A FSMA compliance checklist is a tool used to help guide food companies develop an efficient food safety plan that meets FSMA standards. Use the questions in this checklist to evaluate current procedures and identify areas to improve on. Use and customize this checklist depending on FSMA requirements applicable to your facility.
Designated an FSMA Qualified Individual, competent FSMA Auditor and competent Sanitation Manager
Established roles for qualified individuals and delegated responsibility for every step of safety plan's implementation, verification, validation, and correction
Qualified individuals have been trained in the application of risk-based preventive controls
Determined which FSMA requirements are applicable to the facility
Hazard Analysis
Are hazards evaluated based on the significance they pose?
Are identified hazards likely to occur even with preventive measures taken?
Do identified hazards pose severe threat to consumers?
Are allergens evaluated on points which cross-contamination hazards could emerge?
Labeling
Are raw ingredients containing allergens properly labeled?
Storage
Are storage areas organized to minimize the chances of allergen contamination from a spill?
Can storage areas be effectively cleaned in the event of an allergen spill?
Are bulk storage containers and silos designated as allergen-free?
Staging
Do ingredients containing allergens share staging areas with allergen-free areas?
Are staging areas designed for thorough cleaning between production runs?
Utensils
Are separate utensils used for preparing allergen-free foods?
Are utensils for preparing allergen-free foods clearly marked?
Do utensils share storage or cleaning areas?
Personnel
Are workers able to move between areas preparing allergen and allergen-free products?
Do personnel use PPE and sanitation procedures to prevent cross-contamination?
Please specify what these are
Biological
Equipment
Is processing equipment designed for sanitation?
Are processing surfaces free of cracks that could harbor bacteria?
Transportation
Are transportation containers routinely sterilized?
Are ingredients transported at proper temperatures?
Are containers designed to effectively seal out environmental contaminants?
Sanitation
Are sanitation procedures in place to prevent cross-contamination from employees?
Specify procedures
Are processing areas designed for routine sanitation?
Raw Materials
Are raw ingredients checked for spoilage and contamination prior to processing?
Facility
Grounds
Are pests, dirt, and other potential contaminants present on the facility’s grounds?
Structure
Are roofs and walls effectively sealing out environmental contaminants?
Non-contact surfaces
Are the facility’s floors and fixtures free of cracks that could harbor bacteria or other contaminants?
Plumbing and HVAC
Are drains and vents able to be sanitized?
Non-food chemicals
Are potentially hazardous chemicals properly labeled and stored?
Do routine maintenance tasks require introducing non-food chemicals into the processing area?
Supply Chain
Are suppliers of potentially-hazardous ingredients routinely audited?
Have the preventive controls of suppliers been documented and reviewed?
Does your Food Safety Plan require taking action if a supplier fails to conform to your standards?
Intentional Adulteration
Could a malicious employee or intruder intentionally contaminate products?
What supervisory measures are in place to prevent and detect intentional contamination?
Preventive Controls
Monitoring
Does your food safety plan identify Critical Control Points where contamination can be stopped at its source (ie, handwashing stations, pasteurization baths)?
What oversight procedures are in place to ensure the Safety Plan is followed at these points?
Do your food safety plan specify critical limits (e.g., temperature, or cooking time) which must not be exceeded?
Is product testing to verify the effectiveness of controls routinely scheduled?
Is the processing environment (e.g., condensation from pipes, accumulation of waste materials) constantly monitored to ensure conditions don't promote contamination?
Validation
Do verification processes follow a regular schedule?
Is verification performed by a designated Qualified Individual?
Are implementation records regularly audited for compliance?
Is testing equipment routinely calibrated to ensure accuracy corrections?
If a critical limit is exceeded, what new testing protocols will be used to validate the effectiveness of new controls?
Re-anlaysis
Has your Food Safety Plan been reanalyzed in the past three years?
Is there a new process for revising the plan to mitigate new hazards?
Does the plan reflect the latest food safety research?
Recalls
Is there a documented plan in the event of a recall?
Has a recall team been designated? Are the team members’ roles clear?
Can at least 98% of the affected product be removed from the supply chain?
Can all affected products be identified and located within four hours?
Can the supply chain be traced to locate the source of contamination?
Are there notification procedures in place to alert distributors in the event of a recall?
Are disposal procedures followed to ensure the removal of contaminated products and ingredients?
Please note that this checklist template is a hypothetical appuses-hero example and provides only standard information. The template does not aim to replace, among other things, workplace, health and safety advice, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or any other applicable law. You should seek your professional advice to determine whether the use of such a checklist is appropriate in your workplace or jurisdiction.
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