Controlling the controllers

Flawless raw materials are a precondition for healthy and safe products. For this reason, the raw materials chain is not only monitored by the companies but also by the authorities. When the Food Veterinary Office (FVO) paid a visit to Eberbach this year on April 3, the purpose was not only to check up on GELITA AG but on the local veterinary authority in Wiesloch, Germany, the responsible authority for GELITA.

The FVO is a department of the European Commission and its task is to ensure that EU regulations are enforced not only within the community but also in third countries. This is done by means of regular inspections. This year’s audit concentrated on gelatine and animal byproducts. During their visit to Germany, the FVO focused on inspecting the local authorities, who had to demonstrate how they carry out their control work. Their inspection extended to a number of auxiliary companies such as slaughterhouses, tanners, feedstock suppliers, gelatine producers and harbors.

The FVO inspectors Dr. Lone Faester, Cyril Rutledge and Pawel Skublicki based themselves at GELITA in Eberbach, where they discussed various topics with ten representatives of all the local and national veterinary authorities. Their main objective, however, was to ensure that only suitable materials

are used in the production process. Thus, they tried to obtain an overview of the raw materials flow from the slaughterhouse to final disposal. They paid particular attention to the clear separation of materials used for food production and those for by-products. At the end of the conference, the EU representatives and the German authorities were very satisfied with how the substantial documentation is monitored by the Veterinary Office in Wiesloch and by the openness and organization of GELITA AG during the audit. In particular, the hygiene and quality standards at the plant were given much praise. This positive assessment of the twoweek- long inspection trip was ultimately also confirmed by the FVO.