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TUV USA BLOG

We bring you up to date on developments in standards, certification schemes especially when they are going to impact your certificate, certification mark or inspection. But we also like to keep you informed of the expansion of our portfolio with new services, developing our accreditation, press releases and news from industry associations and foundations. Keep receiving our updates regularly for the latest news.

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Unique Features of GFSI Benchmarked Standards for Food Manufacturers

2.28.2018

By: Lori Carlson & Paul Fallaw

Topic: Food Safety

 

Maintaining compliance with the requirements of a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked scheme is a long-term marriage between the site, its elected certification body (CB), and the scheme owner; once the commitment is made, you’re in it for the long haul. Four popular schemes available to food manufacturers include the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000, International Featured Standards (IFS) Food standard, and Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Food Safety Code for Manufacturing.

Each scheme is fundamentally similar as it is based on a core set of minimum standards established by the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements document (also known as the GFSI Guidance Document). This provides a framework for scheme owners (also known as certification program owners or CPOs) in establishing and maintaining certification standards and audit protocols, which result in certified food safety management systems (FSMS) of similar quality and effectiveness. At the most basic level, the benchmarking document requires scheme owners to develop standards that contain a core set of FSMS programs based on current, global regulation/ guidance and industry best practices. Notably, some of these programs include a food safety (HACCP) plan, good manufacturing practices (GMPs), food defense plan, food fraud vulnerability assessment, and supplier management program. However, each scheme offers a unique structure, set of requirements, and protocol for assessing a manufacturing site’s food safety system to meet both GFSI requirements and scheme stakeholder input. continue reading...

What’s new in issue 8: BRC Global Standard for Food Safety

12.21.2017
By: Lori Carlson & Paul Fallaw 
Topic: Food Safety

Issue 8 of BRC’s Food Safety Standard is out for public comment and TUV USA is excited about the proposed new changes! At first glance, it’s hard to miss new sections 8 and 9 and about two dozen new clauses, but what results is a food safety management standard improved in the areas of efficiency, functionality, and consolidated industry best practices. Are you curious about issue 8, new requirements, and how to get involved and comment? Read on as TUV highlights some of our key takeaways from the upgraded Standard.

While two new sections may seem daunting at first glance, BRC has its stakeholders’ best interests at heart with streamlined efficiency and enhanced competency in food safety management and certification. All high risk, high care, and ambient high care requirements are now centralized in section 8, which lends itself to more focused management and auditing against high risk/ high care requirements where applicable. Section 9 incorporates voluntary module, Traded Goods, which is now under the framework of an accredited standard providing increased confidence in the certificated module. While section 9 remains voluntary in issue 8, non-conformities assigned against section 9 requirements will now be included in a site’s audit grade. keep reading..

 

 

What Do Class I Recall Trends Tell Us About Food Safety Management?

11.15.2017
By: Lori Carlson & Ashley Smejkal 
Topic: Food Safety

Over the past five years, the U.S. food industry—and those supplying the U.S.—have seen regulatory expansion in food production and handling systems with the advent of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). But, what impact have the mandated controls and management system requirements had on keeping contaminated food out of the marketplace. As 2018 draws near, TUV USA was curious to examine Class I recall trends of the past five years as a barometer of enhanced food safety management success.

Since 2013 (pre-FSMA implementation), the number of Class I recall events has steadily climbed, including the number of recalls for (potential) contamination from Listeria monocytogenes, which remains on the rise in 2017.   read more... 

 

 

 

Identity Preservation and Food Safety: Natural Partners

10.12.2017
By: Lori Carlson & Ashley Smejkal 
Topic: Food Safety

In last month’s white paper, Managing cross-contamination and cross-contact across the food supply chain, TUV USA touched on cross-contact risks and controls for identity preserved foods. In this month’s newsletter, we are expanding the discussion by focusing on those elements of identity preservation (IP) systems aimed at preventing cross-contact, commingling, mislabeling, and false claims.

Generally speaking, IP systems reflect practices, which ensure the purity and integrity of a food commodity or product.* This includes organic, non-GMO and gluten-free production systems. At first glance, components of an IP system may seem adjunct to a food safety management system (FSMS) where the primary focus is the production of food, which ensures consumer safety. Rather, these systems are natural partners and should be aligned for maximum effectiveness as both build off of supply chain transparency (i.e., visibility across supply chain operations beyond tier-1 suppliers). READ MORE ⇒

 

 

5 Reasons Why Investing in Employee Training is Essential

10.11.17
By Katie Lehoulier
Topic: Training Academy

Companies increasingly require employees with proven knowledge specifically tailored to their functions within the organization. Investing in your employee shows how you value them as a worker and certifies a person's competence to perform certain practices. Here are 5 reasons why investing in your employees training is essential to growth and successful in your business.  Read More...

 

 

Quality Topics

More with IATF 16949 Part 1: Product Safety
One of the new requirements of IATF 16949 standard is expressed on clause 4.4.1.2 about product safety. At first view, it sounds an originally new and fresh requirement which needs a lot to do in implementation. But reviewing the requirement it makes reader to -ask a principal question: “Does this new requirement about product safety mean that ISO/TS16949 was an unripe specification about product safety?”
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8 Mistakes Your QMS Makes
A Quality Management System – any management system, is only as good as the sum of its parts. Lots of things go right, and we all try our best. Yet, out in the world I see the same mistakes over and over again. I want to share those things with you now. Here they are, in a particular order. 1st of 8 Mistakes: Focusing on Manufacturing
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Training Effectiveness Guide for Quality Management Systems
Verification of training effectiveness is required by most of the frequently used management system standards. Even companies with well-established training programs struggle with how to evaluate and moreover, how to realize value from their efforts. Naturally, I see many methods of verification of training effectiveness in my audits – sometimes inspiring, sometimes – not so much. At the very least, it all makes me think. Without giving away anyone’s secrets, I thought I’d share my own thoughts.
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Medical Systems Topics

Quality in the Medical Device Industry
What is quality, and why does it matter? Quality is defined as the “measure of excellence or a state of being free from defects, deficiencies and significant variations,” (WebFinance Inc.). In today’s competitive industries, manufacturers need to keep a multifaceted approach with their products to be profitable – not only do the products need to be manufactured quickly, but they need to be high quality. Especially in the medical industry, it is no longer acceptable just to produce the cheapest, fastest product possible. Manufacturers are expected to reduce costs across the board while maintaining high quality standards – consumers want it all. This can leave upper management in a difficult position where they are pressured by stakeholders to choose between these two goals. It’s a delicate balance that must be maintained.
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Myths and Facts of the FDA's Role in Medical Device Cyber Security
View this FDA Fact Sheet filled with the Myths and Facts of the FDA's Role in Medical Device Cyber Security
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Data Security Topics

WannaCry Ransomware Exposing Cybersecurity Flaws
What is ransomware? What is WannaCry (also known as Wanna Decryptor and Wcry)? And, more importantly, how does this relate to the Medical Device/Healthcare industry? These are questions I hope to answer. I have provided a references guide at the end of the post for anyone who wants to know more about this topic, or for verification purposes. Because of the severity of this situation, it is recommended that professionals continue following the WannaCry Ransomware attack as it develops further.
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Connectivity and the Threat to Data Security
In the modern world, technology is pervasive. It impacts all areas of life from basic human interaction to how we shape and work with the world around us. From its inception in the 1980s, the internet has been a growing part of technology, encouraging increasing connectivity and the growth of the IoT (Internet of Things). The invention of the computer replaced many older-fashioned technologies (or was incorporated into them). For example, various versions of the cash register have been around for centuries. Modern versions include computers that talk to each other and the company’s network – some even helping to track inventory.
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Data Protection Management Systems and the GDPR
The clocks are ticking down to May 25 2018, the day when GDPR becomes effective. The GDPR (or the General Data Protection Regulation) will require that all European Union and EEA member states adopt GDPR into their local legislation by this date. What does this mean for companies selling products and services in the EU and the EEA? It simply means you need to comply with GDPR which apply to the product and/or service being sold – not all regulations included in the GDPR will be applicable to all companies. In this article, we discuss some tips on complying and staying up to date the GDPR regulations.
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Food Safety Topics

Managing cross-contamination and cross-contact across the food supply chain
Cross-contamination and allergen cross-contact incidents are frequently indicated as causes of food recalls. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Reports, food products recalled from January 1 through August 30, 2017 due to contamination from pathogens was approximately 40%; those from undeclared allergens also accounted for approximately 40%.(1) While the specific cause of contamination events from pathogens or the presence of allergens in non-labelled product is not always known at the time of reporting, cross-contamination and cross-contact incidents are often later identified as likely contributing factors.
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FSMA Implementation: What to Expect from FDA in 2017
The BRC Food Safety Americas Conference welcomed Sharon Mayl, Senior Advisor for Policy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who spoke on FDA’s progress regarding FSMA implementation. As Mayl reviewed FDA’s two-phased approach to FSMA implementation, the focus of FDA’s in progress and future FSMA work quickly turned to Phase 2—developing strategies to promote and oversee industry compliance. With a large degree of phase 1 (i.e., setting standards) completed through the issue of final rule making in 2015 and 2016, as well as a fair number of guidance documents for rule interpretation published in 2016, what can we expect from FDA in 2017 and beyond?
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