Knowing and managing potential risks starts with the selection of suppliers and the raw materials to be procured, with the potential hazards and, in some cases, already in the country of origin. It is important to consider all existing and known notifications. The database provides answers to the following questions:

• Which hazards are associated with the involved products?
• Are there any hazards that refer to a specific country?
• What agreements can or must be made with suppliers?
• What special measures are necessary to ensure proper products?
• Does my supplier know the risks and are they managed?
• Which hazards can be expected based on the data collected?
• Should certain raw materials be excluded beforehand?
• Are there particular risks associated with certain ingredients that need to be addressed?

The quality manager has the option of adapting the test plan so that known or realistically expected risks do not occur in the company. As part of the HACCP verification, which must be carried out at least once a year, the raw materials used and the end products manufactured can be re-evaluated again and again. The results answer the following questions:

• Which hazards must be included in the specification?
• How should the internal test plan be set up in order to effectively monitor known hazards?
• How could be the test plan continuously and dynamically adapted based on current findings?

This makes it easy to proof that the requirements of IFS, BRC or ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 have been determined with regard to identifying the hazards of the raw materials or ingredients used and that the risks are identified are controlled.