Intertek is Approved by PAC - The Packaging Association as a PACsecure Audit Provider

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), the international protocol long used by the global food and beverage industry, has been prevalent in the food industry for years - but it has primarily applied to food processors. Now many North American retailers, packaged goods companies, and food manufacturers are requesting HACCP compliance from their supply chains as another method of controlling food safety.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), the international protocol long used by the global food and beverage industry, has been prevalent in the food industry for years - but it has primarily applied to food processors. Now many North American retailers, packaged goods companies, and food manufacturers are requesting HACCP compliance from their supply chains as another method of controlling food safety. However, this new flow-down requirement can be a challenge for suppliers who have not had to implement HACCP before.

To specifically address this challenge within the food packaging industry, The Packaging Association (PAC) worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and a broad group of industry representatives to develop their own solution. The result was PACsecure, a set of voluntary food packaging safety standards designed to help packaging converters harmonize with HACCP. Currently, the program includes specialized standards that apply to flexible plastic, rigid plastic and paper packaging; glass and metal packaging standards are in development.

PAC works with a small number of experienced auditors and consultants to help them implement the PACsecure program. As of 15 February 2011, PAC has approved Intertek as a third-party audit provider for PACsecure. Intertek is only the second registrar to achieve this approval.

Intertek is a globally-recognized management systems certification body, offering auditing and certification services for a broad portfolio of standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000. In addition, Intertek's packaging testing laboratories provide analytical services, physical testing, performance testing, food safety approval (migration), hazard risk assessment, research and development support, as well as quality testing to comply with vendor standards, national and international regulatory legislation for all types of packaging materials.

"PACsecure is a unique standard, developed exclusively for package makers. As the demand for PACsecure escalates, PAC needs to develop strategic relationships with international partners," states James D Downham, CEO of PAC. "While GFSI scheme recognition is a priority, we have identified Intertek as a leader that can help us to develop the international markets."

"Intertek is excited to partner with PAC and support the PACsecure standards in the North American market," says Calin Moldovean, president of Intertek’s Systems Certification group. "Third-party auditing to PACsecure will assure PAC members that they are proactively incorporating Good Manufacturing Practices in their operations."

Source: Intertek