HACCP & GMP Certification
HACCP Certification
What is it and why get it?
If you’re based in the UK you’re probably wondering what on earth this is. It’s not at all common to find food manufacturing sites certified to HACCP here in the UK, however it’s quite common in other countries around the world! Now the highest standard a business can achieve is GFSI certification of course. Following that, recognition of meeting other safety, quality or specialised standards or recognised best practices certainly helps to give a business kudos and respect within the industry and their particular place in the supply chain. This is exactly where HACCP certification comes in. It demonstrates that a business has the knowledge and expertise to establish and maintain effective HACCP plans and systems to ensure food safety. STC specialises in food and product safety systems. We deliver courses on the topic and have trained auditors, consultants, manufacturers and certification bodies around the world to levels 3 and 4. You can therefore be absolutely confident that getting HACCP certification will bolster the credibility of your business.
Steps on How to get HACCP Certification
To obtain HACCP certification through STC, follow these steps:
Simply get in touch and we can get all relevant details from you. We make this a painless process by taking you through exactly what we need to get started. There are no unnecessary repetitive forms to complete, we cut through to the key facts so that your time is not wasted.
This is where our expertise really comes through. We’ll fully audit your HACCP systems at your site. Depending on your location, the documentation audit may be carried out remotely, and this can be determined when you contact us. Most audits however will be fully onsite. Certainly, the final stage of the audit must be carried out onsite to confirm actual practices related to key prerequisite programmes and CCP’s, demonstrate that the HACCP plan is both comprehensive and effective.
Following a sucessful audit, the audit report will go through an independent technical review process so that the certification decision can be made. Your certificate is then issued and this certificate represents your business site and the product groups covered by the scope of your audit.
Benefits of HACCP Certification with STC
- The actual process of becoming HACCP certificated is a great way to improve your business food safety culture. The audit process involves key staff and drives focus on the important part HACCP plays when it comes to your brand reputation.
- It’s a marvellous continuous improvement opportunity, since non-conformities found need to be fully corrected before the certificate can be issued.
- It increases the business reputation and gives your customers confidence in the safety of your products. It’s a mark of distinction that can form a great foundation for any further certifications you may already have or may want to achieve.
- Increase revenue by improving access to new markets and supports exports, as HACCP certification can form the basis of your customer’s supplier approval process.
- HACCP certification goes a long way to demonstrate due diligence defence, in the event that your business needs to deal with a significant food safety incident.
- Assists in meeting the requirements of regulatory authorities.
- Improves the “cost of quality” since good risk mitigation is exactly what HACCP is all about. This means that the business is less likely to generate non-conforming product, and less likely therefore to generate wasted product, time, resources or suffer damage to reputation and credibility.
- Most importantly, it means that you’re putting the safety of the consumer first.
What to expect during the HACCP audit
- A comprehensive review of your HACCP system, including prerequisite programmes / CGMP’s.
- Audit duration is typically a day.
- Contact us for a quote, we look forward to working with you.
GMP Certification
What is it and why get it?
The Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification scheme provides independent verification that basic manufacturing practices and prerequisites are being followed in accordance with an effective Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety program. Good Hygienic Practices are also a key element of the CODEX General Principles of Food Hygiene.
GMP certification can be applied to all operators in food, ingredient or pet food supply chains – from production and packaging to retail, logistics and storage.
What are the benefits of GMP certification?
GMP certification demonstrates to customers your commitment to producing and trading safe food while confirming regulatory compliance. It creates a foundation upon which you can develop and implement other quality and food safety management systems, helping you to differentiate your products and services in a competitive marketplace.
GMP have been developed by the Codex Alimentarius with the main objective of customer protection. It includes many basic operational conditions and procedures that are required to be met by the food company. For example, some of them can be:
- The construction and layout of the food premises
- The training provided to the employees
- The adequate maintenance of equipment and utensils used within the company
- The use of suitable chemicals within and around the food premises including cleaning chemicals, pest control chemicals and machine lubricants, including and effective pest control program
- The identification and storage of waste within and by the company
- The implementation and effectiveness of the traceability system
- The cleanliness of premises, equipment, utensils, floors, walls and ceilings.
Contact Us To…
Conduct a pre-audit gap analysis (mock audit) – optional
Get a quote for your certification
Arrange your audit
