tips for a successful food safety program There are a number of components to ensuring that you have a successful and complete food safety program for your business.
a comprehensive program Your food safety program (FSP) should cover all aspects of the processing activities carried out (or that you propose to carry out) within your nominated accreditation category, and under the relevant food safety scheme (e.g. meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, eggs and egg products). The specific requirements are outlined in detail in the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2002 and associated standards referenced in the Regulation. You can contact Safe Food Production Queensland on free call 1800 300 815 to put you in contact with your local Systems Verification Officer (SVO) who can provide advice on these legislative requirements.
monitoring Regular and consistent monitoring of your business processes is essential for the effective operation of your food safety program because it can help highlight problems before your product is compromised – and more importantly – before your customers are put at risk. Your food safety program must include details of systems that enable you to monitor and evaluate your operational performance, and verify compliance with the food safety program. Systems must detail the methods, procedures, tests, monitoring and other means of evaluation you will use to assess performance against your food safety program. If your systems meet the following criteria, you will be well on your way to successfully monitoring your program. Your systems: • • • •
are documented adequately reflect what is happening in your day-to-day operations are practical and easy to implement provide information that can be used to analyse trends over time.
records, records, records Accurate and detailed records are an essential part of any FSP as they: • • • •
allow you to trace product through-chain enable you to track your business performance and make improvements provide a degree of protection if there is a food safety complaint provide a history of performance.
The Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2002 lists minimum records that are required under the various food safety schemes.
maintain your program Throughout the year you will have to make sure that your food safety program is adhering to all the things you indicated it would. You need to let SFPQ know if you are making any major changes to your business, such as: • • • •
change to your processes change to your equipment changes to your activities changes to critical control points (e.g. cleaning processes).
preparing for audit Your business will be audited against the activities detailed in your food safety program. The level of risk in your day-to-day operations, and your category of accreditation, will determine how often you will be audited and what is required in your audit. As a minimum, you will receive one fee-for-service compliance audit each year. If your business operations are high-risk, this may be more frequent. Compliance audits are charged to you at an hourly rate. It is important that you review your food safety program prior to your audit to ensure it is a true reflection of the daily activities and operations. As audits are charged at an hourly rate, those businesses that regularly review their operations – and have their records up-to-date and in order – are rewarded with reduced fees. You can call SFPQ if you would like to know how often your business is likely to be audited and the costs associated. Free call 1800 300 815 or 07 3253 9800.
Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list of your requirements and does not replace requirements of the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2002 or your relevant industry food safety scheme. You may be required to include additional records of your business in your food safety program.
more information Safe Food Production Queensland (SFPQ) PO Box 440 Spring Hill Queensland 4004 Telephone: 07 3253 9800 Free call: 1800 300 815
[email protected] www.safefood.qld.gov.au
