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Inspection Specialists Elite Inspection , have a wealth of experience in the food industry, we are able to advise on choice of inspection systems relating to product quality and food safety. Food Safety: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point What is HACCP? HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a programme for the prevention of non-conformances in the Food Processing Industry. HACCP and Metal Detectors With respect to metal detection, the HACCP food safety programme requires the following: Critical Control Point The metal detector is a food safety critical physical control point of the danger of metal pollution. If no control is carried out it is likely to result in a health risk. GMP - Good Manufacturing Practice Here, detectability defines the critical limiting value for the calibration to the smallest recognisable metal ball. A product has to be kept free from metal pollution as made possible by "Good Manufacturing Practice" (GMP) and according to the latest state-of-the-art. With reference to metal detectors, this means that all metal pieces which a modern metal detector reliably detects on optimum installation have to be removed from the product. Critical limiting value Setting of the critical limiting value, however, must in any case enable the metal detector to operate in a stable and reliable manner without triggering random or false alarms. Systematically and continuously You must ensure that all products are systematically and continuously tested by the metal detector. Documentation Complete documentation must be made on the operation and results of the metal detection. Correction Procedure If a piece of metal is detected in the production process, it is absolutely necessary to search for its source. The source of metal contamination has to be rigorously eliminated in order to exclude further pollution from the same source. Maintenance Modern metal detectors are equipped with an automatic self-control system and are, therefore, maintenance-free. Preventive maintenance by the manufacturer of metal detectors include consulting the customer and verifying the system on site if it is still correctly installed after a longer operation period. It is checked if no external interference affects the system's performance and if the detecting sensitivity for the current product and site is still optimally set. This includes, in addition, the training and introduction of new staff and the integration into quality management. DIN ISO 9000 and Metal Detectors It is recommended to write detailed job instructions for the metal detector where e. g. the measures to be taken after metal alarm and testing procedures are laid down. On request, a sample for job instructions can be obtained from Inline. Furthermore, reference is made to all the items specified under HACCP. Sample: Job instruction according ISO 9000 Job instruction: General Function Target people: Quality management staff, HACCP-Manager At job start: Switch the metal detector on and wait until you read STATUS OK display. Move to the appropriate product number (refer to job instruction "Recall product number"). Check Metal Detector Function: Move some metal free product samples through the metal detector. A metal alarm should NOT occur! Move another product sample along with a metal test object through the sensor head. A metal alarm must occur now! The test intervals must be short enough. All products having passed the metal detector since the last test procedure must be able to re-tested again. In addition, tests should be carried out at the beginning of working shift and when changing products. Production It should be ensured that all products are systematically and continuously tested by the metal detector.