GMP
Good Manufacturing Practices for food, pharma, and cosmetics
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) refers to a set of guidelines that ensure products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. In food, GMP is the foundation of all food safety systems including HACCP, BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000.
GMP covers: - Premises and equipment design (cleanability, separation of dirty/clean zones). - Personnel hygiene and training. - Process control (procedures, batch records, traceability). - Sanitation and pest control. - Storage and distribution. - Documentation and record-keeping.
In the EU, GMP for food is codified in EU Regulation 852/2004 (food hygiene) and 853/2004 (specific rules for animal products). In the US, FDA enforces GMP via the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21.
For Egyptian food facilities, GMP compliance is the entry-level requirement before pursuing higher standards (HACCP, BRCGS, IFS, FSSC). Many Egyptian facilities pass GMP but fail at HACCP or BRCGS due to gaps in hazard analysis, allergen management, or supplier verification.
FoodGate Audit conducts GMP audits as part of facility audit services, identifying improvement areas before higher-level certification audits.