget, what does "CE" stands for?^

Regards
Esther

[Charles.C]

Dear Esther,

Your first question, sorry but I have no idea. You might ask the same kind of question regarding the USFDA also I guess?

I don’t know if every country follows the same internal procedure but I think the HACCP certificate as such is not required by the EU for importation purposes (?) although thorough approval of the HACCP system by the competent authority surely is. Nonetheless, IMEX, all customers now routinely require/request a HACCP certificate similar to the business of ISO9k (++++ ).
What do I think - O lucky auditors !

By "CE" do you mean EC ? If so it’s my error, probably should have said EU. Once we had EEC, the Commission issuing the regulations still calls itself EC, I get confused.

Rgds / Charles.C.

[Simon]

I almost forget, what does "CE" stands for?^

By "CE" do you mean EC ? If so it’s my error, probably should have said EU. Once we had EEC, the Commission issuing the regulations still calls itself EC, I get confused.

What does CE marking mean? What do the initials CE stand for?

[Sankara narayanan]

Thank you Simon for for providing information on 'CE'

Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

[Charles.C]

Dear Sankara,

And thank you also for noticing and acknowledging Simon's expert assistance which I didn't and possibly Esther also (notice that is).

I wonder how much production has this marking without the manufacturer knowing the meaning

Rgds / Charles.C

[Simon]

And thank you also for noticing and acknowledging Simon's expert assistance which I didn't and possibly Esther also (notice that is).

Oh I'm well used to being ignored.

I wonder how much production has this marking without the manufacturer knowing the meaning

I think they must know since they have to apply for it.

Regards,
Simon

[Charles.C]

Dear Simon,

Must admit I hadn't yet clicked the link. Now I almost wish I'd let it stay that way. I'm familiar with ISOspeak, BRCspeak etc but now seems that Europa which I had liked up to now also wish to join the gang . Perhaps it's an attempt to create a 2nd FAO (For Auditors Only)

Rgds / Charles.C