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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2005
CONTACT: Greta Houlahan
Phone: (800) NSF-MARK
Ext: 5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
GMP 13 Designation Expands NSF's Certification Services for Europe
Ann Arbor, MI - NSF International (NSF) today announced that it is the first and only third-party organization in North America to receive certification to GMP 13—a Quality Control Standard for Foreign Suppliers of Feed Materials. NSF received the special designation from the Productschap Diervoeder (PDV), an international organization based in the Netherlands that addresses a range of quality, safety and regulatory issues associated with the European animal feed production chain.
NSF's new service is important because all feed material suppliers that produce meat, milk or eggs must receive third-party certification to GMP 13 to meet European Union animal feed requirements. By being the first North American company to receive this PDV designation, NSF is now uniquely positioned to strengthen quality assurance along the entire food chain-from addressing concerns over the introduction of hazards in animal feed to helping feed material suppliers and producers avoid contaminants.
NSF's GMP 13 Program applies to all suppliers, producers, farmers and transporters of foreign feed material to be used in livestock farming. Specifically, this includes: growers of feed crops, the producers and distributors of animal feeds and raw materials for feeds, and the farmers who use the animal feeds. Like all NSF programs, the GMP 13 program is based on quality assurance, food safety and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, which provide a basis for hazard identification and control.
"By obtaining certification to GMP 13, suppliers and producers can help provide consumers assurance that the meat, poultry and dairy products they consume every day continue to be safe to eat," said NSF Food Processor Vice President Bill Schwartz, Ph.D. "Several facilities throughout North America are already actively pursuing certification through NSF."
Dr. Schwartz added the PDV approval process required that NSF food safety auditors participate in a rigorous training program to become qualified to evaluate food safety concerns associated with feed systems. As part of this comprehensive process, these auditors will undergo annual re-training to remain qualified.
The requirements of GMP 13 include: ISO 9000 quality system requirements, HACCP specifications, and key control measures in the production process, including tracking, recall and ongoing monitoring. NSF will conduct an initial audit to make sure the companies pursuing certification adhere to these requirements. NSF will grant a GMP certificate to the companies that successfully meet the audit requirements, which are conducted every year to ensure continued conformance.
For more information about GMP 13 Certification, please visit the NSF website or contact Christine Bedillion, NSF HACCP program coordinator at 734-827-6838 or bedillion@nsf.org.
Related Link: Productschap Diervoeder (PDV)
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, non-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
