What regulations apply to the food industry?
All businesses that serve food or drink to the public need to comply with laws that ensure your food is safe and that the premises are clean. Regulations differ from area to area. To find out exactly what you need to do, contact your local municipality about how to comply.
Department of Health regulations
The Department of Health regulations say you must have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to ensure that all food is handled and served without risk to customers’ health.
Environmental health regulations
You need a certificate (valid for one year) from a certifying body before you can start trading. Click here to learn more about certification. In terms of these regulations, the person in charge or the owner of all premises, on which food is handled, whether it is health food or fast food, is required to have a “Certificate of Acceptability.”
Get to know the laws that control imported food products
I you intend to carry imported health food products you should also be aware of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 This law controls the sale, manufacture and importation of foodstuffs, cosmetics and disinfectants.
Organic food
If your business sells organic products, you will need to follow organic standards that enforced by the authorities in South Africa. You can contact Afrisco if you need details regarding the organic certification process.
Food preparation training
Entecom offers skills training courses that cover the basics for food handlers, good manufacturing practices, quality control, storage and distribution practices, supplier auditing and compiling a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) study.
Within these courses, trainees with learn how to apply good manufacturing practises as part of a food safety system, while maintaining good personal hygiene, health and presentation in a food-handling environment.
Added to this, they will learn how to apply these principles as part of a food safety system, while cleaning and sanitising food manufacturing equipment and surfaces manually. They also learn how to control pests and waste materials as part of a food safety system, and measure the temperatures of food products, and evaluate readings.
Training is also offered by HACCP Academy is an ISO 9001 accredited company and is registered with the FoodBev Seta as a service provider. HACCP Academy is a full service food safety consulting company, providing services through consulting and training units. HACCP Academy has extended registration with SETASA, PAETA, THETA and W&R SETA.
Food & Beverage Industry Trade Publications
You will also come across a number of trade publications that are useful in every area of this specific industry. Food Processing is a popular international title while Hotel & Restaurant and Restaurant Business are well known local titles.
For more information
www.afrisco.net
www.haccpacademy.co.za