HACCP: MAINTAINING PACIFIC TRADE THROUGH REMOTE AUDIT AND CERTIFICATION

To trade successfully in agricultural and horticultural export markets, there is increasing pressure on exporters to comply with food safety and quality standards that can be independently verified by a third party. This may be a regulatory requirement for market access and/or an opportunity to capture a market that offers a premium price for high-quality produce. A food safety management system based on HACCP principles is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards whether microbiological, chemical, or physical, that could pose a threat to the production of safe food. It involves identifying what could go wrong in a food system and planning how to prevent it. HACCP certification is increasingly preferred by customers and, whilst a company may have an excellent HACCP plan, going through the process of certification ensures that this plan is independently verified to meet all relevant compliance standards.