All materials that come in contact with food, especially the food packaging, can influence food safety; both by failing to protect the food properly, and through contamination.
Purpose
Packaging producers are fully involved in the food chain, and can deeply influence food safety. A specific technical perspective is provided by these standards, enabling the producers to take responsibility by putting in place a widely recognised food safety management system.
The standards address part of the “due diligence” requirements (provide evidence for legal defence that demonstrate you have taken every reasonable measures to avoid the incident) of the packaging manufacturer, packer/filler, and retailer.
FPA-SAFE programme
The FPA-SAFE programme was designed by leading food companies to meet the global food industry's audit needs. FPA-SAFE provides a reliable, comprehensive assessment of a company's entire food quality and safety system while reducing the time and expenses associated with redundant supplier audits.
BRC IOP
The BRC IOP standard developed by the British Retailers and the GMP FEFCO standard developed by the European cardboard producers address the requirements to guarantee food safety by applying the HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) principles specific to this sector of the food industry.
It provides precise indications primarily for the producers of packaging materials, but also for similar products in contact with food, such as disposable cutlery, aluminum foil, and plastic drinking cups.
The BRC IOP Standard requires:
The adoption of a formal hazard analysis system
A documented management system
The control of factory standards, products, processes, and personnel
Corrugated and solid board are used for the packaging of a variety of goods. Both offer unique properties making them ideal for transit packaging. Corrugated board is not mainly used for food contact. However, solid board is widely used for direct food contact.
As the requirements for safe foodstuffs have gradually grown more precise, and although specific regulations are yet to be finalised, FEFCO & ESBO, as the representatives of the European corrugated & solid board industries, realised that it was necessary to take action to anticipate their customers’ requirements.
GMP FEFCO
The GMP FEFCO is specifically devoted to cardboard packaging producers. These are comprehensive standards covering areas of hygiene and product safety throughout the packaging industry.
The GMP FEFCO International Standard is based on the assumption that no "critical control point" exist for the cardboard specific production process, because all the risks are adequately controlled by GMPs. A general “hazard inventory” for the individual production plants, and a consistent GMP set are provided.
Food safety chain and the connected due diligence chain are based on the appropriate contribution of all the market players – your achievement as a reliable supplier is also linked to your capability to provide safe products.
The standards provide several benefits:
Single verification commissioned by the manufacturer, in line with an agreed evaluation frequency, will allow manufacturers to report upon their status to food retailers and other organisations.
Comprehensive standards cover areas of hygiene and product safety throughout the packaging industry.
Packaging manufacturers may use these standards to ensure their suppliers are following good hygiene practices and complete the "due diligence" chain.
Ongoing surveillance and the confirmation of the follow up of corrective actions ensure that a self-improving quality, hygiene, and product safety system is established