Food safety regulations are not static. Every year, the FDA updates its guidance under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Health Canada (HC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) also revise their food safety expectations to address new risks and industry trends. For food manufacturers, this constant change presents a significant challenge: how to keep their team trained and ready to meet these evolving standards.
This is especially true for Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQIs), who play a key role in food safety programs. Falling behind on training can put your company at risk of non-compliance, costly recalls, and lost customer trust.
The good news? ImEPIK® offers online PCQI training that is regularly updated to reflect current regulations and industry best practices. With flexible, self-paced learning, your team can stay compliant without disrupting your production schedule.
Why Food Safety Standards Change Frequently
Food safety risks shift quickly. Emerging pathogens, new allergens, changes in the global supply chain, and updated scientific research can all lead to stricter requirements. FSMA's Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) Rule requires food manufacturers to manage these risks proactively, and the FDA routinely updates its enforcement policies to address new threats.
In Canada, HC and CFIA introduce similar updates to align with global food safety standards. This means your food safety plan must be a living document, reviewed and adjusted as conditions evolve. To stay compliant, qualified individual training online must remain current with these changes.
How ImEPIK® Keeps PCQI Training Current
We understand the challenge of keeping up with regulatory changes. That's why every PCQI course is reviewed and updated by subject matter experts to ensure compliance with FDA, HC, and CFIA requirements.
When new industry regulations and science emerge, ImEPIK® experts update the online PCQI training to incorporate the latest compliance mandates and practices. Your team receives training that prepares them for what they will face in real decision-making situations to prepare for audits and inspections.
ImEPIK® offers online, English and Spanish preventive controls qualified individual training, making it accessible to diverse teams. Training is 100% online and self-paced, allowing your employees to train at any time and from anywhere, without the stress of travel or scheduling.
Does PCQI Training Expire?
According to FDA guidelines, PCQI certificate of completion does not technically expire. Once an individual completes the training, they are considered a PCQI under FSMA.
However, food safety professionals are aware that the industry is constantly evolving. Even though the certificate does not expire, knowledge can become outdated. Staying current ensures your food safety team is prepared for audits, inspections, and market demands.
We recommend regular refresher training or retaking courses after significant regulatory changes to keep your skills sharp and ensure your food safety plan remains compliant.
How Often Should Food Safety Training Be Updated?
While the FDA does not require annual retraining, food industry best practices suggest reviewing training annually and updating it after major regulatory changes or following a significant internal incident, such as a recall.
If the FDA releases new guidance or your company identifies new hazards, updated PCQI training is a prudent move. ImEPIK® keeps your training material aligned with these changes so you can be confident your PCQI team stays prepared year after year.
Why PCQI Training Is So Important
A PCQI trained or qualified individual named in the food safety plan is a requirement under FSMA for FDA registered food manufacturers. Every facility that produces human food under FSMA's PCHF rule must have at least one Preventive Controls Qualified Individual overseeing their food safety plan.
A properly trained PCQI reduces the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks, prevents costly recalls, and protects your brand's reputation. PCQI training ensures your team can identify hazards, implement preventive controls, and maintain accurate records in line with FSMA, CFIA, and HC expectations.
ImEPIK® offers a convenient way to meet these legal requirements with flexible online PCQI training that's updated and recognized by the FDA.
How to Create a Continuous Food Safety Training Culture
Staying compliant means creating a proactive training culture.
Here are three ways to keep your team ready:
- Annual Training Reviews: Review your food safety plan and team certifications annually to identify training gaps.
- Utilize Online Training for Easy Updates: ImEPIK's online PCQI training makes retraining affordable and straightforward, particularly for small and mid-sized producers.
- Regular Internal Audits: Internal audits can proactively identify non-compliance with food safety regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP, GFSI schemes), enabling timely corrective actions before external audits or incidents.
Stay Current with ImEPIK® PCQI Training
Regulations change, but your team can always stay prepared with ImEPIK®. Our preventive controls qualified individual training online is updated by food safety experts to match FDA, CFIA, and Health Canada requirements. Flexible online learning makes it easy to keep your team trained and your facility compliant.
Keep your food safety knowledge fresh. Explore ImEPIK®'s online PCQI training.
