HACCP, or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, is a systematic approach used in the food industry to identify, assess, and control potential hazards related to food safety. It’s a preventative system rather than an inspection-based one, aiming to ensure food safety by analyzing every stage of food production, from sourcing raw materials to the consumption of the final product.

The key principles of HACCP include:

• Hazard Analysis: Identifying potential hazards in the production process (biological, chemical, or physical) that could harm consumers.
• Critical Control Points (CCPs) Identification: Determining the critical points in the production process where control measures can be applied to prevent, eliminate, or reduce identified hazards to acceptable levels.
• Establishing Critical Limits: Setting specific criteria for each CCP to ensure that the hazard is effectively controlled.
• Monitoring Procedures: Regularly observing and measuring CCPs to ensure they are within established critical limits.
• Corrective Actions: Defining steps to be taken if monitoring shows that a CCP is not within the established limits, aiming to bring the process back under control.
• Verification: Periodically reviewing and verifying that the HACCP system is working effectively.
• Record Keeping: Maintaining documentation of all aspects of the HACCP plan, including hazard analysis, CCPs, monitoring results, corrective actions, and verification activities.

HACCP is a globally recognized and applied food safety management system, helping food businesses ensure the production of safe food products and comply with regulatory requirements.