PAC unites with IFS to take PACsecure global

The Packaging Assn. (PAC) has joined with Berlin, Germany-based, global standard owner IFS Management GmbH to achieve international recognition of PAC's PACsecure food safety standard for individual packaging materials.

James Downham, CEO of PAC, says, "While we firmly believe that PACsecure is the world's foremost standard for primary and secondary packaging, a large proportion of the international food industry will only accept packaging that is recognized by the Paris, France-based Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

"IFS has fully demonstrated its expertise to partner with us in this endeavor. It is already the owner of the GFSI benchmarked IFS Food standard, the IFS Logistics and other supply chain standards with more than 12,000 certifications globally.

"As PAC is a not-for-profit organization, it is not in a position to go it alone in achieving GFSI recognition."

Name change
Downham adds that PACsecure will now become IFS PACsecure and will be submitted for GFSI benchmarking and made available around the world to ensure the safety and quality of packaging materials for the food industry.

"More importantly for the Canadian food and packaging manufacturing sector, it means their products will be more readily accepted by both the domestic and international food industry."

Downham points out that more than 100 Canadian firms including packaging manufacturers, their customers and suppliers helped develop food safety standards for each type of packaging material.

In turn, each standard was based on a process known as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) criteria, which is recognized by the United Nations and most of the food industry worldwide.

The IFS PACsecure standard covers the 24 different manufacturing practices to produce specific packaging materials. Because of this, one size does not fit all when it comes to implementing a food safety standard.

To assist the packaging sector to implement the IFS PACsecure standard, a series of easy to use workbooks have been developed in English and French for quality and assurance managers. In other words, it takes the standard from 60,000 feet to the shop floor.

In addition, the process also identifies potential hazards associated with each of the different manufacturing processes—making it easier for companies to implement cost-effective solutions in preventing these hazards.

PACsecure has also been accepted by the U.S.-based Food Safety Alliance for Packaging. This organization includes companies such as General Mills, Nestlé, Kraft, ConAgra Foods, Sara Lee, Campbell Soup and many others.

IFS PACsecure is a non-prescriptive standard. Rather it is science, and risk-based resulting in more cost-effective solutions.

Training in St. Paul, MN
On Oct. 17, 2012 PAC is holding a one-day IFS PACsecure HACCP training course for plant managers and quality assurance personnel that is being hosted by H.B. Fuller at its St. Paul, MN, headquarters. H.B. Fuller is one of the world's largest suppliers of industrial adhesives.

The course will assist participants to become compliant with the IFS PACsecure food safety HACCP standard for individual packaging materials.

In addition, PAC will also be hosting a seminar on IFS PACsecure at PACK EXPO in Chicago on Oct. 30, 2012.

Source: PAC

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