HACCP Validation
What is the purpose of this Web page? The validation page was developed to provide an information resource on validation to small and very small meat and poultry establishments in order to help them obtain information to support the scientific design of their HACCP systems. [ Top of Page] What is validation? Validation is the process of demonstrating that the HACCP system as designed can adequately control identified hazards to produce a safe product. There are two distinct elements to validation:
[ Top of Page] What is the responsibility of the establishment? The establishment is responsible for all aspects of developing and implementing the HACCP plan including validation of the adequacy of the process that insures all food safety hazards are under control. The following describes what validation is. What is the HACCP regulatory requirement for validation? Section 417.4 of the meat and poultry regulations requires that each establishment validate the adequacy of its HACCP plans in controlling those food safety hazards identified during the hazard analysis. The hazard analysis must have supporting documentation for each step of a HACCP plan in order to show that the establishment accounts for all hazards likely to occur. Specifically, the processing steps that reduce, eliminate, or prevent food safety hazards - critical control points - and their accompanying critical limits must be validated. Initial validation contains the recorded documentation that shows that the HACCP plan functions as intended. [ Top of Page] What type of documentation does FSIS expect for validation? The documentation assembled to validate a HACCP plan are usually of two types:
Validation data for any HACCP plan must include some practical data or information reflecting an establishment's actual experience in implementing the HACCP plan. This is because validation must demonstrate not only that the HACCP plan is theoretically sound, but also that the establishment can implement it and make it work on a day by day basis. What are some examples of supporting documentation that may be used by the establishments to support the scientific design or technical justification or documented basis for their HACCP system?
[ Top of Page] Validation by pathogen - Helpful scientific articles The following is a listing of journal articles on various pathogens that provide useful information to small and very establishments to validate the design of their HACCP food safety system. These articles are representative, and are not intended to be all inclusive. [ Top of Page] Validation by product and new technologies Access this listing of journal articles on various products and new technologies. These articles are representative, and are not intended to be all inclusive. [ Top of Page] Helpful Web Sites Access a listing of Web sites that provide information useful to small and very establishments to validate the design of their HACCP food safety system. [ Top of Page] |