In our recent webinar on "Food Hygiene and Sanitation Updates for Key GFSI-Benchmarked Schemes," our experts, Deb Smith, Vikan's Global Hygiene Specialist, and Amit M. Kheradia, Remco's Environmental Health and Sanitation Manager, shared valuable insights on how to enhance food safety through compliance with hygiene and sanitation requirements across various GFSI-benchmarked certification schemes.
Following the session, we received numerous questions, and here are seven of the most interesting ones, slightly edited for brevity and clarity.
1. **Do all GFSI-benchmarked standards apply to every segment of the food industry, from farm to fork?**
Not all. While some standards, like Global G.A.P, focus solely on good agricultural practices, others like BRCGS, SQF, and FSSC 22000 are designed to cover multiple sectors of the food industry. To find out which standards apply to your specific sector, check out the GFSI-Recognised-CPOs-20240705 document on mygfsi.com.
2. **Does obtaining certification under GFSI-benchmarked standards ensure compliance with food safety regulations?**
Although GFSI-benchmarked standards are developed with principles like CODEX in mind, it remains the responsibility of the company to stay updated on regulatory changes in their respective regions. For example, allergen regulations vary significantly between countries. Additionally, FSMA in the US mandates a more detailed food safety plan than traditional HACCP, which is explicitly addressed in the standard’s requirements.
3. **How crucial are hygiene and sanitation controls for businesses? Could non-compliance lead to audit failure?**
It depends on the nature of the non-compliance. Critical issues posing an immediate threat to food safety can result in an audit failure. Non-conformities are often categorized as major or minor based on their severity. For instance, an inadequate pest control program without visible pest ingress would be classified as a major issue, while minor non-conformities are less impactful. It’s essential for companies to conduct root cause analyses, implement corrective actions, and establish preventive measures to avoid disruptions and maintain stakeholder confidence.
4. **How are auditors being trained to handle the enhanced hygienic design requirements under GFSI schemes, and what criteria will they use?**
EHEDG and 3-A SSI are collaborating with GFSI, local regulators, and audit bodies to address this gap. Currently, there is limited knowledge about hygienic design within these groups. Moving forward, EHEDG and 3-A aim to offer training and resources to help auditors understand and evaluate hygienic design effectively.
5. **What strategies can improve food safety and hygiene culture in food manufacturing?**
Regardless of the current culture, there’s always room for improvement. Key steps include senior management commitment, continuous education and training, fostering employee feedback, and tracking KPIs to monitor success. For more insights, check out our webinar archive, which includes a presentation titled "Food Safety Culture and Color-Coding: How to Exceed Compliance and Simplify Complexity."
6. **Which GFSI-benchmarked program is the best to pursue certification under?**
The choice depends on factors such as your industry sector, geographic location, customer demands, and the availability of certifying bodies. Conduct thorough research, consult with customers, and make a company-wide decision. Remember, selecting the right standard is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
7. **Do Remco and Vikan offer GFSI-based certification training or audit services?**
We don’t offer formal training or auditing services, but we support the industry with free resources like webinars, blogs, and tool selection programs. These tools aim to help businesses meet and exceed the high standards set by GFSI-benchmarked programs and food safety regulations.
*Disclaimer*: The responses provided are professional opinions and not endorsements of any products or services. Companies should conduct their own risk assessments and develop hazard controls tailored to their specific needs.
For more information or support, feel free to reach out to:
- Deb Smith, Global Hygiene Specialist for Vikan
- Amit M. Kheradia, Environmental Health and Sanitation Manager for Remco
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