The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working towards new industry guidelines that will clarify food-safety training requirements for the food and drink manufacturing industry.
The FSA is working in partnership with Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, to draw up definitive guidance for food safety training. The information will act as a standalone guide for employers, and will be accessible for use in all future industry guides for food safety.
Previously, comprehensive, up-to-date information about food safety training specifically for manufacturing has been difficult to obtain, and some industry guides have contained training sections that have become outdated before being replaced, says Improve.
“This will be the first time that relevant information about food-safety training is presented in a comprehensive, accessible and easy-to-understand manner,” explained Jack Matthews, chief executive of Improve. “It will be a vital document for the authors of industry guides for food safety, and will help to ensure that the guides remain valid and updated. It will also benefit employers - with access to the most up-to-date information on food safety training, they will be able to make informed choices about how training should be managed and delivered.”
The guide will include information on the minimum training that must be given to comply with food safety legislation, and will make recommendations about additional training that can be offered as good practice. Case studies of companies in different sub-sectors will be used to highlight the benefits of providing food safety training beyond minimum compliance.
The food-safety training guide is set for publication in early summer, after consultation with employers, trade associations and industry bodies and the first draft will be available for consultation on the Improve website from the end of February. Following publication, it will be subject to continuous review to ensure it remains relevant and up-to-date.
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