The benefits of using a HACCP International certified quality management solution

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) based procedures provide businesses with a cost-effective method of assessing and managing food safety risks to produce safe food, from ingredients right through to production, storage, and distribution to sale and service of the final consumer. The preventive approach of HACCP-based procedures not only improves food safety management but also complements other quality management systems. 

Why does the food industry use HACCP? 

Whether you’re required to do so by law, or just want to ensure your product is safe, the HACCP system allows you to ensure that food is produced and handled safely to meet the required high standards from production to consumption. 

Food safety must be viewed as only one important aspect of overall food quality, and HACCP, as a mechanism to control food safety. The HACCP approach is internationally recognised as essential to ensuring the safety and suitability of food for human consumption, and it enhances the potential for international trade.

Besides enhancing food safety, other benefits in applying HACCP include more effective use of resources and more timely response to food safety problems. In addition, the application of the HACCP system can aid inspection by food control regulatory authorities and promote international trade by increasing buyer confidence in food safety.

Greenlight Quality Management and HACCP product certification

Only food or food-related processors and handlers can have a HACCP programme or management system certification. Non-food products that have incidental food contact or a significant impact on food safety such as hairnets, rubber gloves, ovens, etc. are required to have an auditable due diligence process. HACCP international’s certification meets this due diligence.  

Greenlight Quality Management (GLQM) carries HACCP International's product certification, this certification is designed to confirm the suitability of products for use within a HACCP management system.

By taking food safety management systems into a mobile cloud-based application, such as GLQM, certified to HACCP principles, customers can be confident that their system and control methods are audit-ready. Simplifying how they evidence their approach and management of food safety to key stakeholders, clients, and auditors, unlocking unparalleled insight and transparency into your business.’

The benefits to your business

1. Compliant with the law
   In many global markets, there are no detailed laws about which non-food products may or may not be used in the food industry, making it hard to know if a product is food safe or not. However, larger food businesses are more demanding than the laws in any country and do require a process to determine a products' safety.
2. Protection against fines
   Food safety and hygiene offenses carry large fines for offending businesses. Customers can also pursue legal action which is not only costly but will also affect the reputation of your brand.
3. Provide evidence of due diligence
   GLQM configurable reporting capabilities and escalation processes enable you to share reports automatically by site, supplier, product, process, or people. Non-conformance issues or corrective actions can be resolved quickly through a robust escalation management process that includes responsibility being automatically assigned and photographs attached as evidence. Notifications are automatically sent to relevant parties with each corrective action tracked to closure with a verifiable audit trail.
4. Promote efficiency within your business
   The ability to check at any point in your supply chain: intake; production; dispatch or on the shop floor is key for efficiency. By using an easy-to-understand red, amber, and green system flag you can communicate results including verification of completed procedures, changes in critical control points, and discrepancies in critical limits quickly.
5. Increase in product quality
   By identifying and controlling potential hazards, such as microbiological, chemical, and physical contaminants, you can better assure consumers that your products are safe. By reducing hazards, you maintain a clean record, which in turn will strengthen brand trust

In summary, taking action to ensure the safety of the food you are producing has a ripple effect of positive outcomes. It all starts with the implementation of a quality management solution that can set the stage for applying HACCP principles.