The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has announced a new set of Benchmarking Requirements at its annual conference, taking place in Seattle this week.
During the opening plenary of the conference, which is being attended by more than 1,000 food distributors, manufacturers and safety professionals, the group said that the new GFSI Benchmarking Requirements offer a 'complete rethink', which represent the 'beginning of a new generation of recognition'.
The new requirements have been named 'Version 2020', and the GFSI plans to align the name of each subsequent set of standards with the year of release.
"Version 2020 has set a new foundation for ensuring safe food globally,” commented Olivier Robin, head of quality by design and quality in manufacturing and compliance at Nestlé, and chair of the Stakeholders Advisory Forum that helped to shape Version 2020. “Specifically, it has introduced new requirements for food safety certification, while simplifying and standardising the approach.
"I am very proud to have been part of this achievement, which was only possible thanks to the engagement of everyone in the Stakeholders Advisory Forum and my colleagues at GFSI."
About the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements
The GFSI Benchmarking Requirements are the world’s most widely accepted benchmark for food safety certification programmes. Aligned with Codex Alimentarius, these science-based requirements enable a common understanding and mutual trust in the supply chain that facilitates trade, improves efficiency and lends nameplate authority to operations certified to a GFSI-recognised programme.
The standards incorporate stakeholder input from public consultations and are regularly revised to reflect best practices and evolving needs in the industry.
New and strengthened elements in Version 2020 include two new scopes focused on hygienic design, elements of food safety culture and reinforced impartiality of the auditing process and the monitoring of certification bodies.
“Version 2020 is a significant achievement we are all proud of,” added Marie-Claude Quentin, GFSI senior technical manager and the project manager of the new Benchmarking Requirements.
The GFSI annual conference runs until Friday 28 February.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
