Post 26. What is a pre-requisite programme?

What is a pre-requisite programme? 

ISO 22000:2018 states that pre-requisite programmes are the basic conditions and activities that are necessary within the organisation and throughout the food chain to maintain food safety.” [1] 

The United States Food and Drug Administration define pre-requisite programmes as: 

"procedures, including Good Manufacturing Practices, that address operational conditions providing the foundation for the HACCP system."[2]

The FAO define pre-requisite programmes as: 

"basic conditions and activities that are necessary to maintain a hygienic environment throughout the food chain suitable for the production, handling and provision of safe end products and safe food for human consumption." [3] 

Examples include: 

Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) described by the FAO as a 

"collection of principles to apply for on-farm production and post- production processes, resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agriculture products, while taking into account economic, social and environmental sustainability." [4]

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) describes 

"the key requirements for all aspects of commercial food production, storage, and distribution necessary to ensure a consistent product that conforms to all food safety, quality, and consumer attribute requirements. It involves application of defined principles and practices in company organization and management, including staff training, provision of process and storage facilities (buildings and equipment), quality assurance, new product development, food legislation, and product distribution." [5]

 The next post will consider good agricultural practice or GAP in more detail. 

[1] https://www.iso.org/iso-22000-food-safety-management.html

[2] https://www.fda.gov/food/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-haccp/haccp-principles-application-guidelines

[3] https://www.fao.org/3/y1390e/y1390e08.htm

[4] https://www.fao.org/3/i6677e/i6677e.pdf

[5]https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00149-X