Food Safety Management Systems

New EU Regulations which came into force on the 1 January 2006 places a new duty on all food business operators to implement food safety management procedures based upon the hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) principals.

• The principals of HACCP basically are:
• That you identify hazards (anything that can cause harm to the consumer)
• That you identify control measures to prevent the hazards
• That you check that the control measures are effective
• That you take action when things go wrong.

These food safety management systems must be documented.

Some food businesses may already have documented food safety management systems in place and as long as they comply they will not need to be changed.  Food safety officers will be able to advise as to whether current systems are compliant during routine inspection.

But in many cases food business operators will need to be taking appropriate steps in their business to establish food safety managements systems and have these written down.

Safer Food, Better Business

The food Standards Agency (FSA) has identified that traditional HACCP does not translate easily into some types of business, including small to medium caterers and retailers.  To support these businesses to comply with the requirement the FSA has put together safer food, better business which is a food safety management system aimed at small to medium catering businesses and a new version for retail premises.

Safer food, better business is based on the principals of HACCP and has been developed, working with catering businesses to be practical and easy to use.  Completing and using this pack will help catering businesses in North Dorset and throughout England to comply with the new requirements, show what they do to make food safely, train staff, protect their business’s reputation and improve businesses eg by wasting less food.

Safer food better business pack is FREE to all caterers and can be obtained direct from the Food Standards Agency.

A hard copy can be obtained by calling the FSA on 0845 6060667 or emailing foodstandards@ecgroup.co.uk

The Food Team at North Dorset held free seminars to provide businesses with information on the new requirement for a food safety management system and guidance on using and completing safer food, better business packs.

A guidance leaflet can be requested by contacting Environmental Health or documentation can be found on the Food Standard Agency Website