Allergen Management Policy
Part of Food Industry Hub’s FSQMS Policies and Procedures Suite.
The Allergen Management Policy forms part of the Food Industry Hub FSQMS Policies and Procedures Suite.
It establishes the governing commitment for effective allergen management across the Food Safety and Quality Management System, requiring food allergens to be identified, assessed, controlled and communicated to protect consumer health, product safety and legality.
The policy sets the organisational position for a documented, risk-based allergen management system. It connects allergen understanding, cross-contamination control, labelling accuracy, management accountability and supporting procedures within one policy framework.
A documented commitment to allergen control
The policy requires allergenic raw materials, ingredients and processing aids to be fully understood and controlled. Allergenic hazards are identified, assessed and controlled as part of the food safety plan, while allergen-related risks are managed using a documented, risk-based approach.
Allergen management is also positioned as part of the wider FSQMS, with links to prerequisite programmes and operational controls. This makes allergen control a managed system commitment rather than a narrow labelling or production activity.
Governance across product design, procurement, processing and release
The policy applies to activities that may affect allergen control, including product design and formulation, raw-material and ingredient approval, supplier management, storage, handling and segregation of allergenic materials, manufacturing, processing, packing and rework, cleaning and sanitation, labelling, packaging and product release.
Within that scope, the policy requires allergen risks to be considered at all stages of product design, procurement, processing and distribution. Appropriate segregation, scheduling, cleaning and verification controls are applied to prevent cross-contamination, while labelling and pack control systems support accurate allergen declarations.
Clear accountability for management, supervision and employees
Senior management is responsible for providing leadership, direction and visible commitment to effective allergen management. The policy also places responsibility on senior management to provide the human, financial and infrastructure resources needed to support allergen controls, integrate the allergen management system into the FSQMS and review allergen management performance through management review.
Management and supervisory staff are responsible for implementing and maintaining the procedures that support the policy, applying allergen controls consistently within their areas and ensuring staff are trained and competent in allergen management requirements.
Employees are required to comply with allergen management procedures and instructions, follow segregation, hygiene and handling requirements, and report conditions or activities that may compromise allergen control or product integrity.
Verification, review and continued suitability
The policy requires allergen management effectiveness to be verified through monitoring, validation and review. It also requires emerging allergen risks, regulatory changes and scientific developments to be reviewed and addressed, keeping the policy position aligned with changes that could affect allergen control.
Formal review is required at least every five years, or following significant changes to products, processes, legislation or the allergen risk profile, so that the policy remains suitable, adequate and effective within its defined FSQMS scope.
A policy supported by operational procedures
As a policy, this document sets governance direction rather than reproducing detailed operating methods. Supporting documented procedures and work instructions define how allergen risks are assessed, controlled, monitored and verified in practice.
For technical, quality and operational teams, the policy provides the management commitment and accountability needed to connect consumer protection, allergen awareness, operational control and accurate allergen communication across the documented FSQMS.