(Intertek: London) -- The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) international protocol long used by the global food and beverage industry has been prevalent for years, but it has primarily applied to food processors. Now many North American retailers, packaged goods companies, and food manufacturers are requesting HACCP compliance from their supply chains as another method of controlling food safety. However, this new flow-down requirement can be a challenge for suppliers that have not had to implement an HACCP system before.
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To specifically address this challenge within the food packaging industry, The Packaging Association (PAC) worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and a broad group of industry representatives to develop their own solution. The result is PACsecure, a set of voluntary food-packaging safety standards designed to help packaging converters harmonize with HACCP. Currently, the PACsecure program includes specialized standards that apply to flexible plastic, rigid plastic, and paper packaging; glass and metal packaging standards are in development.
PAC works with a small number of experienced auditors and consultants to help them implement the PACsecure program. As of Feb. 15, PAC approved Intertek as a third-party audit provider for PACsecure. Intertek is the second registrar to achieve this approval.
Intertek is a globally recognized management systems certification body, offering auditing and certification services for a broad portfolio of standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000. In addition, Intertek’s packaging testing laboratories provide analytical services, physical testing, performance testing, food safety approval (migration), hazard risk assessment, research and development support, as well as quality testing to comply with vendor standards and national and international regulatory legislation for all types of packaging materials.
“PACsecure is a unique standard, developed exclusively for package makers,” says James D. Downham, CEO of PAC. “As the demand for PACsecure escalates, PAC needs to develop strategic relationships with international partners. While [Global Food Safety Initiative] GFSI scheme recognition is a priority, we have identified Intertek as a leader that can help us develop the international markets.”
“Intertek is excited to partner with PAC and support the PACsecure standards in the North American market,” says Calin Moldovean, president of Intertek’s Systems Certification group. “Third-party auditing to PACsecure will assure PAC members that they are proactively incorporating good manufacturing practices in their operations.”
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