Effectiveness of HACCP system in marine food export industry with reference to MPEDA

Abstract

HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, physical hazards from raw materials production and handling to manufacture, distribution and consumption of the finished products. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) has now been recognized as the best system for ensuring food safety. HACCP is a preventive strategy with shared responsibility from farm to table. HACCP allows manufacturers to identify hazards as they could occur through the stages of production so that adequate measures can be implemented so they can be prevented. HACCP system is a mandatory factor for exporting industry, especially for marine food industry. The system put forward the importance of hygiene, quality and hazard free products. The HACCP system runs on the seven basic principles starting rom identification of the hazards to documentation of the activities. The activities of the system is been carried out by a HACCP team which includes Technical Managers, Company Engineers, Microbiologist, Quality Manager, supervisors, External specialists. Marine Products Export Development Authority(MPEDA) being a governing authority for marine products export industry, works for the welfare of marine products exporting companies. MPEDA guides the export companies for implementing and maintaining HACCP system. The study had the following objectives. iv. To understand the HACCP protocols implemented in marine food export under MPEDA. v. To evaluate the perception of the management on HACCP implementation in marine food export under MPEDA vi. To study the constraints in HACCP implementation in marine food export and suggest solutions. The study on the topic was carried out in Ernakulam district. The respondents of the study were the managers of the marine food exporting companies.