IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDS
AND FOOD SAFETY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
AS A TOOL FOR SUCCESFUL
SOURCING AND MARKET ACCESS.
Lumuno Organic Farms
Introduction
• On the global market, trade has been driven by
international and regional agreements between
nations and regional bodies.
• Development and boosting of national economies
mainly depends on trade and therefore adherence to
the requirements of the international agreements that
exist should be ensured.
• To achieve this, governments need to have on the
domestic scene structures that will deliver both quality
and safe products for trade.
• This is of great importance in the production and trade
as it concerns both human and animal health.
Introduction
• Food safety management system involves various
stakeholders such as government agencies, public and
private sector producers and processors as well as
consumers and or end users.
• In Zambia line ministries regulate and make laws,
whilst conformity assessment bodies (CABs) deal with
certification, inspection and laboratory testing.
• Currently this is done by the Zambia Bureau of
Standards (ZABS), Food and Drug Department and
academic and research institutions, and these are
linked to accreditation bodies as active members.
Introduction
• The quest to maximize profits versus delivery of quality
conforming products has been a great concern as some
manufacturers, both from public and private sectors
would always want to cut costs to increase profits.
• Conformity Assessment Bodies ensure that food safety
regulations are adhered to and the consumers are
protected from hazardous food products; provision of
checks and balances.
• Moreover entrepreneurs or manufactures need
certification by national bodies that are accredited to
other international bodies to create confidence to end
users.
Laboratory testing
• This involves the determination of the
characteristics of a product, and should be
mandatorily done in an accredited
institutional laboratory.
• The product must conform to agreed
parameters and should be found fit for human
consumption.
• As Lumuno, we take our products for testing
to ensure safe products on the market.
• This has helped us to maintain our clientele.
Standards
• These are a set of rules that govern the way
products are manufactured and the quality of
the same, also the contents /ingredients of
the products and quantity levels.
• It is very important for a manufacturing or
processing company to adhere to regulations
and standards in their production processes to
ensure entry into diverse market.
• Adhering to food safety requirements also
provides confidence to buyers.
Our Experience
• Lumuno appreciates the need to stick to
standards in their production and processing
systems.
• Standards have helped to ensure that our product
processing is in conformity with the recipes and
no differences in the production batches.
• It gives us confidence to enter new markets,
hence the growth of our enterprise.
• We are currently HACCP compliant, and have
undergone KAIZEN (change for better) training.
Has HACCP compliance and ISO 90012008 helped in local sourcing ?
• Limitations in some product standards on the local market
have resulted in producers and or processors taking
advantage of the consumer through the introduction of
uncertified products.
• Manufacturers introduce products on to the market
without ensuring that they are tested by accredited
institutions to ensure safety, as long as they sell.
• Some of these products are toxic, while others contain
traces of aflatoxins and the consumers are the ones who
bear the consequences of eating unsafe foods.
• In adequate funding to CABs and other inspectorate
department such as councils and health department is yet
another drawback to production of consumer safe foods.
Has HACCP compliance and ISO 90012008 helped in local sourcing ?
• Due to lack of standards and food safety
guidelines the dealers (middle players) in these
products such as supermarkets, small groceries
and restaurants are ignorant of the requirements,
therefore continue to stock the products on their
shelves.
• What this means is that whether you follow
standards or food safety guidelines or not you will
still be able to supply your products in the
supermarkets.
• It is a different scenario in developed countries
where food safety is taken very seriously.
Has HACCP compliance and ISO 90012008 helped in local sourcing ?
• HACCP (Hazard critical control points) is a system
which identifies, evaluates and controls hazards
which are significant for food safety and when
appropriately applied HACCP has been noted to
produce safer food.
• Non conformity to standards and food safety
guidelines has seen an increase of counterfeit
products on the market.
• Products meant to be discarded will sometimes
appear on the shelves in the COMESA region .
Has HACCP compliance and ISO 90012008 helped in local sourcing ?
• In adequate facilities at the international borders
and unchecked border areas are entry points for
fake products.
• The increases in counterfeit products has reduced
Government income generation through
duty/taxes and reduced local products sales
because the counterfeit products are usually
cheaper and don’t adhere to customs guidelines.
• Due to this the local producers competing with
the counterfeit products have inadequate funds
to employ more people
Has HACCP compliance and ISO 90012008 helped in local sourcing ?
• ILLICIT TRADE IS A DANGER TO OUR
ECONOMIES AND NEEDS TO BE
DISCOURAGED.
END!
THANK YOU!
Khama Mbewe
Lumuno Organic Farms