Good Operating Practice

The importance of GOP General Listeria -specific GOP Specific food GOP These are in addition to the guidance available on the MAF website: stry/general/gop stry/general/gop

Listeria-specific good operating practice PREVENT Listeria entry CONTROL / MANAGE Listeria in the processing environment MINIMISE Listeria contamination of RTE foods prior to final packaging LIMIT potential Listeria growth in RTE food after final packing = Develop, implement and improve GOP to specifically target the reduction or prevention of Listeria contamination in RTE foods

Document format 8.2 TOOLS What : Tools used for repairs and maintenance in the high care areas should be dedicated for that purpose. Why : Tools may be a source of Listeria, other harmful micro- organisms and physical hazards How : –Where tools, including scaffolding, tool bags and boxes, used in construction and maintenance are not dedicated for use in the high care areas, these should be cleaned before being brought into the processing room. –Tool bags and boxes used by maintenance staff and contractors should be made of a material that can be easily cleaned, i.e. not fabric.

Listeria-specific GOP People Access controls Personal Hygiene Clothing Training/competency

Listeria-specific GOP Buildings Building location Building layout and design Design, operation and use of drains Equipment Equipment design Equipment operation

Listeria-specific GOP Repairs and maintenance General construction, repairs and maintenance Tools Routine maintenance –Frequency –Buildings –Equipment –Returning equipment to use –Emergency Maintenance staff Records Corrective actions

Listeria-specific GOP Incoming materials Raw materials Packaging materials Water and air End product Labelling and product information Storage and transport

Listeria-specific GOP Stores InOut Handling of product and intermediaries post Listeria control step Handling of raw materials and ingredients before Listeria control step Stores Storage Intermediary product Outsid e InOut Storage of intermediaries Pre- CCP Packing Process control Review Minimise cross-contamination –Access controls –Process flow – separation of activities Pre-operational hygiene check –Calibration of equipment Control of: –inputs –process –end product Corrective action

Listeria-specific GOP Cleaning and sanitation – high care Method of cleaning Setting up a cleaning and sanitation programme Frequency of cleaning (and examples) Equipment Cleaning of specific facilities and equipment Records Corrective actions Monitoring, review and validation

Listeria-specific GOP Specific food issues Is there any Listeria-specific GOP that should be included for a particular food industry that should be included here?

GOP