SETSCO Services provides professional HACCP Consultancy services for the food industry in the region. Our experienced consultants will guide the company from conceptualisation of HACCP all the way to certification. The consusltants will also provide the relevant training for the staff of the company.

What is HACCP?
The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is an internationally recognised food safety assurance tool based on the prevention and control of food safety problems relevant for many sectors of the food indutry. There is an increasing trend of HACCP being made a requirement for market entry by regulators and buyers in countries like US, Europe, UK, Australia, Canada etc. Local legislation bodies are also encouraging the food industry in implementing HACCP system. In fact, AVA has indicated that HACCP systems may become mandatory for all food manufacturers in 3-5 years' time.

The HACCP System is all encompassing - i.e. it covers all areas of the food chain from primary production, processing, packaging, storage and distribution until the point of customer consumption. Thus, any food organisation concerned with any part of the above food chain can have HACCP systems implemented.

Implementation and certification are based on internationally recognized Codex Alimentarius Commission's standards on "Recommended International Code of Practice-General Principles of Food Hygiene" and Singapore Standard 444: 1998.

What is required for HACCP?

There are several requirements for HACCP. The important ones are listed as follows:

The management of the company must take the lead in making food safety a priority and raising the awareness of their employees for the HAACP system. They must also provide adequate resources to ensure that the HACCP system can be implemented, maintained and continuously improved.

A multi-disciplinary HACCP Team needs to be appointed by the company. This will include a management representative, an operations QA/QC and maintenance personnel. A microbiologist will also be required. Alternatively, Setsco can provide a microbiologist should the company require one.

Pre-requisite programmes should be in place before the HACCP System can be implemented. These are to cover the following:

• cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures) in areas of :
• design, construction and condition of premises and equipment
• Good practices in food handling
• Cleaning and sanitation programmes
• Calibration programmes and schedules
• Personal hygiene
• Pest control programme
• Traceability
• Supplier approval programme
• Product recall programme
• Product testing programme
• Internal audit programme

Contact Person:

Ms Chitra Radhakrishnan
HACCP Consultant
SETSCO SERVICES PTE LTD
18 Teban Gardens Crescent
Singapore 608925
Tel: 65-6566-7777
Fax: 65-6566-7718
Email: chitra@setsco.com