Presentation Outline. GAP Harmonization presentation. Questions and Answers

Transcription

1 Presentation Outline GAP Harmonization presentation Dave Gombas, Senior Vice President: Food Safety & Technology United Fresh Produce Questions and Answers Moderator: Steve Warshawer Food Safety Coordinator National Good Food Network

2 Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative David E. Gombas, Ph.D. United Fresh Produce Association September 21, 2010

3 United Fresh Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards, April 2009 Over 200 leaders from each stage of the produce supply chain, government, and thirdparty standard owners and auditors explored the potential value of harmonization and greater alignment of standards Produce GAP standards used in various audits in North America seem to be at least 90% the same, providing a clear opportunity for harmonization.

4 Prior Harmonization Efforts Guidance documents (FDA GAPs) California Leafy Greens Best Practices Food Safety Leadership Council SQF 1000 produce standards GlobalG.A.P Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)

5 Outcomes From the Conference The process of bringing key stakeholders together to develop and endorse commodityspecific standards provides a good model for building consensus on general GAP standards. Harmonization of general GAP standards must be transparent with open communication of intent, progress, and conclusions. Retailers, foodservice companies, fresh-cut processors, grower-shippers, auditors and standard owners, and government must all be at the table working together.

6 Outcomes From the Conference Inclusion of non-food safety standards (environmental, social issues) is a likely obstacle to harmonization, particularly in North America. These issues may need to be addressed separately.

7 Process to Harmonization Identified a small but influential Steering Committee of major industry representatives with the ability to drive broad industry acceptance of common standards: McDonald s Yum Brands Pro*Act U.S. Foodservice Darden Jack in the Box Sysco Subway Markon River Ranch Del Monte Fresh Taylor Farms Wegmans Chiquita Fresh Express Ahold Sun World International Kroger DiMare Company Loblaws Green Giant Fresh Safeway Sunkist Growers Schnucks Castellini Co. Publix McEntire Produce Walmart Dole Food Company Food Lion The Giumarra Companies Supervalu Tanimura & Antle Costco C.H. Robinson 14 produce associations

8 Vision of Harmonization Develop a harmonized food safety standard and checklist for GAP audits, and globallyacceptable auditing process, necessary to protect consumers from potential hazards that may contaminate produce at that stage of the supply chain, and that will build efficiencies into the supplier audit process. One audit by any credible third party, acceptable to all buyers

9 Scope of work (1) A single, generic checklist for GAP audits: Focused on food safety practices of pre-farm gate produce operations (as defined by the scope of the FDA GAPs); With clearly defined requirements that minimize opportunity for misunderstanding, misinterpretation and standards creep by operations and auditors; Globally recognized, but specifically applicable to North America operations;

10 Scope of work (2) Requirements that are risk-based, sciencebased, attainable, auditable and verifiable; Considering all microbiological, chemical and physical hazards reasonably likely to occur, consistent with potential hazards addressed in FDA regulatory guidances; Scalable to all size fresh produce operations; Considerate of regional- and commodityspecific food safety needs;

11 Scope of work (3) Sufficiently non-prescriptive to be accepting of equivalent food safety practices; Flexible to adapt as science reveals better practices and limits; Acceptable to a critical mass of customers requiring general produce food safety audits; Freely accessible by everyone, including any 1st, 2nd or 3rd party auditor.

12 Technical Working Group Over 150 stakeholders, representing: Customers, suppliers, audit companies, government (FDA and USDA), extension, association staffs; A broad scope of fresh produce commodities; A broad scope of operation sizes; and A broad scope of producing regions, including Mexico and Canada. Open invitation for participation; no stakeholders excluded

13 Standard Harmonized from CA LGMA AFDO Model Code Mushroom GAPs AIB SENASICA CanadaGAP Silliker GlobalG.A.P USDA SQF 1000 Tomato Food Safety Audit Protocol Community Alliance with Family Farmers California Strawberry Commission

14 Field Operation/Harvest Audit Standard Draft Now Completed

15 Categories of the Standard General Questions Management Responsibility Food Safety Plan Documentation & Recordkeeping Worker Education and Training Microbiological Sampling and Testing Traceability Recall Program Corrective Actions Self-audits

16 Categories of the Standard Field Production Field History and Assessment Worker Health/Hygiene and Toilet/Handwashing Facilities Agricultural Chemicals /Plant Protection Products Agricultural Water Animal Control Soil Amendments Vehicles, Equipment, Tools and Utensils

17 Categories of the Standard Harvesting Preharvest Assessment Water/Ice Containers, Bins and Packaging Materials Field Packaging and Handling Postharvest Handling Transportation (Field to Packinghouse) Equipment Sanitation and Maintenance

18 Post-harvest Operations standard General Questions Produce Cooling Packinghouse Transportation (from Packinghouse) Produce Storage

19 Fast Facts about the Standard 84 audit items 14 written policies/procedures, such as Food safety plan Traceability and recall programs Toilet, worker hygiene and health policy Water management plan 14 types of records, including Training records Soil Amendments Agricultural Chemicals Pre-planting and pre-harvest risk assessments Microbiological testing (if performed)

20 What makes it scalable? Worded to work for family operations as well as large corporate farms, diverse crop farms as well as single commodity operations Allows for not applicable Requires designation of responsibilities, not dedicated personnel Allows, does not require, hiring outside personnel, within the limits of the law Requirements, documents, records generally simpler with fewer employees, smaller operations Most often instructs auditor to look at practices rather than written procedures or records

21 Audit Standard Audit Audit Process

22 Audit Process Operations Committee commissioned to develop policies and procedures for use of the harmonized standard Standard will be freely usable by any audit organization, but must be used consistently Market will decide which audit process is most credible, acceptable

23 Next steps Complete the Post-harvest Operations audit standard (Costco, Oct ) Schedule pilot audits using the draft standards: Operation, auditor, customer Different commodities, different size operations Assess what works, what doesn t, and make changes to the draft Develop auditor training tools

24 What does this mean for you? Decreased number of audits Multiple customers willing to accept the same audit means fewer audits Consistent expectations Auditors (and customers) using the same standard should be asking the same questions, judging compliance the same way; less moving target Reduced audit costs Focus resources on operation, not on passing the audit of the day

25 What you can do Review the standard and tell us: What s not clear? What doesn t work for your operation? Use the standard for your own self-audit Ask your customers are they involved in the Initiative? What do they think about it? Participate. The Initiative was created to help reduce your audit burden while harmonizing food safety expectations. Make sure it works for you.

26 Screenshot GHI page

27 Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative Questions?