UKAS extends scope of LRQA's ISO 22000 accreditation after independent review of Carrefour audit
25/03/2011
Global retailers emphasise on driving food safety throughout their supply chains.
Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) has certified Carrefour's Belgian headquarters to the latest international standard for food safety in a testament to the emphasis that global retailers are placing on driving food safety throughout their supply chains.
The award, which included audits of the company’s central offices in Brussels as well as two hypermarkets in Belgium, makes Carrefour one of the first international retailers to gain ISO 22000 certification.
”Carrefour is delighted to have received LRQA’s ISO 22000 certification today, and our teams are currently working hard to ensure certification for the other stores in Belgium. The Belgian Carrefour team has been innovating continuously in regards to food safety and has seen a valued relationship in working closely with LRQA Business Assurance. Belgium is the first country to receive this qualification in the Carrefour Group. We will continue to focus on food safety and excellence,” said Pascal Leglise, Quality, Health & Sustainable Development Director at Carrefour Belgium.
The Carrefour Group is the largest retailer in Europe, and the second largest worldwide, with more than 15,500 branded stores in 32 countries and 475,000 employees. With more than three billion cash transactions every year, the Group, through its activities, says it has economic, social and environmental responsibilities which it meets by committing to the quality of its products and the security of its customers.
After an independent review of the assessment conducted for Carrefour, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) granted an extension to the scope of LRQA's ISO 22000 accreditation to include supermarkets and retail shops. ISO 22000 is the global standard for food-safety management systems.
"Global brands, including manufacturers and retailers such as Carrefour, are taking the necessary steps to drive a food-safety culture by looking at their own corporate culture and by working with their suppliers to improve transparency, effectiveness and efficiency," Cor Groenveld, LRQA’s Global Product Manager for food services, said. "By strengthening their relationships with their suppliers, including certification bodies, global retailers are not only providing assurance to their diverse customer base, they are protecting the reputation of their brand.”
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