Session 1: The food chain approach from an international perspective
Abstract
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is a non-profit private sector organization representing the interests of various stakeholders in dairying at the international level. It was founded in 1903 and presently has 41 member countries. These members are organized in National Committees, which are national associations composed of representatives of all dairy-related national interest groups including dairy farmers, dairy processing industry, dairy suppliers, academics and governments/food control authorities.
IDF has been active in developing standards for dairy commodities and methods of analysis and sampling since the early 1930s. Over the years it has produced a number of manuals, guidelines and other texts relating to microbiological hygiene and safety in primary milk production and during milk processing as well as in relation to residues and chemical contaminants. Some of these texts are frequently referred to in international discussions and serve as reference for the establishment of Codex and other international, regional and national regulations.
The current IDF Programme of Work is designed to meet the need for an integrated chain management approach to achieving dairy safety and hygiene. While these issues are dealt with by different IDF working bodies, a very close and central liaison is ensured. Major items are:
- Completion of a guideline on Application of HACCP Principles in Feed Production in consultation with five other international organizations representing feed producers, feed traders and consumers;
- Establishment of a practical, farmer-orientated, worldwide, achievable Guide on Good Dairy Farming practices for dairy farmers covering different aspects of concern such as: animal health, milk hygiene, animal feeding, animal welfare and environment (a joint work project with the FAO);
- Joint work project with OIE in relation to harmonization of animal health requirements for export certification - revision of OIE Animal Health Code;
- Active involvement in the Codex elaboration process of Proposed Draft Revised Guidelines for the Establishment of a Regulatory Programme for the Control of Drugs in Foods/ Proposed Draft Appendix on the Prevention and Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Milk and Milk Products;
- Development of guidance for the world dairy sector on types of antibiotic drugs used in the dairy sector, regulatory requirements and antimicrobial resistance monitoring;
- Preparation of a manual on control of mycotoxins in terms of practical measures of control along the food chain and outline the responsibilities for control measures at each individual step in the food chain;
- Active involvement in the process of development of the Codex Code on Hygienic Practices for Milk and Milk Products as a horizontal regulatory frame for international trade in dairy products as well as other related Codex food hygiene texts such as Codex guidelines on validation of food hygiene control measures or Codex Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Management;
- Drafting of IDF guidelines on Design of microbiological control systems in dairy production has been initiated.
- New IDF work in relation to traceability/trace-back will commence in due course.
The presentation will demonstrate the linkage of various IDF work items for the production of safe and suitable dairy products and how they are approached in the context of achieving an integrated food-chain management approach.
INTRODUCTION
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is a non-profit private sector organization representing the interests of various stakeholders in dairying at the international level. It was founded in 1903 and at present has 41 member countries. These members are organized in National Committees, which are national associations composed of representatives of all dairy-related national interest groups including dairy farmers, dairy processing industry, dairy suppliers, academics and governments/food control authorities. IDF is a science-based organization whose focus is to promote and enhance the image, trade, production and consumption of milk and milk products worldwide by collecting and disseminating scientific, technical and economic informationand providing a platform for meaningful exchange of professional knowledge and discussion.
IDF has been active in developing standards for dairy commodities and methods of analysis and sampling since the early 1930s. Over the years it has produced a number of manuals, guidelines and other texts relating to microbiological hygiene and safety in primary milk production and during milk processing as well as in relation to residues and chemical contaminants. Some of these texts are frequently referred to in international discussions and served as reference for the establishment of Codex and other international, regional and national regulations.
The IDF Programme of Work of today is designed towards the need for an integrated chain management approach towards achieving dairy safety and hygiene. Current activities are spread across the IDF Programme of Work, and are dealt with by different IDF working bodies working closely together within a horizontal approach. The presentation today will provide an overview of the most relevant items.
GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION OF HACCP PRINCIPLES IN THE PROCESSING OF FEED AND FEED INGREDIENTS
In the context of the work of a Codex Task Force on a Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding, IDF has developed draft guidelines for HACCP application in the feed sector in collaboration with five other international organizations representing the feed industry, feed traders and consumers: Comité du Commerce des Céréales, Aliments du Bétail, Oléagineux, Huiles et Graisses et Agrofournitures de l´Union Européenne (COCERAL), Consumers International (CI), the European Feed Manufacturers´ Federation (FEFAC), the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), and the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).
The application of HACCP principles in feed production is part of the shift in emphasis from end-product testing to preventive control of hazards at all stages of food production. The key in the application in the feed sector is the management of food-borne hazards by the introduction of maximum levels. These levels ensure that the outcome, in terms of hazard levels in feed, does not adversely affect the safety of the final ready-to-eat food. These maximum levels must take into account the physiology of the animals to which the feed is fed, control measures applied during and after manufacturing of the foods from these animals, and the end-product requirements for these foods.
The guidelines are currently being considered for joint publication by IDF and FAO. The main purpose of these guidelines is to supplement the Draft Codex Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding, once adopted by Codex, with guidance on how to apply HACCP along with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to improve credibility and to focus resources allocations in the animal feed sector.
GUIDE TO GOOD DAIRY FARMING PRACTICE
An IDF Task Force, together with FAO, has developed a practical, farm orientated, world-wide achievable guide of production for dairy farmers covering different aspects of concern such as animal health, milk hygiene, animal feeding and water, animal welfare and environment.
This Guide represents the best of IDF working horizontally, bringing forth the needed expertise from many diverse disciplines to accomplish a common goal - a practical guide for dairy farmers. The document has been written in a practical format for use by the farmer to support the marketing of safe, quality-assured milk and dairy products, and focus on the relationship between consumer safety and best practice at farm level. IDF/FAO experts recognized that the traditional application of HACCP at farm level is not feasible for the time being. Instead, the HACCP principles can be applied in the development of practical codes of good practices that identify practical measures and routines similar to traditional GAP codes. This approach will avoid the direct exposure by the individual farmer to the HACCP procedure and result in GAP codes being more focused and systematically founded.
The guide has been published by FAO under joint IDF/ FAO logos. The English version is available to symposium participants. French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic versions are also foreseen to be published in the course of this year. As a separate piece of work, a Code of Good Hygienic Practice for Milking with Automatic Milking Systems was published by IDF earlier this year.
Link to the Guide to good Dairy Farming practices >>
Harmonization of animal health requirements
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has established a Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The objective of this periodically updated Code is to prevent the spread of animal diseases, while facilitating international trade in live animals, semen, embryos and animal products. The OIE Code is a reference document for use by authorities of veterinary departments, import/export services, epidemiologists and all those involved in international trade.
IDF and OIE have initiated close co-operation in relation to a revision of this Code as it affects animal diseases of concern to the dairy sector. The work supplements ongoing Codex elaboration of an international Codex export certificate for milk and milk products referring to animal health requirements having an impact on public health.
MANAGEMENT OF MYCOTOXINS IN DAIRYING
Mycotoxins are natural contaminants in the food and feedstuffs producing ecosystems. They are more difficult to completely control in contrast to residues of agricultural chemicals, for which effective control mechanisms and tools are applicable. Some mycotoxins exhibit carcinogenic properties in mammals including humans, and thus require special attention and even regulatory pressures to minimize their uptake by the human consumer.
In dairying, mycotoxins are of dual concern. On the one hand they may have detrimental effects on animal health and, subsequently, cause production losses. On the other hand, certain feed-borne mycotoxins can pass the bloodmilk- barrier in the cow, and appear in low concentrations in the milk. Hence, consumption of milk or milk products may bear the risk of exposing consumers to mycotoxins and it is essential to build and implement strategies for minimizing that risk.
IDF is currently working on an up-date/supplement to earlier IDF publications. It will include:
A description of hazard and risk of mycotoxins for milking animals and consumers; -
the possible and feasible control tools and verification of control measures; - safe methods of feed manufacturing and storage into codes of practice for good farming and good feeding as well as guidance on application of the HACCP concept to industrially and farm produced feedstuffs;
estimation of commercial risks, losses and reputation including the public perception of mycotoxin associated risk;
relevant peripheral topics and further research needs.
The planned monograph will outline the various issues associated with mycotoxins as a basis for due management at every stage of the food chain involving feed and milk with a clear orientation towards minimization of the impact of mycotoxins on dairying.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF VETERINARY DRUG RESIDUES IN MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS
The IDF work in this field comprises development and publication of guidance for the world dairy sector on types of antibiotic drugs used in the dairy sector, regulatory requirements and antimicrobial resistance monitoring. Surveys are conducted in IDF members countries to establish an overview of current practices and requirements. IDF is also playing an active role in on-going Codex work in relation to guidelines for the establishment of a regulatory programme for the control of drugs in foods including dairy products.
ON-GOING CODEX ACTIVITIES RELATING TO FOOD HYGIENE (CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD HYGIENE - CCFH)
Amongst the various on-going activities the following are of paramount interest to the dairy sector and with active IDF participation:
- Code of Hygienic Practices for Milk and Milk Products as a horizontal regulatory frame for international trade in dairy products, IDF had contributed a major part of the document in its capacity of scientific-technical advisor to Codex in dairy related matters,
- Guidelines on Validation of Food Hygiene Control Measures,
- Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Management,
- Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the [Management] of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods, and
- Guidelines for the Hygienic Reuse of Processing Water in Food Plants
Supplementary to the Codex texts under elaboration, IDF is currently developing a vision on Food Safety Objective (FSO) and Performance Objective (PO) as key concepts in future food safety management. This is subsequent to revolutionary developments within quantitative microbiological risk assessment enabling quantitative estimation of the distribution of health risks relative to consumer exposure to specified hazards. Mathematical modeling and simulation enable a quantitative estimate of the contributions of each stage in the food chains. Thus, a holistic food safety management can be applied focused on scientifically documented needs to manage risks associated with food borne hazards.
TRACEABILITY/TRACE-BACK
New IDF work in relation to traceability/trace-back will commence in due course based on the fact that a number of countries have introduced requirements for traceability in food legislation recently. Traceability/trace-back is increasingly regarded as an effective means to contribute to both product safety and consumer confidence in food labelling.
The impact of traceability on food production in general and the dairy sector in particular, depends very much on the appropriateness of the requirements as well as the degree of harmonization between trading partners/countries. IDF will contribute to the establishment of internationally recognized sound principles and guidelines for the application of traceability/product tracing to food/dairy products in the following areas:
principles to be taken into account when establishing requirements (regulations) for traceability/product tracing,
examples (if possible from various regions) of practical applications of traceability/product tracing to various dairy products/commodities for both SPS and TBT purposes, illustrating the performances and limits of the system.
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR FOOD SAFETY IN THE DAIRY PRODUCTION CHAIN
Food safety incidents often originate from the early stages of the food production chain, sometimes far out of scope of the manufacturers of the food. The hazards in these early stages are more numerous and more difficult to control than the ones in the confined manufacturing stage. Nevertheless
they can generally be prevented by rather straightforward control measures, if the existence of the hazard would only have been recognized. Producers in the preceding links of the production chain usually attune the quality assurance to the quality criteria of their direct buyers only. The hazards which exist for the end product of the production chain are not always taken into account. Experience learns that this is quite a risk, especially in the long production chain of dairy products.
IDF has initiated work on setting-up a framework for exchange of information and consultation on food safety issues between various international organisations that represent the sectors in the dairy production chain. It also includes proposals on how to make stakeholder consultations a regular feature in different IDF work activities throughout the food chain.
CONCLUSION
To produce safe and wholesome dairy products it is indispensable to control all factors in each link of the production chain that might have a negative effect on safety and suitability of the final product of the food chain.
Whereas the primary responsibility lies with the food manufacturer for ensuring that the foods manufactured are safe and suitable, there is a continuum of effective controls needed by the other parties constituting the food chain. Consequently, food safety is a shared responsibilities of all players along the food chain, including but not limited to feed and raw material suppliers, feed manufacturers, cattle reeders, veterinarians, dairy farmers, equipment suppliers, dairy processors, retailers, etc.
IDF’s role and contribution to dairy safety and hygiene is to provide the scientific and technical expertise needed to develop regulatory text and to supply the dairy sector and other stakeholders in dairying with practical guidance on how to achieve the required safety and suitability of dairy products world-wide.
IDF is very proud of the close working relationships we have with FAO, OIE, and the Codex office, and the valuable work our four organizations have accomplished, and will continue to accomplish in the future, together.
IDF/FAO international symposium on dairy safety and hygiene Cape Town,
South Africa, March 2–5 2004
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