Application of hazard analysis - Critical control point (HACCP) principles to primary production: What is feasible and desirable?

We show that the HACCP system is not fully applicable at the primary production level, and that food safety is obtained through the careful implementation of good hygiene practice (GHP) at the farm. Guides to GHP intended at primary productions cover one activity, such as cattle rearing or corn production. Yet most farms have more than one activity. Hazards from one activity can be transferred to another activity, and in general this is not considered in one-activity guides. There is a need therefore for farmers to be able to detect and control such transfers. We suggest a horizontal complement to the Guides to GHP that would consider only the application of the Step 6 and Principle 1 of the HACCP system amended as follows: "List all potential hazards transferred from one activity to another activity within the farm, conduct a hazard analysis, and consider any measures to control identified hazards". An outline in two parts is proposed. The first part would help at checking if all generic GHP are in place; the second part would help at disclosing interactions between farm specific activities. Detected hazard transfers could then be controlled with measures that are already described in existing guides. The horizontal complement would benefit from being drafted at the European Community level. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.