Assessment of HACCP plans and Colombian regulations in municipal cattle slaughterhouses for the assurance of standardised food safety and quality management systems

Colombia has strengthened regulations to ensure standardized food safety and quality in bovine slaughterhouses. To this end, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection designed to empower INVIMA, as the governing and coordinating authority for the operation of the Official Meat Inspection, Surveillance and Control System. This regulation aims to evaluate the technical conditions of infrastructures, slaughter processes and quality and safety assurance systems. in the rationalization of public animal slaughtering facilities (PASFs). This study aims to promote easy-to-implement methodological practices to improve health and safety compliance in 47 cattle slaughterhouses. Sanitary profiles were designed based on the HACCP system and in accordance with Colombian regulations. Scores were established for the infrastructure, sanitary and environmental characteristics of the PASFs through the application of the Leopold Matrix as a monitoring system. The results indicate 32 % of slaughterhouses comply with minimum requirements, with significant deficiencies in equipment and waste management systems. There was evidence of scarce equipment, in addition, they do not have an efficient quality and safety management system to ensure the slaughter processes. Multivariate analysis revealed that 70-90 % of slaughterhouses fail to meet minimum standards established by Decree 1500 of 2007 and its modifications. It was shown that this methodology allows the establishment of a model for monitoring, follow-up, and assessment of compliance with the minimum requirements of HACCP plans and local regulations.