News

Freshcare has developed the following resources to highlight additional measures that may need to be considered to ensure businesses remain focused on delivering safe, quality fresh produce throughout the supply chain.

FACT SHEET: Food safety & quality incident management - additional measures during adverse events.

This factsheet highlights areas your business should focus on during the COVID-19 pandemic such as:

• Managing people within your business
• Food Safety Instructions – Health Declaration COVID-19
• Hygiene
• Cleaning and sanitation
• Sourcing from alternate suppliers (emergency supplies)
• Travel restrictions and biosecurity considerations  
• Worker training

DOWNLOAD THE FACT SHEET: Food safety & quality incident management - additional measures during adverse events.

FORM: Food Safety & Quality Form: F10 Food Safety Instructions Insert - Health Declaration (COVID-19).

Freshcare has developed this additional form to help you induct workers and visitors entering your site, and highlight restrictions in place in response to COVID-19.

DOWNLOAD THE FORM: Food Safety & Quality Form: F10 Food Safety Instructions Insert - Health Declaration (COVID-19).

Maintaining Certification During Extraordinary Circumstances  

Freshcare has provided guidance to Certification Bodies on options and requirements for audit rescheduling, deferment and certificate extension, specific to businesses whose certification may expire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses due for audit in the coming weeks should:

• Review the Freshcare resources provided above and consider the additional measures required to be adopted by your business.
• Only contact your Certification Body if you have restrictions in place that impact access to your sites.
• Consider options provided by your Certification Body, and what will work best for maintaining your certification.
• Provide any supporting documentation requested by the Certification Body.

As Certification Bodies are currently handling a large volume of enquiries, we ask that you please be patient, as they prioritise replies according to audit due date. We recommend that where possible enquires to Certification Bodies at this time should be directed via email.

Please note: adjustments made to audit scheduling during this time will not be reflected in changes to certification anniversary month for certified businesses.