EU Compliance & Food Establishment Audits
Food Control Consultants Ltd (FCC) provides independent audits and technical advice to food businesses seeking to demonstrate compliance with EU food safety and hygiene requirements and other applicable regulatory and market standards.
Our audits combine detailed assessment of production facilities with review of food safety management systems, documentation and operational practices. The objective is not simply to identify deficiencies, but to provide practical advice on how compliance can be achieved and maintained.
Key Benefits
- Independent assessment of compliance with relevant EU requirements
- Identification of regulatory and food safety deficiencies
- Assessment of prerequisite programmes, GHP/GMP and HACCP
- Improved food safety, hygiene and product quality
- Preparation for inspections by competent authorities, customers and international audit missions
- Practical recommendations and corrective-action planning
- Independent verification that corrective measures have been effectively implemented
Compliance Audits
FCC can undertake comprehensive audits of food production and processing establishments.
The audit normally includes a physical inspection of premises, production areas, equipment and operations, together with an assessment of the establishment’s internal food safety controls.
Areas examined may include:
- structure, layout and product flow;
- premises, installations and equipment;
- maintenance and cleaning;
- operational hygiene;
- pest control;
- water and utilities;
- temperature controls;
- staff hygiene and training;
- prerequisite programmes;
- HACCP;
- traceability and recall;
- documentation and record keeping.
The precise scope is adapted to the type of establishment, products concerned and applicable regulatory requirements.
Following the audit, FCC provides a report identifying deficiencies, their significance and areas requiring corrective action.
Corrective Action and Follow-up
Identifying a deficiency is only the first step. FCC can work with management to determine practical and proportionate corrective measures.
Where an apparent deficiency could require significant investment, careful assessment is particularly important. In some cases compliance can be achieved through changes to procedures, workflow, management systems or relatively limited modifications rather than major capital expenditure.
FCC can assist in developing corrective-action plans, setting priorities and subsequently verifying implementation.
Preparing for Official and Customer Audits
Food establishments supplying regulated or export markets must be able to demonstrate compliance continuously — not only on the day of an inspection.
FCC therefore places particular emphasis on the effectiveness of internal controls and the documentation needed to demonstrate that those controls are consistently applied.
Independent assessment can help establishments prepare for inspections and audits undertaken by competent authorities, customers, certification bodies and international assessment missions, including those associated with access to the EU market.
Continuous Independent Assessment
Personnel working within the same establishment over long periods can become accustomed to conditions and practices that an independent auditor may identify immediately.
Periodic external assessment provides management with an objective view of hygiene, food safety and regulatory compliance and can identify developing problems before they become significant non-compliances.
FCC can provide regular independent assessments tailored to the needs and risk profile of the establishment.
Experience
FCC’s specialists combine experience in official food controls, food industry auditing, HACCP, veterinary public health and EU food legislation.
This combination of regulatory and practical industry knowledge allows us to assess not only whether a requirement is being met, but also how an establishment can achieve compliance in a workable and sustainable manner.
Contact FCC
Contact Food Control Consultants Ltd to discuss an independent compliance audit, preparation for an official inspection or customer audit, or assistance with corrective-action planning.