Arrangement Between IAF and GFSI for the GFSI Program

17 September 2003 MLA-2003/5

Arrangement between IAF and GFSI for the GFSI program

Arrangement between IAF and GFSI for the GFSI program

1. Introduction

2. Customer expectations

3. Definitions

4. Additional requirements to CBs

5. MLA Process

6. Information procedure

7. Review

1. Introduction

1.1. In April 2000, a group of international retailer CEOs identified the need to enhance food safety, ensure consumer protection, strengthen consumer confidence, to set requirements for food safety schemes and to improve cost efficiency throughout the food supply chain. Following their lead, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was launched in May 2000. The Initiative is facilitated by CIES – The Food Business Forum. It is based on the principle that food safety is a non-competitive issue, as any potential problem arising may cause repercussions in the whole sector.

1.2 The key priorities of the Initiative are:

·  To implement a scheme to benchmark food safety standards world-wide

·  To build and implement an international early warning system

·  To encourage co-operation between the world-wide food sector and national and pan-national governments and authorities

·  To communicate the Initiative to all concerned parties and promote consumer education

·  To coordinate Good Retailing Practices

1.3 An international Task Force was formed soon after the launch of the Initiative to work on these priorities. The Task Force consists of retailer quality managers with expertise in food safety and quality management, and provides expertise and practical assistance on the technical aspects of the GFSI. It has since doubled in size and is now comprised of over 50 retailer quality managers whose companies represent 65% of food retail revenue world-wide.

1.4 In order to implement a scheme to benchmark food safety standards world-wide, the Task Force developed a Guidance Document in association with other stakeholders from within the food business (other retailers, manufacturers, certification and accreditation bodies and other associations within the food sector). The Document, which is now in its third edition, is publicly available through the CIES and GFSI web sites and an open request for comments and/or input to the document has been made on several occasions. The second version was also posted on the IAF web site.

1.5 The Guidance Document contains Requirements for Food Safety Schemes, A Benchmarking Procedure and Requirements and Guidance of Certification bodies (system), as well as an outline of the Key Elements, which serve as the requirements against which existing food safety standards will be benchmarked. The ‘Key Elements’ as defined by the Task Force are:

·  Food Safety Management Systems

·  Good Practices for Agriculture, Manufacturing and Distribution

·  HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) based on Codex Alimentarius

1.6 Compliance of GFSI program with “IAF Policy on Sector Schemes” (document IAF-PL-00-034)

1.6.1 Normative documents of GFSI program have been developed in an open and transparent manner, through a consensus process involving participation by eligible / qualified parties. An Expert Committee, comprised of retailers from the GFSI Task Force, has been created to benchmark food safety standards. A Stakeholder Group, involving various representatives from the food chain, as well as certification bodies has also been created, to participate in the benchmark procedure (see Annex 2). The results of the first set of benchmarking were published at the end of 2002.

The first four compliant food safety standards are:

·  BRC Global Standard - Food

·  Requirements for a HACCP based Food Safety System

·  EFSIS standard

·  International Standard for Auditing Food Suppliers (International Food Standard)

1.6.2 GFSI program is administered in an open and transparent manner, avoiding conflicts of interest or limitation on the acceptance of certification bodies or accreditation bodies other than technical considerations. GFSI agrees to use the expertise of IAF members and the IAF Product MLA with additional requirements of GFSI. To ensure the openness and transparency of the GFSI program, the following clauses have been included in the GFSI Guidance Document (3rd edition, January 2003):

“6.1.5.2 Development of the Requirements and Guidance for Certification Bodies

6.1.5.2.1 GFSI has set out the requirements for all certification bodies operating a conforming standard in Requirements and Guidance for Certification Bodies. Each certification body, operating a conforming standard must be accredited by an accreditation body which is a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and who is also signed up to the Multi Lateral Arrangement (MLA) of ISO/IEC Guide 65 for the operation of the standards within 12 months of first operating the standard (of which an application should be available at all times).

6.1.5.2.2 GFSI will maintain in its Guidance Document requirements as set out in ISO/IEC Guide 65 Clause 5.2 for Certification Body Personnel Qualification Criteria, Clause 13 for Surveillance and Clause 14 Use of Licenses, Certificates and Marks of Conformity in so far this clause relates to the use of the GFSI logo.

6.1.5.2.3  GFSI will ensure that clear, unambiguous and objective guidance is given on interpretation of the Guidance Document.”

“6.1.7.2.3 Application by a Certification Body

Where GFSI has announced compliance to the Guidance Document of a standard and certification system, certification bodies must apply for accreditation, under the scope of GFSI or one or more of its conforming standards, to accreditation bodies who are a member of the IAF and who are signed up to the MLA concerning ISO/IEC Guide 65.”

1.7 Market impact (cost/benefit analysis) of GFSI Program

One of the main objectives of the GFSI is to harmonise existing/new food safety standards and therefore reducing additional audit costs throughout the whole food supply chain. Advantages of this approach:

·  Reducing retailer visits to suppliers;

·  Reducing audit/certification costs for suppliers;

·  Reducing CB costs on training food safety auditors for each scheme;

·  Avoiding the addition of extra costs throughout the food supply chain;

·  Avoiding and reducing unnecessary product re-calls because of food safety problems.

The market impact will already be visible after the first year the IAF Product Certification MLA with GFSI programme has been implemented. Certain “metric parameters” will be included in a later stage to measure the effect and success of the GFSI/IAF programme.

2. Customer expectations

·  Confidence in issued certificates

·  Specific IAF Product MLA program

·  Ensuring global accreditation

·  Competent food safety auditors

·  Uniform audit approach and -reports

·  Fewer unnecessary product recalls

3. Definitions

Product Certification according to GFSI:

·  The product in the GFSI scheme is the suppliers’ process (incl. its food safety management system)

·  If applicable, testing of sampled products based on product standards

·  Testing means the validation and verification of suppliers’ process

4. Additional requirements to CBs

§  GFSI Guidance document:
GFSI Requirements for Food Safety Schemes, Food Safety standards and Certification Bodies
The GFSI Guidance document is meant to be as an additional requirement for CBs’ who want to get accredited against the GFSI scope.
This document has to be used by ABs’ when assessing CBs’.

§  The initial CB application for covering the GFSI Program will be assessed by the AB which shall always include a witness.

§  For each new GFSI approved standard an extension of the accreditation scope is needed, which will be performed in accordance with the ABs procedures.

§  The accreditation scope should include the GFSI approved normative document and scheme.

AB should insure that its assessment team to witness CBs assessment at a supplier should be competent in the food sector, as those for the CB auditor mentioned in the GFSI Guidance document.

5. MLA Process

·  IAF MLA Procedures & Policies on Industry specific programs

Additional requirements for GFSI:

Confidence building (Implementation) process:
In addition to the normal peer evaluation process, during each peer evaluation witnessing of selected certification assessments at suppliers should be performed against additional requirements for CB prescribed by GFSI.

The MLA Management Committee should insure to have competent evaluation personnel in the food sector to witness CBs assessment at a supplier. GFSI may co-operate with MLA management committee in offering the competent evaluation personnel.

The peer evaluation should be commenced within 12 months upon receiving the application for GFSI MLA Program from an AB.

Normal Process:

Once confidence has been established based on the above mentioned Confidence building process, GFSI will rely upon the outcome of the normal IAF MLA process.

6. Information procedure

§  Information from GFSI to IAF / ABs:

-  New GFSI approved standards and schemes

-  Revision of GFSI guidance documents

-  Feed back on the result from implementation of GFSI programmes

-  Complaints overview to ABs

§  Information from IAF / ABs to GFSI:
- Progress of the implementation of the program including each new accreditation
- Information from peer evaluations incl. non-conformities overview

7. Review

The liaison representative for GFSI from IAF will meet with the representatives of GFSI annually or more often in case necessary for a management review of the GFSI Program.

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