Any organization that is involved in the food production industry and wishes to be seen as trustworthy and trade-worthy must, in most instances, implement and maintain a HACCP system that is in full working order. Compliance with HACCP regulations is obligatory in some nations, such as the United States and the members of the European Union. In addition, a functional HACCP program can reduce the likelihood of expensive mistakes, which can cause a loss of revenue and harm customers.
How does it benefit a food-related business?
A food business can benefit in a variety of ways from having HACCP certification, including being able to satisfy legal obligations and the needs of its customers. Even though not all food businesses are required to be HACCP certified, all companies need to structure their management per the HACCP principles. Having the HACCP certification helps you stay out of unnecessary legal trouble. Besides that, it enables you to maintain proper food hygiene and provide clients with risk-free foods.
Customer Service and Trust:
In the restaurant and catering industry, providing excellent service to customers is essential to maintaining a positive reputation for the company. Your clients will be more satisfied with your business and your reputation will improve, both of which will help your company achieve a better position in a market that is notoriously competitive if you provide them with foods that are not only safe but also hygienic and delicious. Customers will have a higher level of trust and a more favorable impression of your company because of this accreditation. Therefore, the HACCP certification you get can affect the total profitability of your company.
Ensuring Risk-Free System:
If a consumer gets sick after consuming one of your products, they can incorrectly assume that one of your products brought the illness on. However, food safety management systems (FSMSs) such as HACCP provide you with the opportunity to show that the foods you produce are risk free. HACCP handles the generation of a large amount of precise and sophisticated data, which you may use to show that you have conducted all of the necessary due diligence. This information could make or break your defense in the pending litigation, as well as preserve your company.
Food firms can focus their attention on the areas thanks to food safety management systems. You will maintain a consistent concentration on both the quality and the safety of your work thanks to the many systems at your disposal. This indicates that the overall quality of the food items you provide has been improved.
What should you anticipate during the HACCP audit?
The HACCP audit for food safety has as its primary objective to determine whether your company satisfies the prerequisites of the HACCP standard that you have selected. This will be accomplished by the auditor by:
- Carrying out a comprehensive onsite examination of your facilities.
- Conducting interviews with the pertinent members of the staff to determine their understanding
- Examination of a selection of the food safety and HACCP records that were produced during the deployment of the system.
- Conducting a thorough examination of the HACCP plan besides any associated policies, procedures, documents, and forms.
How long does a certification in HACCP remain valid?
Your HACCP certification will only be valid for the period that was specified by the third-party certification authority that you selected. Regardless of the outcome of your audit or how you were graded, the vast majority of the recognized standards have a certificate validity period of one year as their default. If it is determined that your company has violated any of the conditions for certification or regulation, then your HACCP certificate could be canceled.
Continuous Improvement is Here to Stay
Getting HACCP certification is not the end of the process; rather, it is only the beginning of the function of continuous development. You will do routine maintenance on the HACCP system, as well as improving it, reviewing it, and bringing it up to date. Because HACCP standards, food law, and the expectations of customers are constantly developing, you need to make sure that you are continuously relevant, up to date, and compliant.
Are you interested in getting HACCP certification?
You can get in touch with us for HACCP advice if you want to find out more about HACCP certification, registration, and the fees associated with HACCP.
