Dorogobuzh (a member of Acron Group) has completed a recertification audit of its food safety management system for carbon dioxide operations, demonstrating compliance with the FSSC 22000 international standard, which incorporates ISO 22000 and ISO TS 22002-1, as well as the additional requirements of the FSSC 22000.
The audit was conducted by a Russian representative of the international certification body QSCert.
The Company passes this type of audit every three years and will receive a certificate of compliance in July. Dorogobuzh’s key customers, including Multon Partners (formerly the Russian division of Coca-Cola HBC) require their partners to be FSSC 22000 certified as this demonstrates the high quality and safety of their products and proves Dorogobuzh’s status as a reliable carbon dioxide supplier.
The three-day audit examined the Company’s system documentation, inspected all stages of the carbon dioxide operations and assessed the training and working conditions of the personnel.
As part of the recertification programme, the auditors visited the main carbon dioxide production and quality assurance facilities, thoroughly reviewing issues such as compliance with hygiene and sanitation regulations and the management of food safety risks (e.g. contamination, rodents or insects).
At the laboratory, the auditors assessed the finished product quality control procedures and tools to identify and trace a product batch. They also checked that the laboratory equipment was calibrated and verified and examined how the Company organised its training programmes, and evaluated the competence of its personnel before authorising unsupervised work. The auditors particularly praised the Company’s Regulation on the Mentorship Programme.
The audit also covered issues relating to the procurement of materials for carbon dioxide production and the sale of the resulting product, including contractual arrangements with key clients. The Company’s employees swiftly provided all the documents required by the auditors, demonstrating their high level of expertise and professionalism. According to the auditors, the rapid provision of data is a sign of a mature food safety system.
Gennady Eroshnikov, a senior auditor at QSCert, approved the audit results: ‘During each audit, I observe the consistently high standards of production and quality assurance. I have witnessed Dorogobuzh’s food safety management system evolve and improve. Despite the rapidly changing global situation, the Company produces high-quality, safe products and upholds its good reputation. It is a great achievement by everyone at Dorogobuzh that the Company maintains its high production standards in today's challenging environment.’
To prepare for food safety audits, Dorogobuzh implements a variety of activities each year. These include holding quarterly meetings of the food safety committee and reviewing feedback from carbon dioxide consumers to evaluate its performance and make improvements.
The Company has set up a schedule for conducting internal audits of its food safety management facilities and regularly carries out product traceability tests to identify its products, raw materials and other procurements throughout the entire production cycle. Dorogobuzh also analyses feedback from clients.
Carbon dioxide (carbonic anhydride, carbonic acid gas, CO2) is a non-toxic, colourless and odourless substance with a sour taste. It has a wide range of practical applications in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, electronics, and the food industry.