HACCP for food packaging made of pulp material

Hello everyone I'm Niq & this is my very 1st post/reply in this ifsqn website.

The example of metal packaging GMP by Charles is very helpful.
I really appreciate if we can discuss the HACCP for food packaging made of pulp material (usually paper mould & paper packaging). I'm in an industry of producing "food grade" pulp for food packaging manufacturer. & I'd like to know if there is any other pulp mill in other countries which producing HACCP certified pulp & paper.

Regards,
Niq

Hello everyone I'm Niq & this is my very 1st post/reply in this ifsqn website.

The example of metal packaging GMP by Charles is very helpful.
I really appreciate if we can discuss the HACCP for food packaging made of pulp material (usually paper mould & paper packaging). I'm in an industry of producing "food grade" pulp for food packaging manufacturer. & I'd like to know if there is any other pulp mill in other countries which producing HACCP certified pulp & paper.

Regards,
Niq

Hello Niq, many apologies for the late reply, I'm in the middle of a refurbishment project at home and it appears to be getting busier and busier on the forum. Not that I'm complaining.

Anyway, how about you start by telling us the process for manufacturing "food grade" pulp for food packaging and also a little about the use of your products by your customers. It will help me to understand as I'm not familiar with the process.

Regards,
Simon

Hello,

This is very interesting.
We are manufacturer of carton boxes made of grey cardboard that is one side laminated with white paper (comes inside the box).
The other side (outside) is laminated with printed paper.
Our boxes are used in the chocolate industry as a secondary packaging.
Sometimes we get questions to make this kind of box approved for primary packaging.
Therefore the pulp used for the cardboard needs to be HACCP-certified and I believe this is a major problem.
Due to the fact that this pulp comes from recycled paper and board.

My question to you (Niq) is, do you use recycled material as raw material?
What is different in your process that makes the pulp being HACCP approved?

Thanks for any information you like to share.

Regards,
Bart

Hello Simon & Bart,

So sorry i'm late in responding to this forum. But it's warmth me to realize there are some replies to my inquiry.

Pulp processing i'm doing is from a virgin fiber sources of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as the following process [soda-AQ process];

1) Raw materials receiving (EFB & food grade caustic soda) - CP on chemical supplier assurance.
2) Fiber preparation by pressing & shredding (defibering) - CP on lubricant maintenance.
3) Wet preparation (fiber extraction & separate fibers from impurities) - CP on chemical dosage.
4) Digestion/cooking (delignification according to targeted Kappa No.) - CP on chemical dosage, temperature & time.
5) Washing (removal of residual liquor from pulp) - CP on pulp displacement & thickening.
6) Screening (removal shives & knots) - CP on pressure & vibrator parameters.
7) Pulp centri-cleaning (separate basis weight difference & particle shape) - CCP on pulp tank retention time IF ONLY there is
unscheduled mill shutdown.
8) Pulp board making (mat forming, pressing, drying, board cutter) - CP on mechanical maintenance.
9) Baling (800mm x 640mm, wt. 250kg) - CP on finished goods handling & storage.


Currently, we are only producing Unbleached Pulp in bales. The customer (pulp buyer) will process it further to make paper mould/packaging for food.


Mr. Bart,

There is NO recycled fiber is used.
a) The EFB are left over of palm oil kernels extracting which never undergoes chemical treatment.
b) The caustic soda supplier is a HACCP certified supplier too. (There are different methods of making caustic soda that can harm food safety too).
c) Mechanical lubricants also from HACCP certified suppliers.

I agree....The recycled fiber source, as u said, is a crucial factor in evaluating the primary packaging safety from migration of contaminants (usually from chemicals used for bleaching/de-inking process).

My company is still in the middle steps of developing & implementing HACCP. My team is preparing for internal audit before we pursue the external audit for HACCP Therefore, I would like to share & discuss with anyone in the industry for a better food safety commitment.

Regards,
Niq

Not directly related to Hazard Analysis, but this is a fairly useful document about food contact requirements and practices for the paper industry.

I don't have a copy, but there is also a code of practice for the tissue and napkin industry which goes into detail about sources of recycled paper (eg not from hospitals etc) which may be helpful.