SFPA PUBLISH GUIDANCE ON FOOD BUSINESS OPERATOR OBLIGATIONS

SFPA Publish Guidance on Food Business Operator Obligations when Non-Compliant Seafood or Seafood Potentially Injurious to Human Health is Identified
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) recently published a Food Safety Information Notice (FSIN) in relation to Food Business Operator obligations when non-compliant seafood or seafood potentially injurious to human health is identified.* The key responsibilities for all Food Business Operators, as set out in Food Law, include placing safe food on the market, ensuring adherence to procedures based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles, adequately labelling product, maintaining traceability and withdrawing/recalling potentially unsafe food from the market or the final consumer.
If a Food Business Operator considers or has reason to believe that a fishery or aquaculture product which it has imported, produced, processed, or distributed is not in compliance with the food safety requirements or may be injurious to human health, and the product has left the control of the Food Business Operator, procedures must be immediately initiated to withdraw the product in question from the market in accordance with the business’s Food Safety Management System. If the product has been supplied to the final consumer via retail, the product must be recalled, and the final consumer notified. The SFPA must also be informed. During a withdrawal or recall, the Food Business Operator will be required to co-operate fully with the SFPA and, as necessary, with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
To ensure efficient and timely withdrawal /recall of a non-compliant product or product which may be injurious to human health, a Food Business Operator must have detailed contact details of each customer including their full address. This information must be made available to the SFPA. It is not, however, necessary to maintain addresses of final consumers supplied via retail.
The SFPA are committed to supporting compliance with both new and existing legislation and are available to provide guidance. For assistance or further details on the FSIN, please contact: sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie