General The GMP+ Feed Certification scheme was initiated and developed in 1992 by the Dutch feed industry in response to various more or less serious incidents involving contamination in feed materials. Although it started as a national scheme, it has developed to become an international scheme that is managed by GMP+ International in collaboration with various international stakeholders. Even though the GMP+ Feed Certification scheme originated from a feed safety perspective, in 2013 the first feed responsibility standard has been published. For this purpose, two modules are created: GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance (focussed on feed safety) and GMP+ Feed Responsibility Assurance (focussed on responsible feed). GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance is a complete module for the assurance of feed safety in all the links of the feed chain. Demonstrable assurance of feed safety is a 'license to sell’ in many countries and markets and participation in the GMP+ FSA module can facilitate this excellently. Based on needs in practice, multiple components have been integrated into the GMP+ FSA module, such as requirements for the quality management system (ISO 9001), HACCP, product standards, traceability, monitoring, prerequisites programmes, chain approach and the Early Warning System. With the development of the GMP+ Feed Responsibility Assurance module, GMP+ International is responding to requests by GMP+ participants. The animal feed sector is confronted with requests on working responsibly. This includes, for example, the use of soy (including soy derivatives and soy products) and fishmeal which are produced and traded with respect for humans, animals and the environment. In order to demonstrate responsible production and trade, a company can get certified for the GMP+ Feed Responsibility Assurance. Together with the GMP+ partners, GMP+ International transparently sets clear requirements to guarantee feed safety & responsibility. Certification bodies are able to carry out GMP+ certification independently. GMP+ International supports the GMP+ participants with useful and practical information by way of a number of guidance documents, databases, newsletters, Q&A lists and seminars.
Structure HACCP Guideline The HACCP guideline is intended to support GMP+ FSA participants in setting up their in-company HACCP system. The guideline provides an explanation of the HACCP principles in sections. The HACCP requirements in the GMP+ standard are predominantly based on the HACCP criteria as laid down in the Codex Alimentarius. Meanwhile, based on new insights (as ISO22000), some changes and additions were included in the HACCP requirements. The animal feed sector is already used to working with measures to ensure animal feed safety. The animal feed regulations and the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance module (GMP+ FSA) already cover a wide range of quality requirements for animal feed. This concerns sector-wide measures. Company specific situations cannot always be taken into account when preparing these measures. Since the year 2000, the animal feed sector has taken the initiative of including the HACCP system in the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance module. Since the Animal Feed Hygiene Regulation EC 183/2005 as per 1 January 2006, application of HACCP principles has become mandatory in Europe for all animal feed companies, excluding primary agricultural production. The scope of this guideline is to support in feed and food safety assurance. This guideline is intended specifically for the management and employees of companies within the animal feed sector developing a company specific HACCP system. The manner in which HACCP is described in current animal feed Regulations (in particular the EC Regulations 183/2005, (EC) Nr. 178/2002 and (EC) Nr. 852/2004), the General Food Hygiene Guidelines recommended by Codex (CAP/RCP 1-1969, Rev. 4-2003) and national and international requirements relating to HACCP management systems (HACCP-NL and ISO 22000) served as a guideline in preparing this guideline. The second chapter of the guideline refers to definitions and terminology. The relationship with legislation and the GMP+ FSA module is explained in section 3. Section 4 contains a further explanation of the requirements within the management’s scope of responsibility. Chapter 5 is a phased plan for setting up a HACCP system. In preparing this phased plan, the requirements as set out in current legislation or GMP+ FSA module have been included as much as possible. The symbol is a reference to the paragraph of the relevant standard in the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance module (GMP+ FSA), more specifically the standards where companies are subjected to a mandatory individual HACCP analysis.