1. IFST Food Auditing Conference
Why Are We Where We Are?
The Origins and Development of Third Party Verification
Kevin Swoffer
KPS Resources

2. Nat and the Stones Marks & Spencer Food Division founded in 1948
Directive of Work dated 1st November 1948 listed;
Control of raw materials
Specifications for use of raw materials
Inspection of finished products including production
Source: Thought for Food, Food Trade Press
ISBN:

3. The Rationale For The Development of Retailer Brand Standards
to assure product safety
to provide brand protection
to meet legislative requirements
to promote business improvement and efficiency
to promote consumer confidence

4. Food Safety Act 1990
Under section 21 of the FSA the definition of the ‘due diligence’ defence is as follows : “...it shall...be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence by himself or by a person under his control”

5. Requirements for the Retailer Own Brand
b) satisfy themselves that the intended supplier is competent to produce and/or process the product specified, that he complies with all relevant legal requirements and that he operates systems of production control in accordance with good manufacturing or agricultural practise;
from time to time make visits to suppliers, where practical, the verify point b) or to receive the result of any other audit of the suppliers systems for that purpose;
Source: Food Safety Act 1990 Guidelines on the Statutory Defence of Due Diligence Feb 1991
NCC LACOTS The Institute of Environmental Health Officers NFU The Retail Consortium FDF

6. The “Free for All”
Retailer technical resources were reducing and under pressure
Third Party Inspection was seen as a means of meeting legal compliance but freeing resource
no “standard” approach
confusion and conflict

7. Status of UK Retailers - Nov 1996
third party and own inspection with some 20 approved Auditors
did not accept any third party but introduced their own self auditing scheme
did not accept any third party and inspected using their own technologists
accepted a limited number of third party inspection bodies and undertake some inspections by their own technologists
accepted a limited number of third party inspection bodies
SAFEWAY
SAINSBURY
TESCO
ASDA
SOMERFIELD

8. UK Food Safety Standards 1996

9. The Development of the BRC Technical Food Standard
Supplier/Retail Customer Standard which sits within a company’s systems and procedures
derived from UK Retailer Codes of Practice and Inspection Standards
satisfied the requirement for Retailers to inspect their own brand suppliers under the UK Food Safety Act, Due Diligence Defence
superseded the inspections carried out by the individual Retailer’s technical staff
driven by efficiency, cost and sharing of “best practice”

10. The Development of the BRC Technical Food Standard
Problems
“new ground”; very competitive organisations working together
focussed on own sector, no requirement to worry about anyone else
some more “active/ committed ” than others
protectionism experienced both Company and individual
compromise
continual change in member group technical teams throughout development
Source Food Marketing Institute Conference New Orleans November K Swoffer

11. The Future of the Standard
re-establish the co-operation of 1997/1998
meet CIES requirements and look toward other Standards
improve systems
change the stance of ‘job done’
BRC to provide a stable environment to develop Standards and relationships
think “outside the box”
recognition of “good but need to be better!”
Source Food Marketing Institute Conference New Orleans November K Swoffer

12. Lessons Learnt! non commercial non recognition of success
mis-understanding of individuals and recognition to fully comply
the need for review
the need to ensure everyone is ‘running at the same speed’
the need to control services to the process
the need to take the next step - we ‘stopped’ too soon
Source Food Marketing Institute Conference New Orleans November K Swoffer

13. Development of Schemes
Best Practices
GFSI Recognised
Schemes
Private and ISO Standards
BRC/ IFS/ SQF/ ISO 22000
Codex - HACCP Principles - GMP
Legislation - Food Law
Product Specific / Customer Specific Requirements
Schemes
Standards
Principles
Requirements

14. Standard vs Scheme
Standard
Protocol
Scheme

15. Developing Scheme Systems 1998-2011
Inspection
Product Certification
No Certification Body Contract
Formal Certification
Body Contract
No Resources
Resources
No Database
Web Enabled
Database
System
No Training
Approved Training
Scheme
No Integrity
Programme
Integrity

16. Global Food Safety Institutive
GFSI launched at the CIES Annual Congress in 2000, following a directive from the food business CEOs.
Food Safety was then, and is still, top of mind with consumers. Consumer trust needs to be strengthened and maintained, while making the supply chain safer.
Managed by The Consumer Goods Forum

17. « Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere »
GFSI Mission
Driving continuous improvement in food safety to strengthen consumer confidence worldwide
GFSI Objectives
GFSI
Reduce food safety risks
Manage cost
Develop competencies and capacity building
Knowledge exchange and networking
VISION : « Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere »
MISSION : “Driving continuous improvement in food safety to strengthen consumer confidence worldwide ”
OBJECTIVES :
Reduce food safety risks by delivering equivalence and convergence between effective food safety management systems
Manage cost in the global food system by eliminating redundancy and improving operational efficiency
Develop competencies and capacity building in food safety to create consistent and effective global food systems
Provide a unique international stakeholder platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and networking

18. GFSI Breakthrough – June 2007
The following companies came to a common
acceptance of GFSI benchmarked standards, and
now many other companies have followed suit
In June 2007, the following companies announced their common acceptance of GFSI benchmarked standards at post farm gate level, meaning once a facility is certified by any of the benchmark schemes, the results will be recognized uniformly.
This was a significant moment for the GFSI, given that the buying power this group represents is enormous, representing approximately 740 billion US dollars across 325,000 stores worldwide.
Now even more companies are accepting GFSI in their supply chains.

19. Benchmarking – What does this mean
Benchmarking – What does this mean? « Once certified, accepted everywhere »
These are the schemes which have currently been recognised by GFSI.

20. Some Companies Now Accepting GSFI Recognised Schemes
These are just some of the companies accepting GFSI-recognised schemes in their supply chains, and as GFSI becomes increasingly global there are many others. 20

21. GFSI Guidance Document
Objectives
Sets out the requirements for food safety management schemes and the key elements for the production of food and feed
Provides guidance to schemes seeking compliance with the GFSI Guidance Document and recognition by the GFSI
Defines the requirements for the effective management and control of conforming schemes
Puts in place transparent procedures for the GFSI benchmarking process

22. Scheme Development and Maintenance Scheme Governance Scheme Management
Requirements for Food Safety Management Scheme Ownership and Management
Scheme scope
Scheme Development and Maintenance
Scheme Governance
Scheme Management
GFSI Relationship

23. Food Safety Service Providers
Accredited 3rd Party Certification
(GFSI Model)
GFSI
Global Food Safety Initiative
IAF*
International Accreditation Forum
ISO
International Standards Organisation
SCHEME
Standard + Mgmt System AB
Accreditation Body CB
Certification Body
AUDITOR
Cons:
Oversight adds costs
High std for emerging markets
Pros:
Benchmarking of schemes
Consistent delivery of Schemes
Multi-stakeholder approach
Acceptance by industry
Requirements for schemes & auditors
Site

24. GFSI Certificates Globally in 2010
Jürgen Matern
Total certificates worldwide for primary production and manufacturing is
At the end of 2008, we were at certificates, so this demonstrates the uptake in the marketplace of working with GFSI.
Europe 65886
Eastern Europe
12710 USA
11640 South America
8179 Asia 7209
Central America 5002
Africa 4942
Australasia 2866
Canada 1296
Caribbean 99

25. Thank you for attention
Kevin Swoffer