What does the requirement for a yearly reassessment of the HACCP plan in Part 123.8(a)(1) mean?
At a minimum the HACCP plan must be reassessed annually to determine whether the hazard analysis is still appropriate and whether the plan effectively controls the identified hazard(s). The processor must consider how or if any changes in the firm’s operations could affect the adequacy of the hazard analysis or the HACCP plan. (For example, changes in the kinds of raw materials used in the product, the suppliers of the raw materials, the product formulation, the equipment or operations used to process the product, the way in which the product will be used by the consumer, or the types of consumers likely to use the product could have major impact.) If the reassessment indicates a deficiency in the plan, the plan must be immediately revised. Processors are free to perform the reassessment in any manner that works for them. For example, a “HACCP team” could discuss changes in the firm’s operations since the last reassessment. Or, reassessment could also include a review of consumer or tr
