Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)

The HACCP team should list all of the hazards that may be reasonably expected to occur at each step of the process. Once this has been completed, each of the hazards identified must be assessed for significance and then consideration is given to what controls can be applied to each of the hazards. Hazard analysis is a three-step process.

Three Key Steps:

1. Hazard identification (Identify all reasonable hazards)
2. Hazard analysis (assessment of significance)
3. Identification of control measures for significant hazards

There is no single preferred CCP determination methodology. It is up to the food business and the HACCP team to apply a methodology of its choosing, on the condition the approach used consistently and accurately identifies CCPs.

There is no single appropriate GHPs determination, t is up to the food business and the HACCP team, after considering the hazard analysis, conditions and activities necessary to support the production of safe and suitable food.

For each critical control point identified, a critical limit must be established to control the identified significant food safety hazard. Critical limits can be measurable or observable and should ideally have the capability to be monitored and measured in real time which separates acceptability from unacceptability of the food.

GHPs can be observable or measurable, and deviations may require an evaluation of the impact on safety of the product.

Monitoring is the planned and scheduled measurement or observation of a critical control point relative to its established critical limit. The monitoring procedure must be designed to detect loss of control at the CCP and should provide this information in time to make process adjustments. Ideally monitoring procedures should be in real-time.

Monitoring is the planned and scheduled measurement or observation of a GHP to its established criteria. The monitoring procedure must be designed to ensure procedures and practices are applied properly. The frequency depends on the impact on the product’s safety and suitability.

Despite having spent a considerable amount of time and resources on the development of the HACCP plan there will be instances when loss of control is experienced. In such instances it is important that the process is brought back under control as soon as possible and that established corrective actions are implemented.

It is necessary to have relevant procedures and practices of corrective action.
Corrective action shall be considered on a case-by-case basis, as failure to apply some GHPs, may result in action on the product.

Given that a considerable amount of time and resources have been allocated to the establishment of a HACCP system, an organisation needs to establish verification procedures. The control measures in place are indirect, i.e. they control the cause of the hazard and not the hazard itself. To increase the level of confidence a regular series of verification activities must be undertaken to demonstrate that the plan is working and working effectively.

For HACCP system establishing verification procedure is a necessity, whilst for GHPs is needed when appropriate and necessary.

Documentation and record-keeping is essential to the application of a HACCP system and should be appropriate to the size of the organisation. All HACCP procedures should be documented. To ensure that an organisation can demonstrate effective control of critical safety (and quality activities if appropriate), documentation must demonstrate that hazards have been correctly identified and that critical limits are valid. Records must provide objective evidence that all monitoring, corrective action and verification activities have been conducted.

It is to establish documentation and record-keeping when appropriate and necessary in order to allow the FBO to assess whether GHPs are operating as intended.