Process Validation

Validate the effectiveness of your food manufacturing procedures from production to distribution.

Global and national food safety regulations necessitate controls for the prevention of microbial contamination in the value chain and optimization of manufacturing processes to produce safe foods. They include specific requirements relating to the acquisition and evaluation of scientific and technical evidence when determining the efficacy of preventive controls. Prior to this, principles and approaches for control measure validation were published in Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2008.

Validate critical control points with SGS process validation solutions

We offer a comprehensive range of services to support the validation of your critical control points, a requirement in all industry recognized food safety systems. Our experts work alongside your HACCP manager during the design, performance, management and validation of preventive control processes such as:

• Thermal processes (e.g., pasteurization, other high-pressure processing, and heat-treatments)
• Non-thermal processes (e.g., UV, cold plasma, washing, ozone-treatment, fogging, biocide alternatives) 

We ensure the correct scientific and technical evidence is gathered and evaluated. Verification activities include record reviews to ensure relevant monitoring and corrective actions are being undertaken.

Process validation studies are highly recommended when there are changes involving equipment, production processes, packaging, new product formulations, ingredients and preservatives.

Our two-step validation process ensures all activities are properly documented:

Step one:

• Supply chain mapping, including vulnerabilities
• Description of product, production and packaging processes
• Target description – microbiological risks
• Understand regulatory requirements

Step two: 

Formally define the process validation study’s scope of work. Requires scientific research and project and contingency planning. This process will consider:

• Raw material properties
• Microbial log reductions
• Equipment processing parameters, e.g., heating/cooking time, bed thickness
• Validation of surrogate organism in the specific matrix

Why choose SGS?

We are recognized as the benchmark for quality and integrity. Wherever you operate in the world, we support you at every step of your product’s development – from raw materials to end product – helping you to deliver safe, effective and compliant products to global markets.