Global Trends in Accreditation & Certification

26 August 2010, SQFI Conference, Melbourne

Jackie Pelham, JAS-ANZ Client Manager

Overview – Definitions

• IAF = International Accreditation Forum • PAC = Pacific Accreditation Cooperation• EA – The European Cooperation for Accreditation• JAS-ANZ = Joint Accreditation System Australia & New

Zealand.• GFSI = Global Food Safety Initiative• SQFI = Safe Quality Food Institute• CAB = Conformity Assessment Body = Certification

Body• FSSC = Foundation for Food Safety Certification• BSI = British Standards Institution

International Accreditation International Accreditation InfrastructureInfrastructure

Pacific Accreditation Forum (PAC)

European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA)

Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC)

International Accreditation International Accreditation InfrastructureInfrastructure

International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

Southern African Development Community in Accreditation (SADCA)

Supplier

IAF/EA SIGNATORY

Certification Bodies

Supplier

IAF/PAC SIGNATORY

Certification Bodies

CO

NF

IDE

NC

E

CO

NF

IDE

NC

E

ACCREDITS ACCREDITS

CERTIFIES CERTIFIES

MUTUAL RECOGNITION

Overview – What is accreditation?

• Accreditation is an endorsement of a conformity assessment body’s (CAB's):– Competence.– Credibility.– Independence and– Integrity in carrying out its conformity assessment activities.

• Benefits of accreditation include:– Highlight competence.– Gain international recognition.– Benchmark performance.

Overview – Types of accreditation

• Management Systems: Framework of processes and procedures used to ensure that an organisation can fulfil all tasks required to achieve its objectives.

• Product: Means of demonstrating that a product, process, or service satisfies specified requirements.

• Inspection: Examination of a product design, product, process or installation and determination of its conformity with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional judgement, with general requirements.

Overview – What is Certification?

• Certification is "third party attestation related to products, processes, systems or persons."

• Benefits of Certification include:– Instil confidence and trust in supply chain.– Market recognition.– Market entry including access to international.– Reduction of costs eg. Reduce waste and duplication of

processes resulting in cost minimisation.

Food Related Schemes

BRC (UK) SQF (USA) GG (Europe)

Processing onlyGFSI recognised

On farmProcessingGFSI recognised

On farm only

Food Related Schemes

LEAF Marque Clean Green Australian Southern

Rock Lobster

On farm“Links environment & farming”

•Pot to plate•Industry owned scheme (Southern Rocklobster Ltd.)

Food Related Schemes

ISO 22000 (PAS 220)(BSI – UK)

FSSC 22000

On farmProcessing

Pre-requisite programs

ISO 22000Includes PAS 220Processing onlyGFSI recognised

Food Related Schemes

PrimeSafe

•Victoria onlyRegulatory schemeMeat, poultry, smallgoods, retail butcher, seafood etc

Food Related Schemes

Inspection & Verification of HACCP based

food safety programs (NZ)

Official Assurances Program for

Live Animals & Animal

Germplasm (NZ)

Official Organics

Assurances Program (NZ)

NZFSA schemeApproval of auditors & organisations

MAF scheme NZFSA schemeExport to EU

Food Related Schemes

Recognised Agency – Bee Products (NZ)

Recognised Agency – Dairy Products (NZ)

NZFSA schemeApproval of auditors & organisationsExport

Export

Global Trends – Accreditation

• IAF working groups/technical committees established to address a wide range of issues or areas. Two committees worth mentioning that relate to the food area.

• IAF Technical Committee Task Force.– Accreditation Market Surveillance.– Validation visits (Surveillance activities for direct confirmation of

certification effectiveness).– One of the proposed Accreditation Body tools – not routine ie. Need

to be trigger mechanisms to initiate process.– Not a repeat of a CB audit.– Focus would be on critical issues and confirmation of validity of

certificates.

Global Trends – Accreditation

• IAF Working Group.– Food safety management system working group.– Harmonisation of food safety management systems.

• GFSI decision to recognise food safety management systems.

• Brief of working group modified to include more than ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22003 as a result of this decision.

Global Trends – Accreditation/Certification

• Social responsibility.• Environmental responsibility.• Organic products.• Addressing needs of the market.• Scheme owners adding modules to existing

schemes.• SQFI & BRC – FSSC 22000 benchmarking in

progress.

Global Trends – Social Responsibility

• Covers child labour, working conditions – hours, discrimination, forced labour, health and safety….

• Scheme owners including modules to addressed.• Eg. SQFI – Ethical sourcing module.

Global Trends – Environmental Responsibility

• Sustainability. – recycling, solar energy, waste disposal…

• There are over 8000 EMS (ISO 14001 – environmental management systems) certified clients world-wide (From JAS-ANZ accredited CB’s).

• Increase in multiple certifications of suppliers ie. More than one standard such as food and environment or combined.

• Green House Gas Verification (JAS-ANZ now accredits Verification Bodies) – much interest.

Global Trends – Organic Food (Local)

• Organic sector the fastest growing food sector in Australia (AS6000/MP100).

• A high-value market where products sell for a considerable premium.

• Organic foods popular with consumers who:– Want to avoid consuming Agvet chemicals including pesticides– Support sustainable agricultural practices– Are concerned about animal welfare, and/or– Believe that organic food is tastier and more nutritious

But despite these consumer expectations…

Global Trends – Organic Foods (Local)

• No regulatory standard previously but many private standards – confusing for the consumer.

• The two main international organic standards – Codex and IFOAM – were referenced during development of AS6000/MP100.

• Published around 12 months ago.

Global Trends – GFSI & Scheme Owners

• GFSI: Benchmarking schemes – inclusive of food safety management systems now.

• Private standards looking at becoming accredited certification eg. Freshcare.

• Push in private standard recognition at global level.

Global Trends – Certification

• Combined audits of integrated systems or consolidation of existing standards/schemes.

• CB’s seeking internationally recognised schemes for accreditation.

• Challenge for auditors to audit multiple schemes at the one audit eg. SQF, Woolworths, Coles, HACCP…

Global Trends – Why are there different standards?

• There are a number of different standards for suppliers/end-users to choose from – why??

• Multiple standards not in best interest of trade.

• Harmonistation of food safety standards has been discussed at IAF, GFSI etc levels BUT…..

• To develop one global standard, there are a number of complex issues, such as legislative, political and cultural differences, that would be extremely difficult to overcome.

Global Trends – Why are there different standards?

• Different supplier/end-user needs.

• Challenge for AB’s/CB’s is to find the balance in meeting end-user needs and providing confidence in the AB/CB processes.

• In absence of global standard, benchmarking provides an equivalent outcome.

QUESTIONS?