HACCP certification is an important step in food safety management. Many food processors and retailers require HACCP certification to sell their products to Walmart, Whole Foods, Costco, Sobey, Safeway, Metro etc. However, not all HACCP certification requirements are equal. To ensure success with your HACCP certification endeavour, use our steps-to-obtain-haccp-certification guide. We also provide reliable resources for finding the HACCP certification that fits your needs and a reputable HACCP consultant. With this information, you’ll be on your way to becoming certified in no time!
Get HACCP Certification
The benefits of obtaining HACCP Certification are many, but the most important is ensuring your food safety standards remain high. To maintain compliance with food safety regulations and increase your business’s competitive edge, it is essential to obtain HACCP certification.
HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and refers to identifying potential food production hazards that can lead to health risks. Once these hazards have been identified, a plan must be implemented to control them. The best way to achieve this goal is through the certified application of HACCP principles within an established organizational structure.
The bottom line is this: if you want your business to stay compliant with current or future food safety regulations – whether those regulations pertain directly to your industry or not – you must ensure that you are at least meeting the HACCP requirements.
Step 1: Determine the need for HACCP certification
Food safety regulations are constantly changing, and businesses must be prepared to meet the latest requirements. To comply with these rules, companies must ensure they have a robust food safety program in place that may include HACCP certification.
HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a process aiming to identify and control the hazards through mitigation and/or reduction steps.
HACCP used to be the standard for food safety programs, but food safety requirements are getting tighter, turning it into the basic step to getting qualified into the retail space. Not surprising that Globally Recognized Food Safety Initiatives (GFSI) scheme certification, which is focused on overall food safety management, took over as the top standard for food safety. Examples of GFSI schemes are SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS, and Global Gap.
HACCP remains a great food safety program to start with if food manufacturers are not ready to step into the GFSI certification scheme.
There are many options available when it comes to acquiring HACCP certification, so it’s important to do your research before making a decision. Choosing the right certification pathway will depend on your specific needs and business goals.
Step 2: Research and select for HACCP certification that fits your requirements.
It is important to note that HACCP certification is not bench-marked -that means the requirements vary depending on the certification body requirements. You must choose the right one that fits your processes and program.
Of course, it is easier said than done. We find it can be still confusing. If that is the case, no worries. A credible consultant can help you choose and prepare for the audit processes.
A good way to start your search is by conducting an online search for “HACCP consultants” in your area. Once you have narrowed down your search, meeting with the consultant online or in person will be important. Meeting the person helps both parties to assess whether they are a good fit for you and what procedures they would need from you upfront before starting any work on your behalf.
Once you have selected a candidate, make sure to set up an initial meeting with them where all of these details can be discussed in greater detail.
Step 3: Prepare for the audit by preparing food safety documents and completing an internal audit.
To get HACCP certification, you must first prepare for the audit by having the right documentation (procedures and template) that meet the expectation of your HACCP certification body. A food safety consultant can help you build the procedures and implement and train your staff to follow the procedures.
Remember to review the procedures and program implementation effectiveness by performing an internal audit. Contrary to certification audits, an internal audit is performed by qualified individuals internally to ensure that the procedures and records are available and meet the certification requirements. Deviations found during the internal audit process can be fixed before the actual audit and will not affect the score when they are properly corrected.
If you are unsure how to develop, implement and train for your procedures, SFPM Consultant can help. We can also guide you through your internal audit so that we can identify and fix the deviation before our actual audit.
Step 4: Schedule the audit with your consultant
The HACCP certification process can be complex, so choosing the right consultant for your business is important. The consultant should have experience conducting food safety audits and be knowledgeable about the requirements of the HACCP Program.
When arranging for your initial audit, be sure to consult with your food safety consultant so that they are aware and can block off time to help prepare or even be there during the audit.
It is normal to be nervous during the initial audit, and having mental support from a HACCP consultant can help reduce the stress and allow you to increase your audit score.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are a lot of benefits to obtaining HACCP certification. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you’ll be well on your way to achieving those goals. Remember that it’s important to choose a consultant with experience conducting HACCP audits, and ensure to prepare by completing an internal audit.
Before you go, download this Audit Succes Guide that we prepare for you! Good luck!
When you are ready, we can assist you to get your initial HACCP certification. Simply book a call with us here: