What is a hygiene code?
The hygiene code has been created because it is essential for hygienic work. There are various hygiene codes. A hygiene code can vary per branch or even per company. A hygiene code can be seen as a work of reference. It contains methods for guaranteeing food safety of products. In the hygiene code there are practical descriptions about handling hygiene. The hygiene code is based on HACCP.
Which hygiene codes are there?
For each branch there is a hygiene code. The most well-known hygiene code is for the catering branch, because lots of people come into contact with it. But there are also hygiene codes for the transport, storage and distribution of foodstuffs. Inland navigation also has its own hygiene code.
Enforcement of a hygiene code
The hygiene code is enforced by the Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit (Food and Products Authority). Safe and healthy food, safe products and healthy animals are central to this organisation. They concern themselves with food safety, product safety, alcohol and tobacco, animal diseases and welfare. They can hand out fines if it is found that the hygiene code is not followed. A fine may be up to 680,- euro. The checks are not announced beforehand. It is therefore advisable not to wait, but to act preventively and follow an HACCP hygiene code course.
Getting a hygiene code
In general, you can collect or order a hygiene code from the branch organisation. It sometimes happens that there is no hygiene code for a particular industry. Then you must develop one yourself. This must conform to the requirements of the Warenwetregeling hygiëne van levensmiddelen (Goods law regulations for hygiene of foodstuffs). You can also make an HACCP plan. If you are in possession of an HACCP hygiene code certificate you know exactly what is of importance with HACCP.
