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guidelines to reduce the future risk of microbiological
contamination.
A further measure was the implementation of the
new Guideline Preparation on January 1, 2012.
It applies to all stages and also concerns the
processing of high-risk products like sprouts and
shoots. The focus is on specific hygiene provisions
and mandatory microbiological monitoring.
Further development of risk-based
inspections
When QS introduced the risk-based control plan for
residue monitoring in 2010, the goal was to adapt
residue monitoring to market requirements. In line
with this plan, the number of samples taken for a
product is determined by a risk index. This index is
recalculated every year based on the evaluation of
the QS database. Moreover, the number of samples
for high-risk products was also increased in 2011
and the product list aligned with the designations
outlined in the relevant EU legislation. This makes
it easier to allocate the legally stipulated maximum
residue concentrations to the tested products.
International cooperation bears fruit
Almost 33 percent of fruit and vegetable producers
in the QS scheme and 23 percent of wholesalers
are meanwhile from outside Germany. This means
that effective international networks and intensive
cross-border dialogue are particularly important.
To this end, the European Network for Fruit and
Vegetables (A-NET) was created at the Fruit Logistica
2011. Alongside QS, this network comprises four
other standard owners: AMA Marketing (Austria), Red
Tractor (England), Vegaplan (Belgium) and SwissGAP
(Switzerland). At its three meetings to date, A-NET
has drawn up a draft policy paper and extended the
process of mutual recognition. In February 2011, QS
and Vegaplan extended their mutual recognition
agreement signed in 2007 to include residue
monitoring and the potato product segment. Mutual
recognition of the AMAG.A.P. and QS-GAP audits
was agreed at the Fruit Logistica 2012. This enables
producers holding a valid certificate for one of the
standards to deliver to the other scheme without any
additional red tape.
Redoubled efforts to ensure an even
higher level of safety
During the EHEC incidents in the spring of 2011, QS
performed active crisis management and supplied
rapid information to support the efforts of scheme
participants. What is at least as important, however,
is to take measures to ensure that incidents of
this kind do not re-occur. New requirements for
sprouts and shoots were incorporated in the QS
Supply chain fruit,
vegetables and potatoes
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March 2009: coordination platform for piglet castration takes up work
At the joint expert workshop of QS and the German Society for Animal Production
(DGfZ) on March 9, 2009 in Kassel, over 130 experts and speakers from the scientific
field, industry and animal welfare organisations discuss the question of how to totally
do without piglet castration in the long term. The workshop is the kick-off event for the
QS coordination platform „Renunciation of Piglet Castration“.
QS – Report on 2011 Outlook for 2012
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July 2009: animal welfare in pig production
The „Report Mainz“ TV programme reports on
irregularities in a pig production facility.
QS performs audits of special purpose and
agrees with the facility on a comprehensive
action plan to remedy the situation.
Qu a l i t y A s s u r a n c e .
Fr om f a rm t o s h o p .