Food manufacturers need to prevent contamination rather than react to it. They also need to trace every batch produced, validate all cleaning and control any cross contact between products.
Closed systems that keep batches sealed from filling to packing is much easier to validate and audit than coupled systems.
Which food safety standards apply to food manufacturers?
The standards that apply to your food manufacturing all depend on where you produce and sell your products.
| Regulatory Framework / Standard |
Jurisdiction / Scope | Key Requirements for Manufacturers |
| Codex Alimentarius | Global | International food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice established by the FAO and WHO. Serves as the global baseline for fair trade and consumer protection. |
| HACCP Principles | Global | A scientific, preventive system requiring hazard analysis, identification of critical control points (CCPs), critical limits, monitoring, and corrective actions. |
| ISO 22000 | Global | An international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization that maps out a comprehensive food safety management system covering all stages of the supply chain. |
| BRCGS Food Safety | Global (GFSI-Benchmarked) | Commonly used framework for supply chain due diligence, requiring strict operational controls, product integrity, and an enforced food safety culture. |
| FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) | United States | Requires every food facility to implement preventive controls and supply chain verification programs for imported goods. |
| General Food Law (Reg 1169/2011) | European Union & UK | Mandates strict traceability (one step forward, one step backward), accurate labeling, allergen disclosure, and rapid product recall processes. |
| FSSAI | India | Sets mandatory controls on processing environments, rigorous import/export inspections, and specific guidelines for front-of-pack nutrition labeling. |
The table above is a non-exhaustive list of some of the globally recognised regulatory frameworks for consumables. For further discussion, see our guide to allergens and food regulations.
What does FSMA mean for food manufacturers outside the US?
The US Food Safety Modernisation Act moved the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. It now requires overseas facilities that export food to the US to follow the standard. A UK or European food manufacturer supplying to US markets need to show preventive controls, traceability and validated cleaning.
Why are coupled production lines hard to keep compliant?
With coupled production lines, two questions become harder to answer:
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How do you confirm there is no risk of cross contact with the previous product?
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How long does a full clean down and validation take?
Every open transfer is a cross contact risk and every clean in between stops production.
Read more about what manufacturers can do instead of time spent cleaning.
How Does Equipment Design Help you Meet Food Safety Standards?
A Matcon IBC solution provides peace of mind by using individual, sealed containers to hold each production batch. Every batch is kept separate from the next, and material is transferred between process steps without exposing powders to the surrounding environment. The whole system remains fully closed at all times, from filling through blending and onward to packing, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination in the end product, improving allergen control and creating a cleaner, safer working environment for the workforce.
Our systems are engineered to meet strict FDA regulations and are designed with GMP principles at their core. Contact surfaces are selected to be compliant with food-grade requirements, equipment layouts support clear product and personnel flows, and the design facilitates documented cleaning and validation procedures. This enables manufacturers to demonstrate robust control of hygiene risks and to provide the level of traceability and audit readiness increasingly expected by regulators and brand owners.
Further benefits include reduced cleaning times, which helps to minimise downtime between batches, support efficient changeovers and reduce the consumption of water, energy and cleaning agents. Read more about the Matcon approach to allergens and food regulations here.
Although we can deliver to these high food safety standards, production flexibility is not compromised. You can still produce to order and accommodate high recipe variation. Speak to our team to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are food safety standards?
Food safety standards are the laws, certification schemes and management systems that make sure food is produced safely. They include HACCP, BRCGS, ISO 22000, UK and EU General Food Law and the US FSMA. They typically require hazard control, traceability, validated cleaning, accurate labelling and documented evidence of compliance.
Does FSMA apply to UK food manufacturers?
FSMA applies to overseas facilities that export food to the United States, as well as to US producers. A UK manufacturer supplying the US market must show preventive controls, including hygienic design, traceability, validated cleaning and cross-contamination control.
How do closed powder handling systems support food safety compliance?
They keep each batch sealed from filling through blending to packing, so product isn't exposed to the environment or to other recipes. That reduces cross-contamination, makes cleaning easier to validate and gives each batch a clear identity for traceability. Records from a closed system are simpler to present at audit.
