Food reaches consumers via supply chains that may link many different types of organizations and that may stretch across multiple borders. One weak link can result in unsafe food that is dangerous to health - and when this happens, the hazards to consumers can be serious and the cost to the food chain suppliers considerable. As food safety hazards can enter the food chain at any stage, adequate controls throughout are essential. Food safety is a joint responsibility of all the parties in the food chain and requires their combined efforts.

Food safety standards have become necessary because of the significant increase of illnesses caused by the infected food in both developed and developing countries. In addition to the health hazards, food- borne illnesses can give rise to considerable economic costs covering medical treatment, absence from work, insurance payments and legal compensation.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Regulation 918/1999 "Regulation governing general hygiene requirements for food premises and the transport of food" requires all food handlers to be trained in good food hygiene practices.

OUR SERVICES

PDCA Solutions is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company. We offer food safety consulting, auditing and training services to the food & packaging industry.

We facilitate the implementation of hygiene management systems against the relevant standards you require.

We conduct 1st, 2nd and 3rd party hygiene audits.

We provide various, customized and approved food safety courses on and off site.

The most commonly used standards are:

• SANS 10330 (HACCP)
  Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points is a Food Safety Management system - in accordance with the internationally recognized standards. HACCP is a preventive system that corrects problems before they affect the safety of food.
  
  
• EUREPGAP
  EUREPGAP sets out the framework for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) of farms - which defines essential elements for the development of best-practice for the global production of horticultural products (fruits, vegetables, potatoes, salads, cut-flowers and nursery stock). It defines the minimum standard acceptable to the leading retail groups in Europe.
  
  
• BRC GLOBAL STANDARD FOOD
  BRC GLOBAL STANDARD FOOD issue 4 - The BRC Global Standard – Food requires the adoption and implementation of HACCP, a food hygiene management system, a documented and effective Quality Management System (QMS) and control of factory environment standards, product, process and personnel. South Africa food and beverage companies exporting to the United Kingdom (UK) are required to be certified prior to exporting to the British retailers.
  
  
• ISO 22000:2005 – Food safety management systems requirements for any organization in the food chain
  A number of countries have developed national standards for the supply of safe food and individual companies and groupings in the food sector have developed their own standards or programs for auditing their suppliers. The plethora of more than 20 different such schemes worldwide generates risks of uneven levels of food safety, confusion over requirements, and increased cost and complications for suppliers that find themselves obliged to conform to multiple programs.
  
  
• ISO 22000:2005
  ISO 22000:2005 provides a framework of internationally harmonized requirements for the global approach that is needed. A major resulting benefit is that ISO 22000 will make it easier for organizations worldwide to implement the Codex HACCP system for food hygiene in a harmonized way, which does not vary with the country or food product concerned.