4
INFO LETTER anniversary issue
fruit, vegetables and potatoes |
February 2014
Quality Assurance.
From farm to shop.
PRESS REPORTS
QUALITY ASSURANCE WITH FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND POTATOES
2006
Implementation of QS-GAP
With the QS-GAP standard, QS
introduces a standard for the
production of fruit, vegetables
and potatoes which combines
QS requirements with the
GlobalG.A.P. (Previously Europe-
gap) criteria. Both standard own-
ers agree mutual recognition,
thus avoiding double auditing.
2011
A far-reaching crisis: EHEC
In spring of 2011, the EHEC outbreak
was a dramatic turning point for the
entire supply chain of fruit and vege-
tables. QS draws the consequences
from the EHEC incidents. The Guide-
line Preparation applies to the man-
ufacture of prepared products, such
as fresh-cut salads and sprouts. It
contains specific hygiene provisions
and the obligation to implement mi-
crobiological monitoring.
2007/2008
New shareholders level the path to Europe
The group of shareholders gets bigger with
Deutsche Fruchthandelsver-
band e.V.
(DFHV) joining the
QS Fachgesellschaft Obst-Gemüse-Kar-
toffeln
in 2007. From February 2008,
Verbond van Belgische Tuin-
bouwveilingen
(VBT) represents the interests of the Belgian fruit and
vegetable producers and wholesalers in the QS scheme. The Dutch Pro-
duce Association (DPA) speaks on behalf of the Dutch producers and
wholesalers from September 2008. The first international recognitions
are also established during this period when QS and Vegaplan, the own-
er of the Belgian quality standard IKKB agree mutual recognition of au-
dits in the field of fruit and vegetable production.
Everyone delivers quality to
everyone else
Controlled production and market-
ing processes right from the start.
Called into being in 2001 for meat
and meat products, the industry
transferred the concept to fruit,
vegetables and potatoes in 2004
and founded QS Fachgesellschaft
Obst-Gemüse-Kartoffeln GmbH. A
lot has happened since then and
we have achieved a great deal to-
gether over the last ten years. We
have set up a consistent and thor-
ough inspection system, trained
auditors, established the residue
monitoring and built up a com-
prehensive crisis management
system. The scheme also suc-
cessfully mastered the particularly
critical situation during the EHEC
crisis where
the industry
– with the
support of
QS – took
decisive and
consistent
action.
Time doesn’t stand still though.
We also want to make an active
contribution in the future to en-
sure that everyone involved in the
QS scheme can rely on everyone
else to deliver the same high qual-
ity to everyone. Thorough checks,
transparency and clear marking
and labelling are the prerequisites
for this.
Dr. Hermann-Josef Nienhoff
,
Managing Director QS Qualität
und Sicherheit GmbH
2006
First labo-
ratory per-
f o r m a n c e
assessment
A complete
performance assessment for lab-
oratories with approval for the
QS scheme is conducted for the
first time. It serves to assure the
efficiency and analysis quality of
the laboratories.
Fruchthandel 30/2004
9/10/2004
Bauernzeitung 24/09/2004
