Improving performance, reducing risk. Independent assurance - helping you manage food safety and sustainability risks

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1 Improving performance, reducing risk Independent assurance - helping you manage food safety and sustainability risks

2 The food industry faces rising food safety, environmental and social customer demands, tougher stakeholder and government requirements, brand issues, impacts and growth and profitability concerns. As the food supply chain becomes more complex, the challenges surrounding your brand, reputation and shareholder value inevitably increase.

3 Our unique assessment methodology Business Assurance underpins our services. LRQA is a member of the Lloyd s Register group. The Lloyd s Register group provides independent assurance to companies operating high-risk capital intensive assets to enhance the safety of life, property, and the environment, so helping its clients ensure safe, responsible, and sustainable operations. LRQA is a leading independent provider of assurance services including assessment, certification, validation, verification and training across a broad spectrum of standards and schemes. We are recognised by over 50 accreditation bodies and deliver our services to clients in more than 120 countries. Applying our unique assessment methodology Business Assurance LRQA turns assessment into a powerful management tool. By understanding what really matters to your organisation and stakeholders, we help you improve your management system and your business at the same time. In the food safety arena, we work with over 5,000 organisations of all sizes across the global food supply chain. We offer assessment, certification and training services for all of the global food safety standards and schemes. We also offer a full range of gap analysis services. In the area of sustainability, our services include certification, validation and verification across all elements of environmental, social and ethical performance. Further, we conduct second party and customised audits for many of the world s leading food companies. With our public and in company training courses, we help to educate your staff to ensure they are up-to-date on modern food safety management system and sustainability standards and trends. For individuals, our training courses can assist you in gaining formal qualifications - such as those required for internal auditing. Our public courses offer you the added benefit of sharing experiences with other delegates, while our in company training events allow you to tailor the session to your individual systems and needs. A range of bespoke or packaged training solutions are available to meet your organisational requirements. The Business Assurance approach from LRQA has helped Athens Plaza effectively manage our risks, identifying at the same time opportunities for improvement. Afroditi Arvaniti General Manager N.J.V. Athens Plaza LRQA ISO client 03

4 Are you sure your supply chain and products are safe and sustainable? By understanding what really matters to your organisation and stakeholders, we can help you improve your management system and your business at the same time by putting certification and independent verification at the heart of your organisation. Business Assurance from LRQA helps you manage your systems and risks to both improve and protect the current and future performance of your organisation. In this way, we help you protect your brand, image and reputation. Food supply chain safety Your food supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Your brand s reputation and success depends on the safety of your products, regardless of where you are in the food supply chain. Our Business Assurance services help you: comply with food safety standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, ISO/TS , PAS 222, PAS 223, HACCP, IFS, BRC, the Global Markets Program and GMP+ Animal Feed build a robust system to identify potential hazards and risks and control these risks at the right place in the supply chain confirm that your management systems support your business objectives choose the right suppliers, assessing them against your set of criteria - we call this service second party audits - or by helping you develop your own criteria educate your staff. Food supply chain sustainability and corporate responsibility Our Business Assurance approach goes beyond looking at food safety. We help manage your risks and the risks across your food supply chain, in vital areas such as quality, health and safety, environment and social and ethical issues. Using a management systems approach, based on existing standards and schemes or developed as a customised solution to your business needs, we provide assurance that your organisation and your supply chain remain sustainable and profitable far into the future. Our associated services include: quality (ISO 9001) occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001) environment, climate change and energy management (including ISO 14001, ISO 14064, ISO 50001) corporate responsibility (SA 8000, ISO 26000, GRI, AA1000) supply chain security (ISO 28000). We saw a 25-50% reduction in retail audit requests once we went to FSSC So you re saving time and the cost of audits thereby enabling our people to focus on getting the product right the first time. Jennifer Yezak Global Food Safety Manager Wrigley a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated 04

5 What does LRQA bring to the table? Business Assurance from LRQA Through our unique assessment methodology Business Assurance, we help ensure that your supply chain and products are safe, secure and sustainable. Our Business Assurance methodology allows assessments to be tailored according to how well your system manages and reduces operational risks in every aspect (e.g. food safety, quality, environment or health and safety) while still ensuring conformance to the full requirements of the chosen standard or scheme. Technical expertise The technical know-how and project management expertise of our globally renowned experienced and highly trained food experts ensures that we can adapt our assurance services to your business needs. We bring international expertise and deep insight into the complex world of the food industry backed with first class project management and communication skills. Global reach - local focus We are a global organisation but we speak the local language, understand national cultures as well as supply chain challenges including distribution chains. Wherever you are in the world, we are able to work with you to help you manage your risks and protect your reputation. LRQA has been working with the world s top brands to achieve the best from their management systems for more than 25 years. Acting with integrity With no shareholders of our own, we are independent and impartial in everything we do. We are committed to acting with integrity and objectivity at all times. Thought leadership Our experts are recognised voices in the industry and regularly participate in the technical committees that improve and develop standards. We helped to develop ISO 22000, PAS 220 (now known as ISO/TS ), FSSC 22000, ISO 14001, ISO and various domestic and regional climate change schemes. In addition, our Global Head of Food Supply Chain Services is Chairman of the Foundation for Food Safety Certification, and our regional food managers participate in industry leading national and international technical committees, including the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). LRQA s Global Head of Climate Change & Sustainability is Vice President of the association of verifiers under the Clean Development Mechanism and on the board of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). 05

6 Major food safety standards at a glance FSSC Developed by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification, FSSC represents a comprehensive approach to food safety risk management throughout the food supply chain. Applicable to all food products, food ingredients and packaging material manufacturers, FSSC is a complete certification scheme based on ISO 22000, the global food safety management system standard, combined with one of the sector specific technical specifications for Food Safety Prerequisite Programmes (PRP s) (e.g. ISO/TS Food Ingredients and Products) and additional GFSI requirements. ISO ISO is the global food safety management system standard for the whole food supply chain, from growers and producers to processes and packaging, transport and point of sale. It extends to suppliers of non-food products and services, like cleaning and equipment manufacturers, and can be used by any size of organisation. ISO specifies the requirements for a food safety management system that involves interactive communication, system management, and prerequisite programmes. It focuses on supply chain assurance, has management system principles embedded, and is fully aligned with the HACCP principles of Codex Alimentarius. ISO/TS (formerly PAS 220) PAS 220 has evolved into ISO-TS and has been developed to address the PRPs of food product and ingredient manufacturers, including pet food and slaughtering. It can only be provided in conjunction with ISO as a combined ISO/TS / ISO assessment or as an addition to an existing ISO approval. It directly addresses the GMP requirements of GFSI. PAS Animal Feed PAS 222 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining PRPs to assist in controlling food safety hazards in manufactured food for animals and ingredients intended for use in the production of animal food. Food safety hazards relate to attributes that have a potential to adversely affect animal or human health. PAS 222 certification assessments are only offered in combination with ISO assessments. PAS Packaging PAS 223 has been developed to specifically address prerequisite programmes of food safety for food and drink packaging design and manufacture and is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 22000, not in isolation. PAS 223 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining PRPs and design requirements to assist in controlling food safety hazards in the manufacture of food packaging. The specification is applicable to all organisations that manufacture food packaging, regardless of size or complexities. 06

7 HACCP HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles and guidelines for its application have been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The HACCP system is science based and identifies specific hazards and measures for their control to ensure the safety of food. This systematic preventative approach to food safety addresses physical, chemical and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection. This standard is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP s), supported by effective prerequisite programmes can be taken to reduce or eliminate the food safety hazards. The system is used at all stages of food production and preparation processes. All organisations who play a role in the food supply chain can apply HACCP principles. The HACCP principles are internationally accepted and implemented in the food legislation of many countries. IFS IFS Food is a standard for assessing retailer and wholesaler branded food product suppliers / manufacturers. It only applies to food processing organisations or organisations that pack loose food products. The IFS Food can only be used when a product is processed or when there is a hazard for product contamination during the primary packing. The new IFS Food version 6 has been developed together by the retail sector, manufacturers, the food services industry and certification bodies. GLOBAL MARKETS PROGRAM The GFSI Global Markets Program offers small and less-developed businesses a step-by-step approach to implementing food safety requirements building to GFSIrecognised food safety standard or scheme certification. Through this approach, capacity building in food safety is achieved, whilst access to local markets is facilitated and a system for mutual acceptance along the supply chain is created. GMP+ ANIMAL FEED The GMP+ Animal Feed is a certification scheme for manufacturers and retailers serving the animal feed sector. This scheme helps to drive the safety of animal feed across the food supply chain chain. It is also an international scheme, applicable worldwide. BRC BRC Global Standards are used by suppliers and global retailers. They facilitate standardisation of quality, safety, operational criteria and manufacturers fulfillment of legal obligations. They also help provide protection to the consumer. LRQA offers a range of services to the major BRC Global Standards. LRQA helps Cargill look at, through a third-party, how we are delivering on our commitment to our customers. Mark Overland Director, Global Certification, Cargill For more information: contact us at enquiries@lrqa.com or visit us at 07

8 Major sustainability standards at a glance Sustainability is most commonly defined in the words of the Brundtland Report as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It requires reconciliation between the three pillars or 3 E s of environment, social equity and economic demand. 08

9 The food sector is one of the most intrinsically linked to sustainability. From sustainable fishing to farming through to water and waste management, there are so many elements of food production that have touch points with sustainability. In addition to our range of food services, LRQA offers a wide range of solutions and services to help organisations serving the food sector meet their sustainability objectives. Environment ISO ISO is the international specification for an environmental management system (EMS). ISO is a standard which helps your company identify, prioritise and manage its environmental risks as part of your normal business practices. The standard is largely based on the ISO 9001 quality standard and assures a company s shareholders of its commitment to legal compliance, prevention of pollution and continual improvement. Energy ISO ISO is the international energy management system (EnMS) standard. It is the first global EnMS following from a range of national and regional standards such as EN ISO establishes a framework for organisations of any size and sector to promote energy management best practices and reinforce good energy management behaviours. The standard offers guidance on benchmarking, measuring, documenting and reporting energy improvements and projected greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. ISO can also assist facilities in evaluating and prioritising the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies. Climate Change ISO ISO is an international standard against which GHG emissions reports are voluntarily verified. In parallel with the emergence of regulated or mandatory schemes relating to monitoring, reporting and verification of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), organisations outside of these schemes are now increasingly wishing to monitor and report their emissions (commonly referred to as the organisation s carbon footprint). In response to this demand and to provide an international standard against which such reports can be voluntarily verified, ISO has been developed. The standard consists of three parts: Part 1 for organisational GHG emissions quantification, reporting Part 2 for GHG reduction or removal enhancement project monitoring, and reporting Part 3 for the validation and verification processes followed. Health & Safety OHSAS OHSAS is a standard used for an occupational health and safety management system, which enables an organisation to control its risks and improve its performance in this area. The standard provides a systematic approach to identifying hazards, and then either eliminates or reduces the risks of those hazards. Corporate Responsibility ISO ISO is an international guidance document on social responsibility. It provides an organisation with an outline of the principles and core subjects that it should be managing to ensure it identifies and manages a number of societal risks and impacts. GRI The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines detail reporting principles and standard disclosures for the preparation of sustainability reports by organisations, regardless of their size, sector or location. The Guidelines offer an international reference for those interested in the disclosure of governance approach against which organisational reports can be voluntarily verified. AA1000 The AA1000 series are principlesbased standards to help organisations become more accountable, responsible and sustainable. They address issues affecting governance, business models and organisational strategy, as well as providing operational guidance on sustainability assurance and stakeholder engagement. The AA1000 Principles Standard (AA1000APS) provides a framework for an organisation to identify, prioritise and respond to its sustainability challenges. The AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS) provides a methodology for assurance practitioners to evaluate the nature and extent to which an organisation adheres to the principles, and the AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard (AA1000SES) provides a framework to help organisations ensure stakeholder engagement processes are purpose driven, robust and deliver results. SA8000 The SA8000 standard is a social certification standard for workplaces, across all industrial sectors. It is based on conventions of the ILO, UN and national law, and spans industry and corporate codes to create a common language to measure social compliance. It takes a management systems approach by setting out the structures and procedures that companies must adopt in order to ensure that compliance with the standard is continuously reviewed. 09

10 Business Assurance in action LRQA helps ACP group drive a food safety culture with FSSC ACP Europe is one the Europe s leading purifiers of carbon dioxide for the food industry and has plants in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Poland. They sell in bulk, mini-bulk and cylinders, dry ice and dry ice blasting equipment. Subsidiary companies include Eurocylinder and Cardigas. The Journey to FSSC ACP Europe was one of the first companies to receive FSSC certification from LRQA. FSSC is a complete certification scheme for food safety management systems and is endorsed by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). It is based on ISO 22000, the global food safety management system standard and PAS 220, a scheme developed to address prerequisite programme (PRP) requirements for food product and ingredient manufacturers. Holding both HACCP and ISO 22000, ACP Europe could see the role of certification in helping them meet the growing demands of their operations as Stefan Speelmans, Health & Safety, Environmental and Quality Manager, ACP Europe explained; For ACP, as our organisation continued to grow, both HACCP and ISO became quite limited for us. HACCP allowed us to perform risk analysis, but it was simply a case of following the embedded principles. Whilst ISO provides add-ons to make it a management system, the specific prerequisite programmes (PRPs) for our operations were missing. It was a natural step for us to move to FSSC certification, explained Speelmans. ACP was one of the first organisations in Belgium to be FSSC certified. LRQA s assessors understand our business and our supply chain and add real value to our business. Organisational drivers for FSSC Certification For ACP Europe, food safety is embedded in their culture. As a specialist in the provision of carbon dioxide, ACP cannot afford any food safety issues. FSSC delivers a whole new approach to risk management and quality assurance, said Speelmans Through LRQA, the whole network of interacting processes is assessed and monitored thus providing greater assurance to both internal and external stakeholders and protecting our brand reputation. Why LRQA? For ACP, LRQA provides an external viewpoint to help them to protect their brand reputation and their consumers by addressing the many risks, up and down the supply chain, and assuring food safety and sustainability. ACP needs to know that their supply chain is risk-free, secure and sustainable. External audits by third-party assessors are vital for ACP. Accredited, independent, third-party assessors help companies to build and maintain trust by giving the process integrity and credibility. ACP selected LRQA because of their strong international reputation coupled with the technical and sector specific expertise of LRQA s assessors. ACP places great emphasis on the importance of continual improvement within the certification process as Speelmans explained. LRQA helps us to drive continuous improvement of our system and reduces our risk therefore leading to an overall cost reduction throughout the process. Organisational benefits for FSSC Certification As Stefan Speelmans summarised, FSSC certification through LRQA will make it much easier for producers and suppliers like ACP to sell to a varied range of clients. We have greater control over our processes, and as a result, a more holistic view of our organisation. When we say ACP is the best, the best at quality control and with the best products, our clients will believe it. Summary Commenting on ACP s achievement, Cor Groenveld, LRQA s Global Head of Food Supply Chain Services and one of the world s leading foodsafety experts said, Across the food supply chain, organisations are facing tougher stakeholder demands, rapidly changing business conditions and increased competition. As a result, they are seeking more effective control of operations, improved performance and better management of risk throughout their business. FSSC certification will add further value to ACP and organisations as a whole across the food sector. 10

11 It was a natural step for us to move to FSSC certification. ACP was one of the first organisations in Belgium to be FSSC certified. LRQA s assessors understand our business and our supply chain and add real value to our business. Stefan Speelmans Health & Safety Environmental and Quality Manager ACP Europe

12 Lloyd s Register Quality Assurance Ltd Hiramford Middlemarch Office Village Siskin Drive Coventry CV3 4FJ United Kingdom T +44 (0) E enquiries@lrqa.com Follow us on Lloyd s Register and LRQA are trading names of the Lloyd s Register group of entities. Services are provided by members of the Lloyd s Register group, for details see Lloyd s Register Quality Assurance is a member of the Lloyd s Register group. Registered Office: 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS Registered number: Care is taken to ensure that all information provided is accurate and up to date. However, Lloyd s Register LRQA accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies in, or changes to, information. Lloyd s Register and variants of it are trading names of Lloyd s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Copyright Lloyd s Register Quality Assurance Limited, A member of the Lloyd s Register group.