Food safety

Royal A-ware aims to deliver the best and safe products to our customers. Dairy products, due to their perishable nature, are sensitive to contamination, temperature changes and hygiene conditions. As a producer of dairy products, we recognise our responsibility to maintain the integrity and safety of food and feed throughout the supply chain. We are committed to protecting our customers’ health by upholding rigorous food safety standards.

Impacts, risks and opportunities

As part of our DMA we identified one material impact. This impact is not widespread or systemic due to the strict quality policies and the implemented quality management system.

Impact

Potential negative impact on the safety and health of consumers and end users when food safety is not guaranteed. 

Royal A-ware has considered its various customers, including retailers, foodservice providers, industry and B2B, and livestock farmers, as well as the end-users of the products in assessing the IROs. We consider children, pregnant women, elderly consumers and consumers with food allergies to be end-users at higher risk.

Our approach

In line with our commitment to protecting consumers’ health, we have an overall policy as well as sector-specific policies to ensure food safety.

Our overall policy is that both food and feed products must be safe for trade and consumption, posing no risk to human or animal health. Additionally, food and feed products must comply with all applicable requirements, including specifications, integrity and authenticity as set by national and European legislation, certification schemes, product claims and customer standards. This approach applies to all our products and services in both the dairy and transport activities of Royal A-ware.

Our quality policy is based on customer requirements and expectations. The Quality Affairs (QA) teams, together with the business, determines which standards have to be met.

Consumer and end-user protection

In the event that a product recall becomes necessary, Royal A-ware has systems in place to trace and withdraw products from the market. These recall systems are tested at least annually through mock recalls and also checked during audits by independent certifications institutions.

Royal A-ware also maintains a complaints procedure for consumer, business partners and end-user concerns across all activities. Each complaint is investigated for analysis and follow-up. Corrective and preventive measures are implemented, and complaints receive appropriate responses and resolutions.

'We aim to deliver the best and safe products to our customers.'

Dairy activities

Our food safety declaration policy helps to ensure continuous improvement and development across our operations. Products manufactured by Royal A-ware comply with the relevant laws and regulations of the country of production, as well as those of the country in which we sell. We closely monitor developments in legislation through our membership in (inter)national industry organisations, including Nederlandse Zuivel Organisatie (Dutch Dairy Organisation), Gemzu, Belgische Confederatie van de Zuivelindustrie (Belgian Confederation of the Dairy Industry), Federación Nacional de Industrias Lácteas (Spanish Federation of Dairy Industries), ZuivelNL, GMP+ International and OVOCOM (Belgium consultation platform or the animal feed chain).

In addition, we actively follow various information channels, including expert newsletters in our target sectors and resources from the European Commission, such as Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications and the Monthly Summary of Articles on Food Fraud and Adulteration. We gather additional information by consulting professional literature, attending trade fairs and conferences, participating in (internal and external) audits, taking part in industry association meetings, and undergoing regular evaluations by independent external bodies.

The most senior manager accountable for the implementation of this policy and associated target is the COO.

Employees may report suspected food safety-related concerns via our whistleblower policy, internal grievance mechanisms or email. Confidential advisors are available to provide support.

Together, our recall process, complaints procedure, internal channels and follow-up processes form the systems we use to identify, address and remedy potential negative impacts on consumers and end-users.

Quality management standards

Royal A-ware is committed to maintaining high standards in food safety, quality, traceability and transparency, while meeting the specific needs and values of our customers and consumers. At a minimum, all locations apply the FSSC 22000 standard and, where explicitly required, also the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. Depending on the specific activities and product types handled at each Royal A-ware location, facilities may also be certified for a range of additional schemes and product claims (see www.royal-aware.com/quality (new window)).

Transport activities

AB Texel specialises in the transportation of agricultural and refrigerated food products, animal feed, flour and liquid dairy. We ensure the safety of food and feed throughout our logistics operations by aligning with the following international management systems (see abtexel.com/certifications). This commitment strengthens our role in the agri-food chain and demonstrates our responsibility toward customers, consumers and animals. The most senior manager accountable for the implementation of this policy and target is the Managing Director. 

Objectives and actions

Our goal is to uphold food safety standards, ensuring the health of consumers and end-users. To achieve this, we continuously implement and monitor various measures which are subject to regular evaluation.

Dairy activities

• Ensuring that all production activities are carried out in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Including maintaining EU approval numbers for all Royal A-ware sites.

• Retaining all other required certification schemes and product claims as requested by customers.

• Conducting an annual food safety culture survey. Royal A-ware recognises that employees play a crucial role in our production processes. Through this survey, we assess their level of awareness and develop targeted follow-up actions based on the results.

• Establishing and embedding the Corporate Quality Assurance (QA) structure, including the demonstrable implementation and use of:

• Implementing a Business Continuity Management System (ISO 22301) at selected Royal A-ware locations.

• Providing employees with training on food safety and food fraud through e-learning programmes via the A-ware Academy. Employees are also informed about (food) safety, quality policies and quality matters through other channels, including team meetings, our internal staff magazine, narrowcasting screens at multiple locations and our internal social media platform. 

• Certifying all Royal A-ware production facilities in accordance with a GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) standard. 

Transport activities

• Employing highly trained and qualified staff with in-depth knowledge of food and feed safety.

• Following strict cleaning protocols to prevent contamination and cross-contamination.

• Utilising modern and adequately equipped transport equipment suitable for sensitive and perishable goods.

• Keeping our employees informed about food safety through tools, training and support related to food and feed safety. These include e-learnings on food safety, onboarding checklists, employee handbooks, toolbox meetings, and hygiene and glass audits.

• Maintaining cold chain integrity for temperature-sensitive products.

• Carrying out regular inspections, audits, and evaluations of hygiene, safety, and quality systems.

• Cooperating closely with clients and partners to ensure transparency and traceability in the chain.

• Publishing the policy via AB Connect making it accessible to all employees.

Targets and achievements

Food safety is a top priority for Royal A-ware. Our production sites operate under GFSI standards. GFSI is an international organisation that assesses and accredits food safety standards. GFSI certification ensures effective control of food safety hazards, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain. It incorporates robust metrics and controls to safeguard food safety across all processes. Given that GFSI incorporates comprehensive controls, we do not report on other metrics for food safety.