Wal-Mart adopts new food-safety standards for suppliers

New GFSI real time standards and audit certifications
Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Monday announced a new initiative that will require the chain's grocery suppliers to have their plants certified against one of the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards.GFSI standards provide real-time details on food-safety practices on a plant-by-plant basis, and go beyond the current FDA or USDA required audit process, Wal-Mart said.

Under the GFSI program, producers of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club private label and other foods sold in the United States, including meat and poultry, must be audited by independently trained, approved and licensed auditors who are experts in their industry."The requirement for suppliers to complete these certifications demonstrates our leadership in food safety and our commitment to global safety standards," J.P. Suarez, Wal-Mart's senior vice president and chief compliance officer, said in a news release. "We are taking this additional step to ensure the integrity of our products throughout the entire food supply chain."

The GFSI requires food suppliers to achieve plant audit certification against one of its recognized standards, which include Safe Quality Food (SQF), British Retail Consortium (BRC), International Food Standard (IFS), or an equivalent such as Global-GAP.

Wal-Mart has published a schedule to suppliers requiring completion of initial certification between July and December of 2008, with full certification required by July 2009. Approved third party auditing companies will complete audits.Internationally, Wal-Mart stores in the United Kingdom (ASDA) and Japan (Seiyu) also require suppliers of food products to comply with GFSI standards.The Global Food Safety Initiative was launched in May 2000 to establish food safety management systems to ensure confidence in the delivery of safe food to consumers.
Source: Meatingplace.com
Aporte: Guillermo Figueroa