HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a system designed to ensure food and beverage hygiene and quality. Its goal is to analyze and identify key points in a process where potential physical, biological, and chemical hazards could occur, and to implement measures to prevent, limit, or eliminate these risks at all stages of handling a product.
Specifically, it is a system which :
► analyses the company's activities and products, its suppliers, customers, equipment, personnel and the security risks involved, and concludes
► on the critical control points that the business must check and the good practices that it must implement to ensure the health and safety of its customers
HACCP is a requirement of both European and Greek legislation and applies to all businesses and organizations of any size, whether public or private, involved in the production, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of food, beverages, and animal feed.
► Evaluate and improve infrastructure (buildings, equipment, etc.) to ensure hygiene and safety.
► Establish a HACCP team with the knowledge and experience to develop and implement an effective HACCP system.
► Map out processes and product characteristics that the business handles in flow charts (production, storage, transportation, etc.).
► Identify and assess potential risks and determine preventive measures to control them.
► Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs), where monitoring is essential to limit hazards within acceptable levels.
► Set up monitoring systems for each CCP.
► Establish corrective actions that are implemented if monitoring indicates that a CCP is out of control.
► Implement verification procedures to confirm that the HACCP system works effectively, including sampling plans and laboratory analysis.
► Develop records to demonstrate the application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), including pest control files, cleaning and sanitation logs, water quality checks, and staff hygiene protocols.
► Set up an effective record-keeping system for HACCP documentation.
►Train staff on Hygiene Rules, on Good ► Practices for Food Hygiene and Critical Control Point Monitoring
► Inspect the implementation of the above steps and take corrective measures when needed.