BRC SITE STANDARDS

External Standards

Consideration shall be given to local activities and the site environment, which may have an adverse impact on finished product integrity, and measures shall be taken to prevent contamination. Where measures have been put into place to protect the site (from potential contaminants, flooding etc.), they shall be reviewed in response to any changes

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The external areas shall be maintained in good order. Where grassed or planted areas are located near buildings, they shall be regularly tended and well maintained. External traffic routes under site control shall be suitably surfaced and maintained in good repair to mitigate the risk of contamination of the product

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The building fabric shall be maintained to minimise potential for product contamination (e.g. elimination of bird-roosting sites, sealing gaps around pipes to prevent pest entry, ingress of water and other contaminants)

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Site Security And Food Defence

The company shall undertake a documented risk assessment (threat assessment) of the potential risks to products from any deliberate attempt to inflict contamination or damage. This threat assessment shall include both internal and external threats. The output from this assessment shall be a documented threat assessment plan. This plan shall be kept under review to reflect changing circumstances and market intelligence. It shall be formally reviewed at least annually and whenever: • a new risk emerges (e.g. a new threat is publicised or identified) • an incident occurs, where product security or food defence is implicated

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Where raw materials or products are identified as being at particular risk, the threat assessment plan shall include controls to mitigate these risks. Where prevention is not sufficient or possible, systems shall be in place to identify any tampering. These controls shall be monitored, the results documented, and the controls reviewed at least annually

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Areas where a significant risk is identified shall be defined, monitored and controlled. These shall include external storage and intake points for products and raw materials (including packaging). Policies and systems shall be in place to ensure that only authorized personnel to have access to production and storage areas and that access to the site by employees, contractors, and visitors is controlled. A visitor recording system shall be in place. Staff shall be trained in site security procedures and food defense

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Where required by legislation, the site shall maintain appropriate registrations with the relevant authorities

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Layout, Product Flow And Segregation

There shall be a map of the site. At a minimum, this map shall define: • access points for personnel • access points for raw materials (including packaging), semi-finished products and open products • routes of movement for personnel • routes of movement for raw materials (including packaging) • routes for the removal of waste • routes for the movement of rework • location of any staff facilities, including changing rooms, toilets, canteens and smoking areas • production process flow

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Contractors and visitors, including drivers, shall be made aware of all procedures for access to premises and the requirements of the areas they are visiting, with special reference to hazards and potential product contamination. Contractors working in product processing or storage areas shall be the responsibility of a nominated person

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The movement of personnel, raw materials, packaging, rework and/or waste shall not compromise the safety of products. The process flow, together with the use of demonstrably effective procedures, shall be in place to minimise the risk of the contamination of raw materials, intermediate/semi-processed products, packaging and finished products

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Premises shall allow sufficient working space and storage capacity to enable all operations to be carried out properly under safe hygienic conditions

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Temporary structures constructed during building work or refurbishment etc. shall be designed and located to avoid pest harbourage and ensure the safety and quality of products

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Building Fabric And Raw Material Handling

. Walls shall be finished and maintained to prevent the accumulation of dirt, minimise condensation and mould growth, and facilitate cleaning

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Floors shall be suitably hard-wearing to meet the demands of the process, and withstand cleaning materials and methods. They shall be impervious, be maintained in good repair and facilitate cleaning

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Drainage, where provided, shall be sited, designed and maintained to minimise the risk of product contamination and not compromise product safety. Machinery and piping shall be arranged so that, wherever feasible, process wastewater goes directly to drain. Where significant amounts of water are used, or direct piping to drain is not feasible, floors shall have adequate falls to cope with the flow of any water or effluent towards suitable drainage

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Ceilings and overheads shall be constructed, finished and maintained to prevent the risk of product contamination

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Where suspended ceilings or roof voids are present, adequate access to the void shall be provided to facilitate inspection for pest activity, unless the void is fully sealed

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Where elevated walkways are adjacent to or pass over production lines, they shall be: • designed to prevent contamination of products and production lines • easy to clean • correctly maintained

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Where there is a risk to product, windows and roof glazing which are designed to be opened for ventilation purposes shall be adequately screened to prevent the ingress of pests

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Doors (both internal and external) shall be maintained in good condition. At a minimum: • external doors and dock levellers shall be close fiing or adequately proofed • external doors to open product areas shall not be opened during production periods except in emergencies • where external doors to enclosed product areas are opened, suitable precautions shall be taken to prevent pest ingress

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Suitable and sufficient lighting shall be provided for correct operation of processes, inspection of product and effective cleaning

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Adequate ventilation and extraction shall be provided in product storage and processing environments to prevent condensation or excessive dust

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Utilities - Water,Ice,Air And Other Gases

All water (including ice and steam) used as a raw material in the manufacture of processed food, the preparation of product, hand washing or for equipment or plant cleaning shall be supplied in sufficient quantity, be potable at the point of use or pose no risk of contamination according to applicable legislation. The microbiological and chemical quality of water shall be analyzed at least annually.The sampling points, scope of the test and frequency of analysis shall be based on risk, taking into account the source of the water, on site storage, and distribution facilities, previous sample history and usage

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An up-to-date schematic diagram shall be available of the water distribution system on site, including holding tanks, water treatment and water recycling as appropriate. The diagram shall be used as a basis for water sampling and the management of water quality

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Air and other gases used as an ingredient or that are in direct contact with products shall be monitored to ensure this does not represent a contamination risk. Compressed air that is in direct contact with the product shall be filtered at the point of use

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Equipment

All equipment shall be constructed of appropriate materials. The design and placement of equipment shall ensure it can be effectively cleaned and maintained

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Equipment that is in direct contact with food shall be suitable for food contact and meet legal requirements where applicable

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Maintenance

There shall be a documented planned maintenance schedule or condition monitoring system which includes all plant and processing equipment. The maintenance requirements shall be defined when commissioning new equipment

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In addition to any planned maintenance programme, where there is a risk of product contamination by foreign bodies arising from equipment damage, the equipment shall be inspected at predetermined intervals, the inspection results documented and appropriate action taken

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Where temporary repairs are made, these shall be documented and controlled to ensure that the safety or legality of products is not jeopardized. These temporary measures shall be permanently repaired as soon as practicable and within a defined timescale

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The site shall ensure that the safety or legality of products is not jeopardised during maintenance and subsequent cleaning operations. Maintenance work shall be followed by a documented hygiene clearance procedure. Equipment and machinery shall be inspected by an authorized member of staff to confirm the removal of contamination hazards, before being accepted back into operation

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Materials and parts used for equipment and plant maintenance shall be of an appropriate grade or quality. Those materials (such as lubricating oil) that pose a risk by direct or indirect contact with raw materials (including primary packaging), intermediate products and finished products shall be food grade and of a known allergen status

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Engineering workshops shall be kept clean and tidy, and controls shall be in place to prevent transfer of engineering debris to production or storage areas

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Staff Facilities

Designated changing facilities shall be provided for all personnel, whether staff, visitor or contractor. These shall be sited to allow direct access to the production, packing or storage areas without recourse to any external area. Where this is not possible, a risk assessment shall be carried out and procedures implemented accordingly (e.g. the provision of cleaning facilities for footwear)

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Storage facilities of sufficient size to accommodate personal items shall be provided for all personnel who work in raw material handling, preparation, processing, packing and storage areas

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Outdoor clothing and other personal items shall be stored separately from production clothing within the changing facilities. Facilities shall be available to separate clean and dirty production clothing

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Suitable and sufficient hand-washing facilities shall be provided at access to, and at other appropriate points within, production areas. Such hand-washing facilities shall provide, at a minimum: • advisory signs to prompt hand-washing • a sufficient quantity of water at a suitable temperature • water taps with hands-free operation • liquid/foam soap • single-use towels or suitably designed and located air driers

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Toilets shall be adequately segregated and shall not open directly into production or packing areas Toilets shall be provided with hand-washing facilities comprising: • basins with soap and water at a suitable temperature • adequate hand-drying facilities • advisory signs to prompt hand-washing. Where hand-washing facilities within toilet facilities are the only facilities provided before re-entering production, the requirements of clause 4.8.4 shall apply and signs shall be in place to direct people to hand-washing facilities before entering production

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Where smoking is allowed under national law, designated controlled smoking areas shall be provided which are both isolated from production areas to an extent that ensures smoke cannot reach the product and field with sufficient extraction to the exterior of the building. Adequate arrangements for dealing with smokers’ waste shall be provided at smoking facilities, both inside and at exterior locations. Electronic cigarettes shall not be permitted to be used or brought into production or storage areas

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All food brought into manufacturing premises by staff shall be appropriately stored in a clean and hygienic state. No food shall be taken into storage, processing or production areas. Where eating of food is allowed outside during breaks, this shall be in suitable designated areas with appropriate control of waste

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Where catering facilities (including vending machines) are provided on the premises, they shall be suitably controlled to prevent contamination of products (e.g. as a source of food poisoning or introduction of allergenic material to the site)

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Chemical Control

Processes shall be in place to manage the use, storage and handling of non-food chemicals to prevent chemical contamination. These shall include, at a minimum: • an approved list of chemicals for purchase • availability of material safety data sheets and specifications • confirmation of suitability for use in a food-processing environment • avoidance of strongly scented products • the labelling and/or identification of containers of chemicals at all times • a designated storage area with restricted access to authorised personnel • use by trained personnel only

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Where strongly scented or taint-forming materials have to be used, for instance for building work, procedures shall be in place to prevent the risk of taint contamination of products

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Metal Control

There shall be a documented policy for the controlled use and storage of sharp metal implements including knives, cuing blades on equipment, needles and wires. This shall include a record of inspection for damage and the investigation of any lost items. Snap-off blade knives shall not be used

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The purchase of ingredients and packaging which use staples or other foreign-body hazards as part of the packaging materials shall be avoided. Staples, paper clips and drawing pins shall not be used in open product areas.Where staples or other items are present as packaging materials or closures, appropriate precautions shall be taken to minimise the risk of product contamination

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Glass, Brittle Plastic, Ceramics

Glass or other brile materials shall be excluded or protected against breakage in areas where open products are handled or there is a risk of product contamination

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Procedures for handling glass and other brile materials (other than product packaging) shall be in place where open products are handled or there is a risk of product contamination. These procedures shall include, at a minimum: • a list of items detailing location, number, type and condition • recorded checks of the condition of items, carried out at a specified frequency that is based on the level of risk to the product • details on cleaning or replacing items to minimise the potential for product contamination

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Procedures detailing the action to be taken in case of breakage of glass or other brile items shall be implemented and include the following: • training of staff in the correct procedure • quarantining the products and production area that were potentially affected • cleaning the production area • inspecting the production area and authorising production to continue • changing of workwear and inspection of footwear • specifying those staff authorised to carry out the above points • recording the breakage incident • safely disposing of contaminated product

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Where they pose a risk to product, glass windows shall be protected against breakage

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Where they pose a risk to product, bulbs and strip lights (including those on electric fly-killer devices) shall be adequately protected. Where full protection cannot be provided, alternative management such as wire-mesh screens or monitoring procedures shall be in place

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Products Packed Into Glass

The storage of the containers shall be segregated from the storage of raw materials, product or other packaging

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Systems shall be in place to manage container breakages between the container cleaning/inspection point and container closure. This shall include, at a minimum, documented instructions which ensure: • the removal and disposal of at-risk products in the vicinity of the breakage; this may be specific for different equipment or areas of the production line • the effective cleaning of the line or equipment which may be contaminated by fragments of the container; cleaning shall not result in the further dispersal of fragments, for instance by the use of high-pressure water or air • the use of dedicated, clearly identifiable cleaning equipment (e.g. colour-coded) for removal of container breakages; such equipment shall be stored separately from other cleaning equipment • the use of dedicated, accessible, lidded waste containers for the collection of damaged containers and fragments

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Records shall be maintained of all container breakages on the line. Where no breakages have occurred during a production period, this shall also be recorded. This record shall be reviewed to identify trends and potential line or container improvements

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Wood

Wood should not be used in open product areas except where this is a process requirement (e.g. maturation of products in wood). Where the use of wood cannot be avoided, the condition of wood shall be continually monitored to ensure it is in good condition and free from damage or splinters which could contaminate products

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Other Physical Contaminants

Procedures shall be in place to prevent physical contamination of raw materials by raw material packaging (e.g. during debagging and deboxing procedures to remove the packaging)

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Pens used in open product areas shall be controlled to minimise the risk of physical contamination (e.g. designed without small parts and detectable by foreign-body detection equipment)

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Selection And Operation Of Foreign-Body

A documented assessment in association with the HACCP study shall be carried out on each production process to identify the potential use of equipment to detect or remove foreign-body contamination.Typical equipment to be considered may include: • filters • sieves • metal detection • magnets • optical sorting equipment • X-ray detection equipment • other physical separation equipment (e.g. gravity separation, fluid bed technology)

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The type, location and sensitivity of the detection and/or removal method shall be specified as part of the site’s documented system. Industry best practice shall be applied with regard to the nature of the ingredient,material, product and/or the packed product. The location of the equipment or any other factors influencing the sensitivity of the equipment shall be validated and justified

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The site shall ensure that the frequency of the testing of the foreign-body detection and/or removal equipment is defined and takes into consideration: • specific customer requirements • the site’s ability to identify, hold and prevent the release of any affected materials, should the equipment fail. The site shall establish and implement corrective action and reporting procedures in the event of a failure of the foreign-body detector and/or removal equipment. The action shall include a combination of isolation, quarantining and re-inspection of all products produced since the last successful test or inspection

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Where foreign material is detected or removed by the equipment, the source of any unexpected material shall be investigated. Information on rejected materials shall be used to identify trends and, where possible, instigate preventive action to reduce the occurrence of contamination by the foreign material

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Filters And Sieves

Filters and sieves used for foreign-body control shall be of a specified mesh size or gauge and designed to provide the maximum practical protection for the product

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Filters and sieves shall be regularly inspected or tested for damage at a documented frequency based on risk. Records shall be maintained of the checks. Where defective filters or sieves are identified this shall be recorded and the potential for contamination of products investigated and appropriate action taken

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Metal Detectors And X-Ray Equipment

Metal detection equipment shall be in place unless risk assessment demonstrates that this does not improve the protection of final products from metal contamination. Where metal detectors are not used justification shall be documented. The absence of metal detection would only normally be based on the use of an alternative, more effective method of protection (e.g. use of X-ray, fine sieves or filtration of products)

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The metal detector or X-ray equipment shall incorporate one of the following: • an automatic rejection device, for continuous in-line systems, which shall either divert contaminated product out of the product flow or to a secure unit accessible only to authorised personnel • a belt stop system with an alarm where the product cannot be automatically rejected (e.g. for very large packs) • in-line detectors which identify the location of the contaminant to allow effective segregation of the affected product

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The site shall establish and implement procedures for the operation and testing of the metal detection or X-ray equipment. This shall include, at a minimum: • responsibilities for the testing of equipment • the operating effectiveness and sensitivity of the equipment and any variation to this for particular products • the methods and frequency of checking the detector • recording of the results of checks

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Metal detector testing procedures shall, at a minimum, include: • use of test pieces incorporating a sphere of metal of a known diameter selected on the basis of risk. The test pieces shall be marked with the size and type of test material contained • tests carried out using separate test pieces containing ferrous metal, stainless steel and typically non-ferrous metal, unless the product is within a foil container where a ferrous-only test may be applicable • a test to prove that both the detection and rejection mechanisms are working effectively under normal working conditions • tests of the metal detector by passing successive test packs through the unit at typical line operating speed • checks of failsafe systems fied to the detection and rejection systems

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Magnets

The type, location and strength of magnets shall be fully documented. Procedures shall be in place for the inspection, cleaning, strength testing and integrity checks. Records of all checks shall be maintained

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Optical Sorting Equipment

Each unit shall be checked in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations.Checks shall be documented

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Container Cleanliness - Glass Jars, Cans

Based on risk assessment, procedures shall be implemented to minimise foreign-body contamination originating from the packaging container (e.g. jars, cans and other pre-formed rigid containers). This may include the use of covered conveyors, container inversion and foreign-body removal through rinsing with water or air jets

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The effectiveness of the container-cleaning equipment shall be checked and recorded during each production. Where the system incorporates a rejection system for dirty or damaged containers, the check shall incorporate a test of both the detection and effective rejection of the test container

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Housekeeping And Hygiene

The premises and equipment shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition

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Documented cleaning procedures shall be in place and maintained for the building, plant and all equipment. Cleaning procedures for the processing equipment and food contact surfaces shall, at a minimum, include: • responsibility for cleaning • item/area to be cleaned • frequency of cleaning • method of cleaning, including dismantling equipment for cleaning purposes where required • cleaning chemicals and concentrations • cleaning materials to be used • cleaning records and responsibility for verification. The frequency and methods of cleaning shall be based on risk. The procedures shall be implemented to ensure appropriate standards of cleaning are achieved

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Limits of acceptable and unacceptable cleaning performance shall be defined for food contact surfaces and processing equipment. These limits shall be based on the potential hazards relevant to the product or processing area (e.g. microbiological, allergen, foreign-body contamination or product-to-product contamination). Therefore, acceptable levels of cleaning may be defined by visual appearance, ATP bioluminescence techniques (see glossary), microbiological testing, allergen testing or chemical testing as appropriate. The site shall define the corrective action to be taken when monitored results are outside of the acceptable limits. Where cleaning procedures are part of a defined prerequisite plan to control the risk of a specific hazard, the cleaning and disinfection procedures and their frequency shall be validated and records maintained. This shall include the risk from cleaning chemical residues on food contact surfaces

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The resources for undertaking cleaning shall be available. Where it is necessary to dismantle equipment for cleaning purposes or to enter large equipment for cleaning, this shall be appropriately scheduled and,where necessary, planned for non-production periods. Cleaning staff shall be adequately trained or engineering support provided where access within equipment is required for cleaning

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The cleanliness of equipment shall be checked before equipment is released back into production. The results of checks on cleaning, including visual, analytical and microbiological checks, shall be recorded and used to identify trends in cleaning performance and to instigate improvements where required

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Cleaning equipment shall be: • hygienically designed and fit for purpose • suitably identified for intended use (e.g. colour-coded or labelled) • cleaned and stored in a hygienic manner to prevent contamination

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Cleaning In Place(CIP)

All CIP equipment shall be designed and constructed to ensure effective operation. This shall include: • validation confirming the correct design and operation of the system • an up-to-date schematic diagram of the layout of the CIP system • where rinse solutions are recovered and reused, an assessment of the risk of cross-contamination (e.g. due to the re-introduction of allergen).Alterations or additions to the CIP system shall be authorized by a suitably competent individual before changes are made. A record of changes shall be maintained. The system shall be revalidated at a frequency based on risk, and following any alteration or addition

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Limits of acceptable and unacceptable performance for key process parameters shall be defined to ensure the removal of target hazards (e.g. soil, allergens, micro-organisms, spores). At a minimum these parameters shall include: • times for each stage • detergent concentrations • the flow rate and pressure • temperatures. These shall be validated and records of the validation maintained

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The CIP equipment shall be maintained by suitably trained staff to ensure effective cleaning is carried out.This shall include: • detergent concentrations shall be checked routinely • recovered post-rinse solutions shall be monitored for build-up of carry-over from the detergent tanks • filters, where fied, shall be cleaned and inspected at a defined frequency • where used, flexible hoses shall be stored hygienically when not in use, and inspected at a defined frequency to ensure that they are in good condition

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CIP facilities, where used, shall be monitored at a defined frequency based on risk. This may include: • monitoring of process parameters defined in clause 4.11.7.2 • ensuring correct connections, piping and seings are in place • confirming the process is operating correctly (e.g. valves opening/closing sequentially) • ensuring effective completion of the cleaning cycle • monitoring for effective results, including draining where required. Procedures shall define the action to be taken if monitoring indicates that processing is outside the defined limits

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Environmental Monitoring

The design of the environmental monitoring programme shall be based on risk, and at a minimum include: • sampling protocol • identification of sample locations • frequency of tests • target organism(s) (e.g. pathogens, spoilage organisms and/or indicator organisms) • test methods (e.g. sele plates, rapid testing and swabs) • recording and evaluation of results. The programme and its associated procedures shall be documented

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Appropriate control limits shall be defined for the environmental monitoring programme.The company shall document the corrective action to be taken when monitored results indicate a failure to meet a control limit, or when monitored results indicate an upward trend of positive results

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The company shall review the environmental monitoring programme at least annually and whenever there are: • changes in processing conditions, process flow or equipment • new developments in scientific information • failures of the programme to identify a significant issue (e.g. regulatory authority tests identifying positive results which the site programme did not) • product failures (products with positive tests) • consistently negative results (e.g. a site with a long history of negative results should review its programme to consider whether the correct parts of the factory are being tested, whether the testing is being conducted correctly, whether the tests are for the appropriate organisms, etc.)

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Waste/Waste Disposal

. Where licensing is required by law for the removal of waste, it shall be removed by licensed contractors and records of removal shall be maintained and available for audit

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Internal and external waste collection containers and rooms housing waste facilities shall be managed to minimise risk. These shall be: • clearly identified • designed for ease of use and effective cleaning • well maintained to allow cleaning and, where required, disinfection • emptied at appropriate frequencies. External waste containers shall be covered or doors kept closed as appropriate

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If unsafe products or substandard trademarked materials are transferred to a third party for destruction or disposal, that third party shall be a specialist in secure product or waste disposal and shall provide records which include the quantity of waste collected for destruction or disposal

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Management Of Surplus Food For Animal Feed

Surplus customer-branded products shall be disposed of in accordance with customer-specific requirements. Customer brand names shall be removed from packed surplus products under the control of the factory before the product enters the supply chain, unless otherwise authorised by the customer

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Where customer-branded products which do not meet specifications are sold to staff or passed on to charities or other organisations, this shall be with the prior consent of the brand owner. Processes shall be in place to ensure that all products are fit for consumption and meet legal requirements

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By-products and downgraded/surplus products intended for animal feed shall be segregated from waste and protected from contamination during storage. Products for animal feed shall be managed in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements

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Pest Management

If pest activity is identified, it shall not present a risk of contamination to products, raw materials or packaging.The presence of any infestation on site shall be documented in pest management records and be part of an effective pest control programme to eliminate or manage the infestation so that it does not present a risk to products, raw materials or packaging

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The site shall either contract the services of a competent pest management organisation or have appropriately trained staff for the regular inspection and treatment of the site to deter and eradicate infestation. The frequency of inspections shall be determined by risk assessment and shall be documented. The risk assessment shall be reviewed whenever: • there are changes to the buildings or production processes which could have an impact on the pest management programme • there has been a significant pest issue. Where the services of a pest management contractor are employed, the service scope shall be clearly defined and reflect the activities of the site. Service provision regardless of the source shall meet with all applicable regulatory requirements

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Where a site undertakes its own pest management, it shall be able to effectively demonstrate that: •pest management operations are undertaken by trained and competent staff with sufficient knowledge to select appropriate pest control chemicals and proofing methods and understand the limitations of use, relevant to the biology of the pests associated with the site • staff undertaking pest management activities meet any legal requirements for training or registration • sufficient resources are available to respond to any infestation issues • there is ready access to specialist technical knowledge when required • legislation governing the use of pest control products is understood and complied with • dedicated locked facilities are used for the storage of pesticides.

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Pest management documentation and records shall be maintained. At a minimum, this shall include: • an up-to-date plan of the full site, identifying pest control devices and their locations • identification of the baits and/or monitoring devices on site • clearly defined responsibilities for the site management and the contractor • details of pest control products used, including instructions for their effective use and action to be taken in case of emergencies • any observed pest activity • details of pest control treatments undertaken. Records may be on paper (hard copy) or controlled on an electronic system (e.g. an online reporting system)

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Bait stations or other rodent monitoring or control devices shall be appropriately located and maintained to prevent contamination risk to product. Toxic rodent baits shall not be used within production or storage areas where open product is present except when treating an active infestation. Where toxic baits are used, these shall be secured. Any missing bait stations shall be recorded, reviewed and investigated

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nsect-killing devices, pheromone traps and/or other insect monitoring devices shall be appropriately sited and operational. If there is a danger of insects being expelled from a fly-killing extermination device and contaminating the product, alternative systems and equipment shall be used

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The site shall have adequate measures in place to prevent birds from entering buildings or roosting above loading or unloading areas

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observations
N/A

In the event of infestation, or evidence of pest activity, immediate action shall be taken to identify at-risk products and to minimise the risk of product contamination. Any potentially affected products should be subject to the non-conforming product procedure

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Records of pest management inspections, pest proofing and hygiene recommendations and actions taken shall be maintained. It shall be the responsibility of the site to ensure that all of the relevant recommendations made by its contractor or in-house expert are carried out in a timely manner

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

An in-depth, documented pest management survey shall be undertaken at a frequency based on risk, but at least annually, by a pest control expert to review the pest management measures in place. The survey shall: • provide an in-depth inspection of the facility for pest activity • review the existing pest management measures in place and make any recommendations for change. The survey shall be timed to allow access to equipment for inspection where a risk of stored product insect infestation exists

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Results of pest management inspections shall be assessed and analysed for trends on a regular basis. At a minimum, results of inspections shall be analysed: • annually or • in the event of an infestation. The analysis shall include results from trapping and monitoring devices to identify problem areas. The analysis shall be used as a basis for improving pest management procedures

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Employees shall understand the signs of pest activity and be aware of the need to report any evidence of pest activity to a designated manager

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Storage Facilities

Procedures to maintain product safety and quality during storage shall be developed on the basis of risk assessment, understood by relevant staff and implemented accordingly. These may include, as appropriate: • managing chilled and frozen product transfer between temperature-controlled areas • segregation of products where necessary to avoid cross-contamination (physical, microbiological or allergens) or taint uptake • storing materials off the floor and away from walls • specific handling or stacking requirements to prevent product damage

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where appropriate, packaging shall be stored away from other raw materials and finished product. Any part-used packaging materials suitable for use shall be effectively protected from contamination and clearly identified to maintain traceability before being returned to an appropriate storage area

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where temperature control is required (e.g. for raw materials, semi-finished materials or final products), the storage area shall be capable of maintaining product temperature within specification and operated to ensure specified temperatures are maintained. Temperature recording equipment with suitable temperature alarms shall be fined to all storage facilities or there shall be a system of recorded manual temperature checks, typically on at least a 4-hourly basis or at a frequency which allows for intervention before product temperatures exceed defined limits for the safety, legality or quality of products

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where controlled atmosphere storage is required, the storage conditions shall be specified and effectively controlled. Records shall be maintained of the storage conditions

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where storage outside is necessary, items shall be protected from contamination and deterioration. Items shall be checked for suitability before being brought into the factory

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

The site shall facilitate correct stock rotation of raw materials, intermediate products and finished products in storage and ensure that materials are used in the correct order in relation to their manufacturing date and within the prescribed shelf life

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Dispatch And Transport

Procedures to maintain product safety and quality during loading and transportation shall be developed and implemented. These may include, as appropriate: • controlling temperature of loading dock areas and vehicles • the use of covered bays for vehicle loading or unloading • securing loads on pallets to prevent movement during transit • inspection of loads prior to dispatch

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

All vehicles or containers used for the transport of raw materials and the dispatch of products shall be fit for purpose. This shall ensure that they are: • in a clean condition • free from strong odours which may cause taint to products • in a suitable condition to prevent damage to products during transit • equipped to ensure any temperature requirements can be maintained throughout transportation.Records of inspections shall be maintained

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where temperature control is required, the transport shall be capable of maintaining product temperature within specification, under minimum and maximum load. Temperature data-logging devices which can be interrogated to confirm time/temperature conditions or a system to monitor and record at predetermined frequencies the correct operation of refrigeration equipment shall be used and records maintained

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Maintenance systems and documented cleaning procedures shall be available for all vehicles and equipment used for loading/unloading. There shall be records of the measures taken

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

The company shall have procedures for the transport of products, which shall include: • any restrictions on the use of mixed loads • requirements for the security of products during transit, particularly when vehicles are parked and unattended • clear instructions in the case of vehicle breakdown, accident or failure of refrigeration systems, which ensure that the safety of the products is assessed and records maintained

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A

Where the company employs third-party contractors, all the requirements specified in this section shall be clearly defined in the contract or terms and conditions and verified, or the contracted company shall be certificated to the Global Standard for Storage and Distribution or similar GFSI-recognised scheme

confirm
Non-conformance
observations
N/A