The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) has released new protocols to be followed by fresh and perishable products companies to ensure safe use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs).
The RPA had formed a food safety working group in 2014 which comprised retailers, grower shippers, manufacturers, industry associations and RPC providers who contributed in forming the guidelines. The group spent a year to come up with the new set of rules.
The guidelines take into consideration washing, handling, storing, packing, displaying, and collecting of RPCs in the supply chain apart from defined Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP), and hourly, daily, monthly, and quarterly microbiological testing.
Chair of the RPA Food Safety Working Group and Director of Food Safety and Compliance at IFCO Systems Paul Pederson said: "RPCs have become a pervasive and essential part of the food supply chain. It is important that each member of the supply chain has a clear understanding of their role for the safe and efficient use of RPCs.
"The RPA strongly encourages all companies involved in RPC use to implement these recommendations and to treat RPCs with respect and as a critical part of the food safety supply chain."
For growers and retailers, most of the recommendations pertain to practices of keeping clean RPCs from coming into contact with potential contaminants.
Growers have been asked to wrap pallets of clean RPCs, transport RPCs in covered van trailers or flatbed trailers with covers, carry out regular inspection of trailers, store RPCs under cover, preferably inside and use only RPC compliant labels.
Retailers and growers have also been asked to stack empty or used RPCs in a uniform and interlocking manner, collapsed, to eliminate potential for them to topple over and contaminate other product in the area, wrap used pallets tightly and promptly notify RPC provider for pickup.
The guidelines have recommended RPC providers to adopt a comprehensive microbiological sanitation and testing regime that would cover human and plant pathogens in all aspects.
