Good manufacturing practice (GMP) in the food sector - you need to know that

For a complete and transparent documentation of all supplier and production-related steps in the supply chain, purchasing companies in particular must always have the necessary evidence from their suppliers to be able to keep their own documentation complete and up to date.

One of these documents that you need as part of your supplier documentation is the GMP Certification We have put together the most important aspects for this certificate.

The Indian guidelines for good manufacturing practice serve to ensure quality in the production of products that pose a possible health risk for humans. The GMP guidelines regulate safety and production specifications for the areas:

1. Real Estate
2. cosmetics
3. feed
4. Food

Packaging and materials that come into contact with food

The GMP guidelines contain, among other things, requirements for a GMP-compliant quality management system, requirements for hygiene standards in the sanitary and production areas or for traceability, as well as complete documentation of good manufacturing practice. The guidelines are based on already established standards such as ISO 9001 and are implemented on the basis of regulations for the respective industrial sector. GMP guidelines for medicinal products for human and veterinary use) with the help of country-specific legal regulations the respective state authorities. GMP was originally launched by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

GMP certificates - content and variations

GMP certification is often mentioned in the context of GMP evidence. However, the official compliance check can only be performed by a government agency. A GMP certification merely certifies that companies comply with the GMP guidelines and prepares them for an examination by the respective state authority.

For purchasing companies in the food sector, two variants of the document often play a role in the context of supplier management. Manufacturing companies usually request the following evidence from their suppliers:

1. GMP Codex certificate in the food sector

The document certifies companies that their food safety management system has been certified according to GMP requirements and is suitable for preparing for audits by authorities and stakeholders. The legal basis of the guidelines is based on good manufacturing practice for materials and articles that are intended to come into contact with food.

2. GMP certificate of the delivering forwarding agents

This is a GMP + certificate. First, it was designed as a national system and developed as an GMP + Feed Certification Scheme into an international system. The plus stands for the integration of HACCP in the guidelines of good manufacturing practice.

Example: GMP + B4: Road transport of animal feed

The expansion of the GMP guidelines covers all areas of the feed industry:

1. GMP + B 1 Manufacturing, trade and services
2. GMP + B 2 Manufacture of feed ingredients
3. GMP + B 3 trading, recording and storage & handling
4. GMP + B 4 transport
5. GMP + B 4.3 Hygiene Code for Inland Navigation
6. GMP + B 8 pet food, manufacture and trade
7. GMP + BCN CEE Additional requirements for Central
8. GMP + BCN QM milk

Certification process

The certification process takes place through a certification audit, as is also the case with other certification-required standards.

1. Pre-audit including report (optional)
2. audit preparation
3. certification audit
4. audit follow-up
5. certificate issuance

Checking the certificates

Quality management and purchasing should pay attention to certain aspects regarding completeness when checking the supplier documents. These are:

1. Name of the certified company
2. Name of the certification body
3. Certificate registration number
4. Date of certification
5. Start and end of validity (validity period is 3 years)

Additional information

1. General information about GMP + on the official website
2. Guideline “Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Declaration of Conformity for Food Commodities: Specification of Requirements” (PDF)
3. Checklist for GMP + B4 Transport (PDF)
4. The GMP + B4 Transport Standard

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