2 replies to this topic

[NewQA]

Hi All,
Can anyone advise how to conduct a HACCP review meeting(including meeting minutes). This is the first time I am conducting one and I will appreciated if someone can guide me to don’t miss anything. I have review old treat in the website but not sure if it has been any change in how to perform or in the minutes meetings.

Has anyone come across a specific procedure for management of change in HACCP?

Appreciate your comments and advice.

Regards,
QA

[GMO]

Are you approved by a third party audit body under GFSI like BRCGS?  There are some really good prompts in section 2, HACCP on the kinds of things to include in a HACCP review.  I don't upload my documents to this site as they're often used with clients and so under NDA but I normally suggest putting together a form including all of the prompts you might include.  The first time I created one of these I used the BRCGS standard as a starting point.

 

Another great resource for HACCP in the UK is the food standards agency who have done a frankly brilliant online resource for it. I'd say better than most books and free:

 

MyHACCP Guidance | MyHACCP

 

On this page they have a list of reasons for review which again would be great to include in this form or as a repeat agenda for your HACCP meeting:

 

Principle 6: Verification | MyHACCP

 

Here's the list so I'd include this list and put something ahead of it like "upcoming changes in..."

 

• Changes in raw materials or product formulation
• Introduction of new product
• Change in raw materials supplier
• Change in processing system
• Change in layout or environment
• Modification to process equipment or new equipment
• Failures in system e.g. corrective action or product recall
• Anticipated change in customer or consumer
• Any report from the market place that indicates a health or spoilage risk associated with the product
• Emergence of a new food-borne pathogen (such as bacteria that can cause illness) with public health significance or other health issue
• Changes in legislation

I also include a formal review of the flow diagrams and physical verification of them as a team.  Best practice (and required by some standards) is this takes place at different times of the day to ensure it's still valid.

 

If you have regular meetings, e.g. once every 2 months you can spread some of that process flow verification over the year, e.g. do a section at a time.

 

I always do include a retrospective "sense check" that nothing changed since the last meeting but it's important to remember that HACCP should be ahead of changes so if that happens you probably need to do some RCA / CAPA to understand why that wasn't managed through process.  

 

Is that helpful?  If you don't have it already, get yourself on a HACCP level 3 or 4 qualification as this is all in the course.

Edited by GMO, Today, 07:37 AM.

[GMO]

Also to add on the "how to", the first challenge is getting everyone together.  As a minimum you need engineering, operations and Technical (presumably you?)  But I'd encourage HR, procurement, any NPD or process functions and ideally someone senior enough for resources and junior enough to know reality.  That might in practice mean two ops people.

 

Simply don't progress with the meeting if people don't turn up, it's non negotiable.

 

If your team members haven't had training to at least level 2 or equivalent, then I'd arrange that. 

 

Apart from that you might want to give them some pre work for the review, for example, while it's good to practically review the flow diagram together, you could do so independently.  Or to review the hazard analysis.

 

Most standards say you need to review the HACCP plan yearly and I'd make every meeting "count" as though that is a full review but we all know it's BS.  Nobody goes through every sentence of their HACCP plan in one meeting and if they say they do, they're lying.  Personally I'd rather do a deep dive on one part of the plan and make sure that's really good than half arse it, then choose a different part next time.  If you meet more than once a year you might get through the plan that way anyway.

 

The other thing which is a must is to go through your verification results.  Depends what you've chosen but the obvious lagging ones at least.  Audit results, complaints, external audits etc. What you're looking for isn't just the tick that you've done it but any signs as to the plan failing.  E.g. there have been two findings in external audits and four internally on supplier approval.  You might then want an action to deep dive into why and if there are some underlying root causes. 

 

On that, make sure that you're not just sat there as a Technical person giving yourself jobs to do.  You all own this plan, you should all have actions. It's not a Technical plan. I'd make the results of the review visible as well to the wider business, e.g. putting the outputs and actions into a weekly management meeting so pressure stays on it for completion.