HACCP systems are designed to  prevent and control food-safety hazards associated with food from the time a  company receives raw material through production to distribution to the  consumer. HACCP systems must be built upon a firm foundation of compliance with  current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and acceptable Sanitation Control  Procedures (SCPs). GMPs and sanitation procedures affect the processing  environment and should be considered prerequisite programs to HACCP.

When SSOPs are in place, HACCP can be more effective  because it can concentrate on the hazards  associated with the food or processing and not on  the processing plant environment. If sanitation controls are included as part of a HACCP plan, they must lend themselves to  all aspects of a critical control point (CCP)  such as establishing critical limits, monitoring, corrective  actions, verification and record-keeping procedures.

The cleaning, maintenance, and  pest control HACCP prerequisite programs are essential for establishing the  safe processing of food. Pest Management is the third major component of the  cleaning and maintenance program.

HACCP is not a stand-alone program but is one part  of a larger system of control procedures. For HACCP to function effectively, it  should be accompanied by the prerequisite programs. The cleaning, maintenance,  and pest control HACCP prerequisite programs are essential for establishing the  safe processing of food. Having HACCP recipes is desirable, but it is much more  so to have those recipes prepared using clean equipment that functions  consistently every day in a clean, pest-free facility. It is not possible to  produce safe food in a facility that is not cleaned, maintained, and free of  pests.

That's where Unimar management  system stands for. It allows the processor to include the pest  management program in its SSOP rather than its HACCP plan. Even without HACCP, the level of plant sanitation  and GMPs must comply with the regulation.  Contrary to popular perception, sanitation control is  not limited to cleaning equipment. Although clean equipment and a clean working area are essential for producing safe  foods, so are the pest control measures.

All food and beverage plants  create generous amounts of pest attractants such as heat, moisture, light,  food, shelter, olfactory stimulants and sundry forms of offal. Moreover each  plant, depending on its geographic location, has an assortment of "their own unique" pests that  they must constantly battle.

Unimar enforce the IPM  (Integrated Pest Management Program) to understand that the main objective of  any establishment's pest control program is to prevent the entrance of pests, or failing that, to remove unwanted pests from buildings and when applicable  their surrounding areas.  The most competent  and consistent pest control program should procure a proactive format analogous  to the seven principles of HACCP. Unimar has a highly proactive and preventive  pest management program requiring a regular documentation and verification  procedures culminating with the desired results, i.e. no pests.

Many already established GMPs  originally targeting personal sanitation and SSOPs can be integrated into a  pest control program.  Foot dips, hand  dips, good housekeeping practices, and proactive building maintenance protocols  would be a good start. Though Unimar scope of work serve an important role; a written  report of Unimar investigation is commonly presented to plant management with  copies forwarded to the all departments in charge allowing you to identify the missing  requirements in your practices.

Like HACCP Systems, a pest  control program is only as effective as the employees assigned to it. Written  fact sheets and training on how IPM (integrated Pest  management) shall be patiently taught and documented. Unimar customized pest  control program is not expected to completely eradicate pests. That?s biologically  impossible. However, Unimar can successfully manage and control pests at  acceptable levels just like eschewing virulent pathogens from any products.

Once a quarter make a concerted  effort to review and cross-pollinate all germane GMPs directly into your  ever-fluctuating pest management program. Become proactive with Unimar's  prudent advices. Actively share with us the responsibility and accountability  of your pest management goals.