Own check in food establishments

The EU-legislation is based on the principle that food establishments are responsible for compliance with the rules. This applies to all parts of the food chain from "stable to table".

Own check programme
Food establishments are therefore required to perform own checks. All establishments must use good manufacturing practice and most establishments must also have a written own check programme.

The written own check programme is required for areas where there is a direct risk for the food safety or where there are special requirements in the legislation e.g. for establishments exporting to third countries or preparing organic food.

The part of the own check programme concerning food safety must be based upon the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). This implies e.g. risk analysis, documentation of the monitoring and establishing corrective actions.

Analyses can be an element of the own check programme and show the effect of it. Many establishments´ own check programmes do not require analytical control except measurements of temperature or weight.

National guidelines
The food industry has been urged by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration to compile the so-called "sector codes for good hygienic practice" or national guidelines.

Many food industry sectors have produced guidelines describing how companies can be organized and run in a hygienically responsible way and can implement efficient own check programmes.

These guidelines should help the individual companies to tailor their own programmes of own check.

Inspection of the own check procedures
For establishments only following good manufacturing practice the inspectors check that the establishment follows the rules by e.g. physical inspection.

For establishments having a written own check programme the inspector performs an audit. The inspector checks if the own check programme is sufficient and well implemented.

In case of deficiencies, the inspector requires that the establishment makes a better implementation of the own check programme or revise the programme.