PAS 223 - Managing Food Safety for Packaging

What is PAS 223?

The Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 223 has been developed to specifically address prerequisite programs (PRPs) of food safety for food and drink packaging design and manufacture and is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 22000, the global food safety management system standard for the whole food supply chain. PAS 223 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining PRPs and design requirements to assist in controlling food safety hazards in the manufacture of food packaging. The specification is applicable to all organizations that manufacture food packaging, regardless of size or complexities; however, PAS 223 is not designed or intended for use in other parts of the food supply chain. For more information, visit www.lrqausa.com/pas-223

Benefits
Certification to PAS 223 + ISO 22000 from LRQA ensures your organization is adopting industry-recognized best practice for the safe design and manufacture of food and drink packaging from a global Business Assurance provider. In addition, certification from LRQA is credible, independent, respected and is designed to deliver: greater control and transparency of packaging design and manufacturing processes greater confidence in food and drink packaging systems consistency across global packaging industry best practices greater confidence in food products reduced consumer health risks improved reputation and brand protection improved supply chain management cost savings through process efficiencies and streamlined assessments PAS 223 + ISO 22000 certification also forms the basis for continual improvement and benchmarking on a global level.

Who developed PAS 223?

The Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSAFE) sponsored the development of PAS 223, and a steering group with representatives from SSAFE and The Coca-Cola Company technically authored the PAS 223 specification. Additional input was provided by representatives from the Foundation for Food Safety Certification (FSSC); major international food and beverage companies including Nestl, Danone, Unilever and Kraft; leading packaging suppliers including TetraPAK, Amcor Flexibles, Alpla, Rexam and Owens-Illinois; and packaging trade associations including the Institute for Packaging Professionals/Food Safety Alliance for Packaging (FSAP).

Becoming Certified
Already certified to ISO 22000?
LRQA can provide a gap analysis and assessment to PAS 223 to help you achieve certification.

Not yet certified to ISO 22000?

If youre uncertain about the process to transition your existing food safety system, LRQA can perform a gap analysis to help you determine your best route to ISO 22000 + PAS 223 certification. Following a successful assessment, we can then certify you to ISO 22000 + PAS 223.

Achieving FSSC 22000 certification

It is anticipated that over time FSSC 22000 will extend its scope to include packaging material manufacturing thereby adding PAS 223 to its certification scheme. Once this occurs, for packaging material manufacturers who hold an ISO 22000 + PAS 223 certificate at that time, LRQA can upgrade your certificate to FSSC.

GFSI Recognition
The Foundation for Food Safety Certification has begun the process of extending the scope of FSSC 22000 to include packaging materials manufacturers by adding PAS 223 to its certification scheme. Once this is finalized, it would enable certification to be recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

PAS 223 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining prerequisite programs (PRPs) and design requirements to assist in controlling food safety hazards in the manufacture of food packaging.

The benefits of choosing LRQA

At LRQA, we are passionate about what we do, and our reputation in management systems certification is renowned worldwide. We are one of the worlds leading providers of independent Business Assurance services with a portfolio of internationally recognized clients, and we bring international expertise and deep insight into the complex world of modern food supply chain management. For more than 25 years, LRQA has worked with over 5,000 food clients and their supply chains, including most of the world's top brands, to achieve the best from their management systems.

LRQA Business Assurance

Applying our unique methodology LRQA Business Assurance we turn assessment into a powerful management tool to improve and protect performance. By understanding what really matters to your organization and stakeholders, we help you improve your management system and your business at the same time.

Acting with integrity

With no shareholders of our own, we are independent and impartial in everything we do. We are committed to acting with integrity and objectivity at all times. In addition, more than 45 accreditations bodies around the world recognize LRQAs work.

Global reach - local focus

We are a global organization, providing integrated, co-ordinated Business Assurance services in over 120 countries. Wherever you are in the world, we are able to work with you to help you manage your risks and protect your reputation.

Technical expertise
LRQA is recognized worldwide for its technical expertise and participates in leading technical committees around the world, including the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Foundation for Food Safety Certification and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Our experienced and highly trained food safety assessors are matched to your business needs enabling an effective and robust assessment of your system.

LRQA Business Assurance can help you manage your food safety systems and risks to both improve and protect not only the current and future performance of your organization, but your consumers and brand reputation, as well.

Thought leadership
We have a prominent leadership role in the development of food safety standards and schemes, including HACCP, ISO 22000, PAS 220 and FSSC 22000. Our experts are recognized voices in the industry and regularly part of the technical committees that improve and develop standards. Our global food product manager is a member of the ISO 22000 Technical Committee and Chairman of the Foundation for Food Safety Certification.

How LRQA can help

Gap Analysis If you are unsure of your systems readiness for the certification process we can review your system before your formal assessment. In essence, this is a dry run for your formal certification assessment, providing confidence and saving you time and money in the long run. Certification Once successful assessments are carried out and technical approval given, we award you a certificate. This provides credibility for your stakeholders through the globally recognized LRQA brand. Combined Assessments If you operate multiple management systems, our unique Business Assurance approach allows you to combine assessments, which can help minimize disruption and cost and improve integration of management systems. Training We offer public and on site food safety training courses, including customized solutions based on your needs. Contact us for more information on courses for PAS 223. Contact us www.lrqausa.com/food inquiries-usa@lrqa.com +1 281 398 7370

Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Inc. 1330 Enclave Parkway, Suite 200, Houston, Texas, 77077 Lloyds Register Quality Assurance is a member of the Lloyds Register Group. Lloyds Register and LRQA are trading names of the Lloyds Register Group of entities. Services are provided by members of the Lloyds Register Group, for details see www.lr.org/entities Care is taken to ensure that all information provided is accurate and up to date. However, LRQA accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies in, or changes to, information. LRQA 2010 - Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Inc. - All rights reserved. Pub, July 2011