What is a HACCP Certification and Why is it Important for Your Business?
HACCP is a food safety management system that was created to ensure the safety of food. It was developed by NASA and the US Department of Agriculture. It combines “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points” with “Good Manufacturing Practices” to work towards preventing any food borne illnesses or diseases.
The HACCP certification is a necessity in the world of food and beverage industries, as it ensures that your business meets all requirements needed for safe production, handling, transport, storage and distribution of foods.
What Do the Regulations Involve in a HACCP Certification Program?
The HACCP plan is not a one-size-fits-all solution to a food producer’s safety and quality needs. Therefore, the HACCP plan must be tailored to the specific operation, with management’s commitment to continuous improvement and zero tolerance of risks.
How do You Become Certified under the HACCP System?
The HACCP certification process is a rigorous and demanding process that features multiple levels of approval, such as validation and verification.
For XTL, the first step is the validation phase which consists of setting up the processes on physical readiness and risk evaluation to make sure that products stored are safe for consumption. The next step is the verification phase which consists of analyzing records and documents to make sure that business processes are following HACCP guidelines accurately.
XTL Distribution is Now HACCP Certified
XTL Distribution has recently achieved HACCP certification and now stores and distributes foodstuffs that are required to be handled by a HACCP certified warehouse facility.
Resources and Further Reading on the Topic of HACCP Certification
– Wikipedia article on HACCP
– Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Hazard Analysis Control Points Program https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/?q=haccp
– Hazard Analysis Control Points (HACCP) – CODEX Alimentarius Commission
Citations:
United States Department of Agriculture. “Hazard Analysis Control Points.” Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Hazard Analysis Control Points Program https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis?q=haccp&s=