GMP+ is a global leader in food safety and quality control for animal feed, and the GMP+ certification adds credibility to the quality and safety of products for any manufacturer involved in animal feed production.
The GMP+ standard for animal feed safety certification consists of two modules: GMP+FSA (GMP + Food Safety Assurance) and GMP+FRA (GMP + Food Safety Responsibility). The term GMP stands for “Good Manufacturing Practice,” which is the standard used for issuing GMP+ certificates based on a chain principle and includes requirements from ISO quality management standards.
To obtain GMP+ certification, it is essential to have a food safety management system for animal feed that meets GMP+ standards. Companies first define their activities and choose the appropriate GMP+ standard for certification. There are four main GMP+ certification standards. One is a general standard with a broad scope of certification, and three are specific standards with narrower scopes. The GMP+B1 standard covers all animal feed products and can be used by any company that produces, trades, or stores animal feed. This GMP+ module is often used by companies that have ISO certification. The GMP+ standard follows the same structure and terminology as the latest ISO 9001 standard.
The three specific GMP+ modules—B2, B3, and B4—offer a high level of animal feed safety but are designed for more specific activities. This means that the terminology in these documents is more recognizable and includes several relevant examples/explanations. A schematic overview of the scope of the four main GMP+FSA standards is presented in the following table:
- B1 – Production, trade, and services
- B2 – Production of feed ingredients
- B3 – Trade, collection, storage, and transport of animal feed
- B4 – Transport
Establishing a food safety system fundamentally involves implementing rules and procedures aimed at controlling the safety of animal feed, such as defining tasks and responsibilities, production instructions, cleaning protocols, record-keeping, and updating quality instructions and control records.
GMP+ is a system for animal feed safety that enables companies to track any feed package placed on the market, ensuring traceability of production. In cases of unsafe animal feed, this information is crucial for identifying the source and preventing further contamination. Companies can seek advice from the certification body INTERCERT DOO for effective and efficient certification of their food safety management system for animal feed, although they often conduct internal monitoring and preparations to ensure all necessary conditions are met.