Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training
January 31, 2024 - Katje Armentrout
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EmailThe Food Safety Modernization Act requires U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated food and beverage facilities to have at least one Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). A PCQI is “someone who has successfully completed certain training in the development and application of risk-based preventative controls or is otherwise qualified through job experience to develop and apply a food safety system.”**
Some responsibilities of a PCQI include:
- Overseeing or performing the preparation of the food safety plan
- Validating the preventative controls
- Records review
- Reanalysis of the food safety plan
**from MSUE Food Safety Regulations and Courses site
Useful Articles
- Part 2 of the Preventive Controls for Human Food training course is now available to take
- FDA: Preventive Controls for Human Food
Important Note
All food and beverage products (even similar items) may have different regulations depending on what ingredients are used, the location or facility in which it is being produced, the packaging materials used, the distribution or shipping methods, as well as a variety of others. Licensing and regulation for food and beverage production in Michigan is administered by Local Health Departments, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), local zoning regulations, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
To guide you through the process of launching your food or beverage business, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Product Center is an organization that brings together on-campus expertise in the sectors of food, agriculture, and natural resources to help entrepreneurs define and launch innovative products. Field-based innovation counselors advise entrepreneurs on a variety of services, including business planning, packaging and labeling rules, licensing and regulatory requirements, marketing, branding, distribution, product testing, and other product development needs.
To access business development assistance from the MSU Product Center staff, select the “Become a Client” button on the MSU Product Center website. There is a $100 application fee to join, which grants clients access to unlimited counseling hours. We also ask that clients sign a confidentiality agreement to protect their information.
If you have specific questions about how your product will be regulated, you may reach out to your Local Health Department or the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).
