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HACCP's
(The Hazard Anaylysis and Critical Control Points)

The HACCP system is a practical system for assuring food safety.

EU derived legislation requires a food business to identify any step in it's activities critical to ensuring food safety, and ensure that adequate safety procedures are identified, implemented, maintained and reviewed on the basis of HACCP principles.

The HACCP technique is most applicable to manufacturing processes and those food operations, which have either a large-scale dimension or, are comprised mainly of repetitive, consistent products.

What are the benefits?
Safer food for the consumer Safer food for the consumer
Focused resources in the premises onto the critical control points Focused resources in the premises onto the critical control points
Increased efficiency within the premises Increased efficiency within the premises
Proactive, preventative approach to food safety Proactive, preventative approach to food safety
Meeting the requirements of customers, including retailers, **and proposed changes in legislation Meeting the requirements of customers, including retailers, **and proposed changes in legislation
Increased employee awareness and responsibility Increased employee awareness and responsibility
Support for the defence of Due Diligence Support for the defence of "Due Diligence"

It is possible to define a safe food product by setting acceptable limits for relevant pathogenic micro-organisms (those that cause illness). It is then theoretically possible to control the product safety within these limits, whatever the quality of ingredients or process, by not releasing the food for sale until it has passed various analyses.

HACCP involves the systematic assessment of each step in the food production process and the identification of those points, which are critical to food safety. All aspects are covered from the raw materials to the final product user are included.

The use of a HACCP system and the availability of extensive documentation and records of monitoring of critical control points will contribute significantly to a defence of due diligence, and also compliance with legal requirements.

The HACCP process consists of:
Hazard Analysis Hazard Analysis
Identifying Critical Control Points (CCP) Identifying Critical Control Points (CCP)
Establishing Critical Limits for each CCP Establishing Critical Limits for each CCP
Monitoring CCP requirements and using the data gathered to effectively control processes Monitoring CCP requirements and using the data gathered to effectively control processes
Corrective Action Corrective Action
Record Keeping Record Keeping
Verification Verification
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