CACGL 47 2003 Food Import Control Systems

CAC/GL47-2003Page1of9GUIDELINESFORFOODIMPORTCONTROLSYSTEMSCAC/GL47-2003SECTION1-SCOPEThisdocumentprovidesaframeworkforthedevelopmentandoperationofanimportcontrolsystemtoprotectconsumersandfacilitatefairpracticesinfoodtradewhileensuringunjustifiedtechnicalbarrierstotradearenotintroduced.TheGuidelineisconsistentwiththeCodexPrinciplesforFoodImportandExportInspectionandCertification1andprovidesspecificinformationaboutimportedfoodcontrolthatisanadjuncttotheGuidelinesfortheDesign,Operation,AssessmentandAccreditationofFoodImportandExportInspectionandCertificationSystems2.SECTION2–DEFINITIONS3AppropriateLevelofProtection(ALOP)isthelevelofprotectiondeemedappropriatebythecountryestablishingasanitarymeasuretoprotecthumanlifeorhealthwithinitsterritory.(Thisconceptmayotherwisebereferredtoasthe“acceptablelevelofrisk”.)Audit*isasystematicandfunctionallyindependentexaminationtodeterminewhetheractivitiesandrelatedresultscomplywithplannedobjectives.Certification*istheprocedurebywhichofficialcertificationbodiesandofficiallyrecognizedbodiesprovidewrittenorequivalentassurancethatfoodsorfoodcontrolsystemsconformtorequirements.Certificationoffoodmaybe,asappropriate,basedonarangeofinspectionactivitieswhichmayincludecontinuouson-lineinspection,auditingofqualityassurancesystems,andexaminationoffinishedproducts.Inspection*istheexaminationoffoodorsystemsforcontroloffood,rawmaterials,processinganddistribution,includingin-processandfinishedproducttesting,inordertoverifythattheyconformtorequirements.Legislation*includesacts,regulations,requirementsorprocedures,issuedbypublicauthorities,relatedtofoodsandcoveringtheprotectionofpublichealth,theprotectionofconsumersandconditionsoffairtrading.Officialaccreditation*istheprocedurebywhichagovernmentagencyhavingjurisdictionformallyrecognizesthecompetenceofaninspectionand/orcertificationbodytoprovideinspectionandcertificationservices.Officialinspectionsystemsandofficialcertificationsystems*aresystemsadministeredbyagovernmentagencyhavingjurisdictionempoweredtoperformaregulatoryorenforcementfunctionorboth.Officiallyrecognizedinspectionsystemsandofficiallyrecognizedcertificationsystems*aresystemswhichhavebeenformallyapprovedorrecognizedbyagovernmentagencyhavingjurisdiction.Requirements*arethecriteriasetdownbythecompetentauthoritiesrelatingtotradeinfoodstuffscoveringtheprotectionofpublichealth,theprotectionofconsumersandconditionsoffairtrading.Riskassessment*Ascientificallybasedprocessconsistingofthefollowingsteps(i)hazardidentification,(ii)hazardcharacterisation,(iii)exposureassessment,and(iv)riskcharacterisation.1PrinciplesforFoodImportandExportInspectionandCertification(CAC/GL20-1995)2GuidelinesfortheDesign,Operation,AssessmentandAccreditationofFoodImportandExportInspectionandCertificationSystems(CAC/GL26-1997).3DefinitionsdrawnfromtheGuidelinesfortheDesign,Operation,AssessmentandAccreditationofFoodImportandExportInspectionandCertificationSystems(CAC/GL26-1997)aremarkedwith*.DefinitionsdrawnfromCodexAlimentariusCommission,ProceduralManual(12thedition)aremarkedwith**.CAC/GL47-2003Page2of9Riskanalysis*Aprocessconsistingofthreecomponents:riskassessment,riskmanagementandriskcommunication.SECTION3-GENERALCHARACTERISTICSOFFOODIMPORTCONTROLSYSTEMSFoodimportcontrolsystemsshouldhavethefollowingmaincharacteristics:•requirementsforimportedfoodthatareconsistentwithrequirementsfordomesticfoods;•clearlydefinedresponsibilitiesforthecompetentauthorityorauthorities;•clearlydefinedandtransparentlegislationandoperatingprocedures;•precedencetotheprotectionofconsumers;•provisionoftheimportingcountryforrecognitionofthefoodcontrolsystemappliedbyanexportingcountry’scompetentauthority;•uniformnationwideimplementation;•implementationthatensuresthelevelsofprotectionachievedareconsistentwiththosefordomesticfood.REQUIREMENTSFORIMPORTEDFOODTHATARECONSISTENTWITHREQUIREMENTSFORDOMESTICFOODSRequirementsarecommonlyexpressedasend-pointstandardswithspecificlimitsandcomplementarysamplingregimes.Theserequirementsmayconsistofstandards,provisionsforsampling,processcontrols,conditionsofproduction,transport,storage,oracombinationofthese.Theextentandstringencyofrequirementsappliedinspecificcircumstancesshouldbeproportionatetorisk,notingthatriskmayvaryfromonesourcetoanotherbecauseoffactorssuchasspecificand/orsimilarsituationsintheregionoforigin,technologyemployed,compliancehistory,etc.and/orexaminationofrelevantattributesofasampleofproductsatimport.Asfaraspossible,requirementsshouldbeappliedequallytodomesticallyproducedandimportedfood.Wheredomesticrequirementsincludeprocesscontrolssuchasgoodmanufacturingpractices,compliancemaybedeterminedorequivalenceconfirmedbyauditingtherelevantinspectionandcertificationsystemsand,asappropriate,thefacilitiesandproceduresintheexportingcountry4.CLEARLYDEFINEDRESPONSIBILITIESOFCOMPETENTAUTHORITYORAUTHORITIESThecompetentauthority(ies)involvedinanyoftheimportedfoodinspectionfunctionsatthepointorpointsofentry,duringstorageanddistributionand/oratpointofsale,shouldhaveclearlydefinedresponsibilitiesandauthority.Mul