AUDITING REQUIREMENTS

Audits are carried out to meet our customers� requirements and to ensure that our company and our growers� meet their legal requirements. By improving food safety and raising production standards the image of UK produce is enhanced and consumer confidence increased.



Having said that, in support of audits, it is also reasonable that the number of audits that take place are minimised, that compliance is made as straightforward as possible and that the costs are minimised.



To achieve these objectives we have been working to combine our food safety / HACCP requirements with the Assured Produce Scheme audit now in place on most UK potato farms. The gain for our growers will be:



� Reduced audit visits � in most cases just one.

� Single standard to meet all customer requirements.

� Less time spent in completing documentation.

� A cost saving each year.



The company we have been working with is Checkmate and we intend to offer all our supplying growers, in 2003, a joint, single audit from Checkmate at a highly competitive price. This audit will mean that your business can comply with the Assured Produce scheme requirements and the HACCP requirements of all UK potato processors. The AP audit will also cover the requirements of the combinable crops scheme � 3 birds with one stone.



Action



If you have an Assured Produce audit imminent please let us know, otherwise the objective of the single visit might not be possible.











If you intend to use an auditor other than Checkmate please let us know as we will probably have to audit separately for HACCP / food safety or ask your auditor to verify our documentation.



We will be in touch shortly with timescale and prices.



Approved Pesticides 2003



For this season, to simplify the complex situation regarding pesticide approvals, we have produced a list of agrochemicals for potatoes which we and our customers fully support.



If you don�t already have a copy let your local contact know or visit our website www.higgins.eu.com and go to the password protected area in our technical section. If you don�t have a password ring Shelagh Hardy on 01302 774702 to register.