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Food industry gets new pest management services standard

HACCP Australia has released a new ‘world’s best practice standard’ for pest management services in the food industry.

Pest control is one of the major issues affecting food safety. It accounts for a significant number of food safety incidents, recalls, audit non-conformance and actions by state health departments.

According to the company, the new standard meets international best practice, both in its development and in terms of the standard itself; and will make a huge contribution to reducing food safety incidents. It can be used to ensure a consistently high standard of service, performance and outcomes in pest control within food handling facilities.

The standard has been developed by expert food technologists at HACCP Australia, together with a review committee comprising food manufacturers, retailers, auditors and pest management companies.

“This is a world first. There are number of guidelines around but guidelines are only that – guidelines. A standard allows for absolute performance measurement and can be used as a minimum criterion for food companies and pest management service providers. Companies operating HACCP programmes need to give their contractors a precise set of measurable expectations and companies certified to this standard will be able to demonstrate their ability to deliver exactly that which is required, said Clive Withinshaw, a director of HACCP Australia.

“It will be a really useful tool both here in Australia and overseas. It has been years in development and the very hard work put in by so many people will at last offer a real benefit to our industry and a reduction in food safety risk and non-conformances.”

All pest management service providers that are currently certified by the company will be audited against this standard after a transition period. New applicants will be audited to this standard henceforth.

The standard is available at no charge to food businesses and contractors. It can be downloaded here.

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