FPC develops Produce Integrity Database
Sharing knowledge in confidence of emerging issues relating to pesticide residues exceedances, microbial and environmental contaminants will also give the fresh produce industry an advantage in influencing regulatory decision making.
The FPC Product Integrity database collates anonymised data available from individual members and their suppliers, including analyses results from individual companies’ sampling and monitoring programmes.
“Robust industry data gathered over time can help FPC put any potential risk into context in the event of regulatory scrutiny on pesticide residues levels or during investigations into alleged links of foodborne illness with fresh produce,” commented Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium.
“The effectiveness of such a database is dependent upon the commitment of the industry to agree to permit data to be used on a scale sufficient to make its findings credible. We are encouraging FPC members to step on board and to use this valuable tool.”
Food Experts brings ten years of expertise in this field, having developed sophisticated IT infrastructures to manage pesticide, microbiological and contaminant residue information in fresh produce.
“It’s not only about sharing data anonymously for the benefit of the industry; it’s also about providing value to each individual company. The database allows individual companies to interact with and manage suppliers, helps share information within the organisation and externally with suppliers and/or customers, managing information more efficiently and monitoring business performance,” said Nazario Muňoz, Food Experts Director.
The database allows participating companies to access their own data and analysis in a ‘one stop shop’, benchmark against regulatory and customer standards, and reduce admin costs. FPC and participating companies will also have access to industry anonymised aggregated data, protecting the confidentiality of the importer and producer.
The database will be launched at the ‘Crop Protection and the Food Chain’ seminar held by the Fresh Produce Consortium and the Crop Protection Association on 21 January 2015.
For more information:
Siân Thomas
Fresh Produce Consortium
Tel: +44 (0)1733 405792
Email: sian@freshproduce.org.uk