Adapting to FSSC 22000 V6 & BRCGS V9: Crucial changes in pest control

As international food safety standards are continuously updated, the pest control system in factories also needs to change to comply with new requirements. With FSSC 22000 Version 6 and BRCGS Version 9, many regulations have been upgraded towards risk management, data transparency and building a food safety culture throughout the enterprise.

1. In-depth risk analysis by area

One of the important changes of the new standards is the requirement for a detailed risk assessment for each area in the factory..

Instead of just setting traps according to a periodic schedule, the pest control system needs to be designed based on the risk level of each area such as:

• Raw material receiving area
• Storage warehouse
• Production area
• Packaging area
• Drainage system and peripheral areas

A risk-based approach helps businesses early detect the risk of insect intrusion, while optimizing trap density and inspection frequency. For accurate zoning, businesses need to simultaneously consider pest species, attraction sources, entry routes, and the sensitivity level of each area in the F&B facility.

2. Digital data management and fast traceability capability

The new standards require businesses to ensure transparency and immediate data traceability capability, especially during the evaluation process from certification organizations.

Therefore, many factories are shifting from traditional paper reports to a digital data management system, allowing:

• Tracking insect trends over time (Trend Analysis)
• Early detecting areas with risks of pest outbreaks
• Quickly retrieving data when auditors request

Digitizing data not only supports more effective pest control but also helps businesses improve the management capability of the overall food safety system.

When data from multiple monitoring points is centralized on a single system, QA/QC can track Trend Analysis, identify hotspots, and retrieve pest activity history on the Dashboard.

3. Building a food safety culture in pest control

According to FSSC 22000 V6 and BRCGS V9, pest control is no longer the sole responsibility of the service provider but must become part of the factory's food safety culture. This approach aligns with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), where prevention, monitoring, infrastructure conditions, sanitation, and actions across multiple departments together determine the program's effectiveness.

This requires close coordination among multiple departments:

• Factory management board
• QA/QC department
• Operation team
• Pest control unit

In reality, many insect incidents arise from operational factors such as warehouse doors being open for a long time, sanitation not following the correct procedure or the drainage system not being well controlled. Therefore, raising awareness and responsibility of all personnel in the factory is an important factor for the pest control system to operate effectively.

4. Choosing a pest control partner with systemic capability

In the face of increasingly strict requirements from international standards, many businesses realize that pest control is not just an insect treatment service, but a part of the factory's risk management system. This is also why businesses need to shift from a mindset of "reactive extermination" to managing root causes, data, and long-term recurrence risks.

A professional partner not only performs pest treatment but also needs to have the ability to:

• Design control programs based on risk assessment
• Provide data systems and trend analysis reports
• Support completing records and documents serving audits
• Respond quickly when incidents arise during the operation process

With a network of branches and service stations nationwide, VFC PestMan provides in-depth pest control solutions for food factories and F&B supply chains.

PestMan's technical team has the ability to respond within 2 hours, helping businesses maintain stable operations and minimize risks related to pests.

In practical implementation, many partners in the F&B industry have recorded clear results. A food factory after applying the pest control program with PestMan reduced insect incidents by 80% and achieved BRC certification after just 90 days..

PestMan not only provides treatment services but also accompanies businesses in completing the system of procedures, data and documents, helping the factory confidently meet increasingly strict international standards.

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