PCQI Food Safety Training for Food Exports from The United Kingdom to the United States
$750 (575 GBP)
To export food to the Unites States from the United Kingdom, manufacturers must have a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) on staff as part of complying with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To qualify as a PCQI, one must complete training.
When it comes to complying with FDA requirements, there are quite a few sweeping standards that food being imported into the US must meet. All imports must be clean, safe, and properly labelled by the manufacturer. All food is generally reviewed by the Department of Agriculture or another branch of government working in conjunction with the US government to ensure that food is free of pests or bugs. It is also required that the US receives notification of any incoming imports prior to their arrival so they can prepare for any necessary inspection or testing at the port of entry. Appropriate customs documentation is necessary as well.
Beyond these general considerations, there are many product-specific regulations that PCQI training must cover to ensure that manufacturers comply with all FDA requirements. Because specific requirements vary so greatly by industry, they must be reviewed carefully.
Dairy — Exporting both milk and cream to the United States requires a special permit from the FDA, and a particular permit for goat’s milk is also necessary. The US has a much more regulated cheese market and there are a number of requirements concerning fat and microbial content. Upon entering the US, all butter, ice cream, milk, and cheeses are inspected by the Department of Agriculture, then further examined by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Fruits — Fruits imported into the United States must be free of visible signs of disease or mold, as well as any bugs or pests. A sample of the fruit may be tested for contaminants, and even artificial dyes, before it is released for sale in the US market.
Vegetables — Like fruits, fresh vegetables are inspected carefully for disease, contamination, rot, and other malaise before they are cleared for entry into the US. There are a number of vegetable-specific regulations that the Department of Agriculture checks for during inspection, like insect filth on asparagus, or fly eggs on tomato products.
Meat and Poultry – The US maintains a relatively strict set of standards for importing meat and poultry. In fact, only a select group of countries are allowed to export meat and poultry products to the US and the UK is eligible. Manufacturers must also meet labeling and import standards for the FDA to determine that the quality of meat and poultry is equivalent to that produced in the US.Anyone receiving PCQI Training in the U.K. must receive a thorough education on the overarching FDA requirements for importing food to the United States, as well as the industry-specific stipulations in order to truly understand how to navigate this space. Naturally, that means that choosing the proper training provider is critical.