Proposed new guidance could cut red tape in the kitchen
Chefs and cooks could be spared unnecessary red tape in the kitchen, thanks to new European Commission (EC) proposals.
According to the Forum for Private Business (FPB), the EC appears to have suggested that food businesses with fewer than 10 employees should be exempt from the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. The system is designed to ensure foods are prepared and served hygienically. The EC has issued a draft regulation suggesting a change is made to existing regulations, saying that all food businesses must have a procedure based on the principles of HACCP.
The FPB has welcomed the proposals, but with some reservations.
FPB food advisor Bob Salmon said the HACCP business can be quite onerous for small businesses. He said: "A proper HACCP scheme has a team of people montoring critical points in the production process and keeping copious records to ensure the checks have been done. Such a scheme is impractical for very small businesses."
During the drafting of the original EC food regulations, the FPB insisted on the inclusion of words like "where necessary" and "commensurate with the nature and size of the business". This allowed some flexibility on interpretation for low-risk undertakings. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), meanwhile, has drawn up guidance called Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB). This is designed to allow flexibility in line with the original EC guidance. However, the EC proposal would allow exemption from record keeping even of the minimal sort called for in SFBB.
The FPB welcomes the idea of eliminating bureaucracy, but thinks the EC draft is loosely worded and would lead to confusion and the possibility of some businesses being prosecuted unnecessarily.
Bob added: "The draft speaks of a limit of 10 employees or less than £2 million turnover. The FPB would like to see a reference to risk. For example, there might be more need for a small company making meat pies to have HACCP than, say, a retailer selling pre-packaged sweets. I cannot see any magic in the figure of 10 employees."
