Microbiology: the CTCPA recognized by the DGAL!

The CTCPA is recognized by the DGAL as an official entity for the validation of the microbiological shelf-life of foods

According to the European regulation of the "Hygiene Package", food operators are responsible for the foodstuffs they put on the market and must ensure that they are not dangerous. To do this, they draw up a sanitary control plan to define measures to control the identified hazards and check that these control measures are effective.
Validation and verification of the microbiological shelf life (MHL) of foods are part of these control measures.

Various tools can be used by food business operators to validate and/or verify a DVM: scientific and technical literature, self-checking history, aging tests, growth tests and predictive microbiology. Nevertheless, given the diversity of tools and situations encountered, a food business operator or an interprofessional organization may wish to obtain additional advice on its DVM validation file, on technical and/or scientific aspects.

A new organization has been set up to answer satisfactorily to the professionals and professional organizations who ask for a complementary advice. It is mainly based on the group of ITAI (Agro-Industrial Technical Institutes) experts, members of the RMT ACTIA Qualima. The opinion given will be recognized as the official position of the DGAL.

For records implemented by food operators:

• the opinion given by the CTCPA, as ITAI and member of the RMT Qualima, will be recognized as the official position of the DGAL. 

For DVM validation files written by the CTCPA:

• they are de facto considered validated by the administration. 

 

 Official document

 Contact: Dr Stella Planchon, avignon@ctcpa.org