QS
The QS standard is a quality assurance system, which controls the food production, not only during the production process but also during the sale. The QS system was founded by a voluntary initiative of food industry associations and organizations in response to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis and it was introduced in 2001 in Germany for the protection of the consumers. It guarantees quality assurance during poultry and meat production, but also in the production of fruits, vegetables and potatoes. Also, it defines and controls the production and sales criteria at each of the production stage. More specifically for fruits’, vegetables’ and potatoes’ production the standard requires records of the grower, the cultivation, the harvest, the processing, and the sale (wholesale and retail). For poultry, meat and its products, it requires that records are kept from feed to retail.
The QS standard is addressed to:
Companies producing, processing, and marketing meat, meat products, poultry, animal feed, fruits, vegetables and potatoes with export interest mainly in Germany.
Benefits of applying the standard:
- It ensures the quality of the final product and consequently the satisfaction and trust of the customers due to the production of safe products
- It is a competitive advantage and a tool for an opening to new markets, which have specific and strict requirements
- It improves the image of the company to all members (staff, customers)
- It can be applied at the same time with other quality standards
- Its internationally recognized logo can be used
- It promotes transparency in production processes and ensures traceability