Product recall procedures

The definition of product rThe definition of a product recall is to remove product that process, or suspected to process health hazards from the market. This helps to assure the safety of consumer. A product recalls is usually carried out voluntarily by the producer, or sometimes, as requested by the authority (FDA) in respond to complaint of the product by consumer, discovery of health hazard and any violation of laws in the product.

Recall strategy are different between cases, depending on the results of Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE), difficulty in identifying the product, demand of the product and extent to which the product are left unused in the market. A product strategy involve the depth of recalls, recall communications, public warning and effectiveness checks.

A product recall may affect a producer badly in term of its reputation or economically. However this can be minimized if the following guidelines are being followed:

Prepare a fully written recall system which aid in rapid and effective recall of a product.
Use an effective coding system, and recording system of the distribution of the product to allow easy identification and tracking of the affected lots.

Steps involved in a product recall:

1) Notify the authority (FDA) and inform customer that a recall of the product is going to be carried out
2) Recall strategy developed base on an individual case (results of Health Hazard Evaluation(HHE) and etc)
3) Product recovery
4) Arrange for the storage or disposal of the product recalled
5) Write report of the recall

Reference:
Health Canada. 2002. Product Recall Procedures. Canada: Government of Canada. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/compli-conform/recall-retrait/recall_proc-marche_retrait_e.html. Cited (6th Feb 2008).