This FAQ guide will help you find answers to some of the common problems facing compliance systems. If you still can't find your answer then please contact us.
1. Why does the food industry need ISO 9001:2015?
ISO 9001 is the world's most popular and most commonly used standard for quality management systems.
A standard is not a law, but an agreement or best practice that an organisation can apply voluntarily. A quality management system is a tool with which an organisation can determine how it can meet the requirements of its customers and the other interested parties that are involved in its activities.
2. Are there any legal requirements for the composition of ink and food contact packaging materials in South Africa?
Currently there are no regulations published under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, Act 54 of 1972, regarding packaging materials specifically.
There are, however, the following provisions under Act 13 of 1929 which applies to these materials by implication:
Prohibition of Unwholesome or Poisonous Substances in Food
3 . (1) No package, wrapper, container , or appliance used in connection with food shall be of such composition or nature as to yield, or be liable to yield, to its food contents, or to food with which it comes in contact, any unwholesome, injurious or poisonous substance.
The effect of Act 13 of 1929, Section 3 is that packaging material when used must not cause food to be unsafe or tainted. Therefore, it is the responsibility of food manufacturers and sellers to ensure their products are safe and that they comply with relevant legislation.
In practice, packaging suppliers will need to ensure their products are suitable for the intended use. Compliance with recognised international food standards such as those of the European Union (EU) or the United States Food and Drug Administration would be reasonable evidence that materials are suitable for food use.
3. What is sustainability?
According to the Bruntland Report for the World Commission on Environment and Development (1992), sustainability is "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
This relates to how you do business, how your business impacts the environment, how your business uses resources... and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
