In today’s fast-paced world, food companies and their partners must remain fully in control of their compliance plans. As new food safety requirements emerge, organisations that prepare early will avoid disruption and demonstrate leadership across the industry. At Perry Johnson Registrars Food Safety, Inc., we are here to help you address forthcoming changes to food safety codes with confidence.
Why Updates to Food Safety Standards Matter
Each new edition of food safety standards is updated to reflect developments within the industry. It also considers regulatory priorities and lessons learned from previous challenges. Enhancements frequently emphasise key areas such as:
- Food safety culture – fostering a safety-first mindset at every level of the organisation.
- Change management in food safety – ensuring that changes to processes, equipment, or suppliers are documented and risk-controlled.
- Risk-based environmental monitoring – tailoring monitoring programmes to actual facility risks rather than relying upon generic requirements.
By embracing these improvements, companies strengthen their systems, reduce the risk of recalls, and maintain a competitive edge.
What Organisations Should Do Now
Even prior to the official launch of a new food safety standard edition, there are several important actions to consider:
Gap Assessment and Food Safety Risk Assessment
Conduct internal evaluations to compare your current programmes against anticipated requirements. A strong internal audit process enables early identification of opportunities for improvement.
Audit Readiness for the New Standard
Preparing documentation, revising workflows, and running mock audits will ensure a smooth transition. This step is critical for audit preparation and will help you to be fully ready for formal assessments.
Strengthen Food Safety Culture
Engage employees at every level, communicate the importance of compliance, and integrate safety into daily operations. A robust culture of food safety is essential for continuous improvement.
Train and Empower Teams
Provide staff with knowledge of change management and monitoring strategies. This not only builds competence but also encourages ownership of new processes.
Leverage Environmental Monitoring
Pilot risk-based environmental monitoring programmes to gather data and refine thresholds. Control measures can then be aligned with real-world risks.
How a Certification Body Supports Transition
Selecting the right certification body is crucial during any transition. At Perry Johnson Registrars Food Safety, Inc., we provide:
- Interpretation and Guidance – clear explanations of new requirements and how they apply to your operations.
- Training and Workshops – practical support on compliance planning and culture building.
- Pre-Assessments – readiness audits that measure your level of preparedness for new expectations.
- Consistency – auditors trained to deliver fair and reliable audits for all clients.
Transition Timeline
A phased approach makes change management more straightforward:
- Pre-launch – conduct risk assessments and staff training.
- Release phase – strengthen systems, revise documents, and carry out internal audits.
- Transition period – align audits under the new edition with support from your certification body.
- Post-transition – maintain ongoing improvement through robust compliance planning.
Overcoming Challenges
The move to a new edition can present difficulties:
- Resistance to change – addressed through clear communication and leadership support.
- Resource constraints – eased by phased implementation to spread investment.
- Data management – ensure that risk-based monitoring generates actionable insights rather than unmanageable reports.
Final Thoughts
The evolution of food safety standards represents an opportunity rather than a burden. Companies that focus on strong audits, cultivate a positive safety culture, and prepare in advance will emerge as leaders. With Perry Johnson Registrars Food Safety, Inc., your organisation can manage the transition to new food safety codes clearly and confidently.
Contact Us
Phone: +44 (0) 2033 071986
Email: [email protected]
