In a perfect world we would just have one food safety standard for compliance. Unfortunately, there are a myriad of standards ranging from local and export food law, GFSI recognised standards and additional customer requirements. Managing these various standards separately can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Implementing an integrated food safety system is key. In this post explore how to integrate multiple requirements into one cohesive system.
What is an integrated food safety system?
An integrated food safety system is a unified management approach that consolidates multiple food safety requirements – including legal regulations, GFSI standards, and customer specifications – into one comprehensive system. This integration is supported by standard-specific ‘mapping’ documents that help locate where specific requirements are addressed within your system.
Benefits of an integrated food safety system
Implementing an integrated food safety system offers numerous advantages:
- Reducing complexity by minimising business documentation.
- Employees only need to refer to one single system therefore making implementation, maintenance and improvement easier.
- Better performance of the entire system due to a single focus.
- Saves valuable internal human resources by avoiding duplication or triplication required to manage multiple systems.
- Cost reductions in employee training, internal review and external certification auditing.
Getting Started
While creating an integrated system may seem daunting, success comes from taking methodical steps and thoroughly understanding your compliance requirements. Begin by mapping out all applicable standards and identifying overlapping requirements.
You can then assess the compliance of your current document, policy, procedure or form against each requirement. This completed mapping document can then become your anchor point for each Standard or regulatory requirement.
The diagram below shows visually how to tie all of your documentation and systems together.
One document, multiple standards
The key is developing documentation that simultaneously satisfies multiple standards. For instance, rather than maintaining separate pest control procedures for different certifications, create a comprehensive program that addresses all relevant requirements in a single, well-organised document. The diagram above shows examples of different document formats including policies, procedures and forms.
Expand to other management systems
The integration approach extends beyond food safety management. If your business maintains certifications for workplace safety, environmental compliance, sustainability, or quality management, you can incorporate all these into a single integrated management system.
Final Thoughts
An integrated food safety system is not just about combining documents – it’s about creating a more efficient, effective approach to food safety management. While the initial setup requires careful planning and effort, the long-term benefits of streamlined operations, reduced complexity, and improved compliance make it a worthwhile investment for any food business.
Remember that integration is an ongoing process that should evolve with your business needs and changing regulatory requirements.
