Getting Started: Mapping the Food Safety Journey

If you are a small food business, your goal may be to start supplying your products to SPAR retailers. But before you can list as a supplier, you will need to implement the minimum food safety compliance requirements first.

In this article, we discuss the 4 steps to help you towards your goal.

Overview of Food Safety Journey for Small Suppliers

1. Apply for business licence and Certificate of Acceptability
2. Ensure your products and labels comply
3. Implement a GFSI Basic System for your facility
4. Formal GFSI assessment by a certification body

Step 1: Obtain Your Business Licence and Certificate of Acceptability

You will need a business licence if you are making, serving, or selling food to the public. You may not begin trading unless you have your business licence. In the case of a food hawker selling from a food truck, you will need a permit. Your facility needs to comply with the building regulations, and public safety and health requirements relevant to your type of business. The requirements for a business licence differ from municipality to municipality.

Check out this article from SME South Africa. For more information on this process, read this article on How Do I Get My Certificate of Acceptability by Food Focus.

It is suggested that you apply for a Certificate of Acceptability for your premises at the same time as you apply for your business licence.

This process will involve an inspection of your premises by an Environmental Health Practitioner from the local municipality, against the requirements stipulated in R638 (Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises, the Transport of Food and Related Matters).

Step 2: Ensure Your Products and Labels Comply

The Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act No. 54 of R1972 controls the sale, manufacture, importation, and exportation of foodstuffs, cosmetics, and disinfectants. Several regulations fall under this Act, and the type of product you make will determine which regulations apply.

Your product label needs to comply with R146 (Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs). You need to ensure that your product label includes all required information, lists ingredients, declares allergens, has appropriate date markings, and that any claims made are permitted under the regulation. This presentation by the CGCSA on Food Product Labelling provides an excellent overview of what you need to look out for.

Label design and packaging suitability also need to be considered to give your product the best chance of success against competitors on the shelf.

Click here to access our Labelling Guide eBook.

For assistance with labelling and market research, contact Tenzing Marketing.

Step 3: Implement a GFSI Basic System for Your Facility

The CGCSA has adopted the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Global Markets Programme.

Major retailers such as SPAR have based their food safety assurance requirements on this GFSI programme.

There are three levels. As a small supplier, you will start at Level 1. Once this is achieved, depending on the nature of your food products, volume supplied, and risk rating, you may be required to progress to Level 2. This will be communicated to you by SPAR. A full food system certification, such as BRCGS or FSSC 22000, is voluntary but is mostly required for trading on the export market.

Three Levels of Food Safety Compliance

Starting as a small supplier to SPAR requires that you implement, at minimum, the GFSI Basic Level food safety requirements.

Entecom has an affordable Food Safety Support Programme tailored for small suppliers like you.

The programme involves the following steps:

1. Visiting your site to meet with you, learn about your business goals, and conduct a hygiene assessment with recommendations.
2. Training the Person in Charge on Accredited Food Safety (classroom or eLearning options available).
3. Training your Food Handlers on Basic Food Hygiene (aLearning, classroom, or DIY kit options available).
4. Helping you implement a GFSI Basic Food Safety System which you can opt to go digital using a paperless food safety system or a manual system.
5. Conducting an on-site Pre-Certification readiness audit to prepare you for the GFSI Basic Certification Assessment.
6. Offering ongoing compliance support to help you stay on track.

Contact info@entecom.co.za to assist with implementing the GFSI Basic requirements.

Step 4: Formal GFSI Basic Assessment by the Certification Body

Once you have successfully completed your pre-audit readiness assessment with Entecom, you will be ready to proceed with the GFSI Basic audit. You may book your audit with NSF.

For more information regarding NSF, click here.