AIB International has released a new series of updated standards that will go into production on January 1, 2017. The standards were updated primarily to adjust them to clients’ needs such as eliminating parts that have become unnecessary to maintain the inspection focus, as well as to make the requirements more accurate and current.
New requirements and clauses have been added to keep on top of best practices for food safety. A main aim of the new standards is to reinforce the risk-based, rather than prescriptive, approach of the standards, and this can be seen in many subtle and significant changes across the requirements.
Looking in more detail into the Prerequisite & Food Safety Programs Standard and taking the five categories of the AIB Consolidated Standards for Inspection separately, main changes include:
- Operational Practices. New requirements regarding allergen handling, since this has been a great food safety concern and the main reason for recalls on a global level. Other changes also made to abstain from prescriptive approach, such as with perimeter clearance and waste container handling.
- Maintenance for Food Safety. Eliminated section on security equipment as this depends on the food defense vulnerability assessment. New requirements on equipment calibration
- Cleaning Practices. 11 clauses to better capture cleaning conditions. New clauses on operational cleaning (line change-overs) and clean out of place.
- Integrated Pest Management. New requirement for an in-house technically responsible person to monitor execution of IPM activities; more detail in the requirement regarding the facility assessment; risk-based approach to placement and frequency of inspection for monitoring devices.
- Adequacy of the Prerequisite & Food Safety Programs. Eliminated parts to maintain inspection focus; updated requirements include economically motivated adulteration/food fraud as related to food safety and supply chain control.
For more information, visit www.aibonline.org.