FECIC unveils first protocol for the Spanish meat industry to avoid risks posed by Covid-19

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Photo: FECIC

The Spanish Meat Business Federation (FECIC) has signed an agreement with risk consultancy firm, AON, and certification body, AENOR, to launch the first protocol for the Spanish meat industry, allowing companies to implement measures to avoid risks posed by Covid-19 and certify they comply with the required safety standards.

The situation that is taking place, at a global level, in different meat companies that have suffered outbreaks of Covid-19, has put the meat industry back in the spotlight and into question.

Safety standard

To prevent this from happening in the Spanish meat sector, FECIC has decided to create and promote the first certifiable Covid-19 Protocol for the Spanish meat industry, thanks to the agreement signed with two internationally renowned entities, namely the multinational risk consultancy AON, which has drawn up the protocol, and the certification company AENOR, which will guarantee its implementation.

FECIC believes this protocol will serve as a safety standard for the meat industry and will allowcompanies to operate with the confidence and assurance that they are complying with the legal requirements and best practices established by health authorities and international bodies.

It accredits and values the good work carried out by the meat sector, guaranteeing the safety of its workers and their production, and providing confidence to its clients and consumers.

AON, as an independent entity and risk consultant, will analyse and evaluate the risks of companies in relation to the Covid-19 and will implement a safety standard, with measures to prevent them from affecting the health of workers, contagion, the continuity of their business, their reputation and that of the sector, absenteeism, liability risk or the attraction of new workers.

For its part, AENOR will review the protocol to ensure it meets the necessary requirements to support good practices adapted to the nature of this activity.

Established measures

Once agreed, it will certify the protocol to ensure it complies with all the established measures in each case. The audit will be mainly based on visits to the facilities to check the proper implementation and deployment.

Once the COVID-19 protocol certification audit has been successfully completed, AENOR will issue a certificate and licence to use the mark and will carry out periodic monitoring audits.