Why Become Certified?.

How does B-QUAL Certification benefit my business?

Your Enterprise can demonstrate that it is operating in accordance with the industry requirements and expectations of consumers, markets, regulatory authorities and the wider community, in relation to the key issues of food safety and industry best practice.

B-QUAL Certification also enables an enterprise to market its product under the B-QUAL logo to show that it meets the B-QUAL industry standards.

Requirements for Certification

• Participate in the B-QUAL education program;
• Develop a QA (quality assurance) manual which includes operating procedures that demonstrate how the enterprise meets the requirements of the industry standards;
• Maintain records that these procedures have been adhered to for all honey that is prepared by the enterprise; and,
• Undergo a third-party audit of these procedures, records and facilities at the enterprise.

What does the enterprise B-QUAL program, need to address?

Operational procedures covering the key areas of production, and food safety. Specifically, the development of your QA manual, as a major part of the B-QUAL program, needs to describe how your enterprise meets industry requirements with regards to:

• B-QUAL Standards

  Apply to the Apiary, Extraction and Packer, Biosecurity.

• Quality Policy

  Relate to: apiary; extraction; packer and sales direct to public; biosecurity; pollination; queen bee; and other areas of production.

• Work instructions

  Relate to: apiary operation; apiary health; agricultural and veterinary chemicals; hive identification and movement; extraction process; personal hygiene and food handling; maintenance, cleaning and sanitation; pest control; honey storage, bulk sale and recall; biosecurity procedure; corrective action; packer operation; record keeping; purchase and receival; equipment calibration; stocktake procedure; internal and external audit; staff training; OH&S; and, honey grading. Supply, storage and use of water.

• Records

  Records management demonstrate that the quality system is working; review business activities to help identify issues; provide details in the event of required traceback; and support a defence case in the case of claims/litigation.

• References

  Maintain suitable references to support your enterprise activities in relation to B-QUAL.

• Risk Management

  Risk management in line with recognised HACCP (hazard analysis of critical control points) principles to address the enterprise activities.

• Specialised Activities

  Pollination services; queen bee production; pollen production; comb honey production; propolis production; royal jelly production; and package bee production.