Though documentation process is not directly related to the food safety and good hygiene practices when it comes to food industries, it is so vital according to all important international food safety standards such as ISO 22000, BRC, IFS etc., The documentation process is audited seperately from production process for certification of the above mentioned food safety standards.
The documents which has to be maintained includes,
- The quality manual
- All system operating procedures
- Formats for proper maintenance of the procedures- document control, production process, HACCP control and update, read control, reception, storage, despatch, training, Management, GMP, GHP, Sanitation, Pest control etc.,
- Raw materials specifications
- Product specifications
- COAs of raw materials and as well as products
Properly updating the documents and maintaining the important records are essential to have a well implemented FSMS- Food Safety Management System.
Food Safety Management System Documentation
Your system will need to be documented in the form of policies, objectives, procedures and records. The typical documented management system is made up of four levels of documentation:
Food Safety Management System Manual (with policies), Procedures, Work Instructions, and Forms and Records.
Documenting your processes
You will need to document procedures called out by the standard as well as those required to ensure control of other processes in your FSMS.
This means that your FSMS will have more documented procedures than just those specifically named in the standard but these procedures will be useful documents. They will ensure that processes are being done as management planned and approved. Conversely, they will ensure that management knows how processes are being performed.
Specific procedures required by the standard are:
Control of Documents, Control of Records, Control of unsafe product, Corrections, Corrective Actions, Withdrawals and Internal Audits.
Documented procedures will also make sure that different people perform the process the same way. You will not be writing the procedure and putting it in a book on the shelf to collect dust, you will be building a system where documented and work instructions will become an important and integral part of your system.
Simplifying your documentation project
If you have decided to set up ISO 22000 in your company then you know that you will need to write procedures and forms that document your food safety system. We put a complete ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System at your fingertips.
Related
