1. Introduction
In the newsletter of October 1st 2015, we informed you about the possibility to qualify as QM-Milch approved feed supplier via additional GMP+ certification.
The most frequently asked questions received by GMP+ International regarding this topic, have been described and answered below.
Should you have any further questions or would like to have more information, you can always contact us via our contact form. Where necessary, this list will be expanded.
2. QM-Milch
2.1. Who or what is QM-Milch?
QM-Milch stands for Qualitätsmanagement Milch. QM-Milch e.V. is an initiative of a number of German organizations, the members of which are involved in the production and processing of milk. The purpose is to market high quality milk products. In that context, strict requirements are stipulated for the assurance of safety and quality of the milk in all stages of the production and processing.
Initiating organizations are primarily the farmers and milk processing industry. But German feed suppliers are involved as well. For more information, please visit the QM-Milch e.V. website (http://www.qm-milch.de) or read this press release by QM-Milch e.V.
2.2. Why a GMP+ FSA Country Note?
The quality of milk is largely determined by the quality of the feed. That is why there are strict requirements for dairy cattle feed. For that reason, feed companies are involved as well. They must ensure that the supplied feed meets the QM-Milch requirements.
A GMP+ participant already meets a large number requirements defined by QM-Milch e.V. because they are laid down in one of the basic GMP+ standards. However, a number of specific requirements are not laid down in the GMP+ standards and the GMP+ certificate does not state that these requirements are met.
The extra requirements are additionally documented in the QM-Milch country note. When a GMP+ participant assures with its feed safety management system that it also meets these extra QM requirements from the country note and is able to demonstrate this to the auditor, this will be listed on its certificate with an extra scope. With this, the GMP+ participant qualifies as a QM-Milch approved feed supplier.
3. Country Note
3.1. For whom is this Country Note intended?
QM-Milch e.V. is an initiative of the German market, focused on the production and processing of high quality milk. It goes without saying that it may be interesting to a GMP+ participant, operating in this German market, to apply this country note and to use it to easily qualify as QM-Milch approved feed supplier. The option applies both to producers and traders.
3.2. What requirements does QM-Milch e.V. stipulate?
Concretely, the requirements focus on:
- monitoring of levels of Aflatoxin, Dioxin, Dioxin-like PCBs and non-Dioxin-like PCBs in dairy cattle feed
- sharing of analysis results in a so-called ‘QM-Milch group’ in the GMP+ Monitoring database
- assessing whether specific standards have been exceeded, and if yes,
- reporting that, and
- carrying out a cause analysis
QM-Milch e.V. must be notified of this.
3.3. Structure and design of the Country Note
As mentioned, parts of the QM-Milch requirements in this country note are already documented in the basic GMP+ standards and appendices, and another part is specific and new.
On request of QM-Milch e.V., all QM-Milch requirements are summed up in the country note. So to a certain extent, this concerns a summary of existing GMP+ requirements (including a reference to the relevant GMP+ paragraphs), and to a certain extent it concerns specific additional requirements.
We have attempted to reflect this as good as possible in the country note.
The Country Note is available Country Note QM-Milch.
3.4. Why is the limit for Aflatoxin B1 stricter than the legal limit?
The "justification" for 1ppb for Aflatoxin is that the dairy industry is not (always) able to meet the max. level for Aflatoxin in infant formulae and follow-on formulae (including infant milk and follow-on milk) or dietary foods for special medical purposes when Aflatoxin content in feed matches 5ppb. Therefore the German feed and dairy industry agreed 1 ppb for Aflatoxin in feed for dairy cows several years ago.
4. Participation
4.1. How to become certified?
To become certified you have to implement the requirements in the standard and contact your Certification Body. They will audit the GMP+ BCN DE 1 QM-Milch requirements during a regular GMP+ audit. If you comply with the requirements in the standard, you will be certified for this standard.
4.2. How do I know I am certified for GMP+ BCN DE1 QM-Milch?
Certification is visible in the public GMP+ company database. The scope for QM-Milch is visible at the company details just like any other GMP+ FSA scope.
4.3. Is there something else that I need to do?
You also have to join the GMP+ Monitoring Database group for QM-Milch. To become member of this group you have to fill in an application form on the GMP+ website to contact GMP+ International so they can send you an invitation.
You will then receive an email with approval and instructions to answer the invitation.
You can go to the GMP+ website and log on to the monitoring database and go to ‘My GMP+’ to see (at the section ‘groups’) if you are already a member of the monitoring group or if you still need to accept the invitation.