Food Safety Management Systems

Food Safety Management Systems

It is necessary for the food business operator to exhibit due diligence by ensuring an effective food safety management system is in place and to ensure that the food produced is safe.

A comprehensive (HACCP based) Food Safety Management System will include the following:

• Identifying risks to food safety that may be present or occur within the food business.
• Having controls in place that will deal with these risks.
• Having a clear procedure in place if something does go wrong, which is followed by all staff.
• Keeping these arrangements up to date.
• Maintaining records of the procedures and checks carried out.

Under the system of HACCP flexibility, which is permitted by law, it may be possible for food business operator to adopt an alternative type of food safety management system. Depending on the nature and extent of the food business operator business, he/she may be able to achieve compliance by:

• simply applying the pre-requisite hygiene requirements or
• follow standards I.S. 340:2007 or I.S. 341:2007.