Interview: B.Acy. Iván Salazar Osorio, PrimusLabs Mexico General Manager
Iván Salazar Osorio is originally from Culiacan city. He has a degree in Public Accounting and Finance (LCPF) and he is currently the General Manager of PrimusLabs Mexico.
- Could you share a little of your professional experience?
I have had the opportunity to work in important companies of Sinaloa such as Casa Ley and Desarrolladora Homex, working in administrative positions in the accounting and financial area. Three years ago I had the proposal to join Primus Group, first as a financial officer, and a year ago it was given to me the opportunity to occupy the General Management of Primus Laboratorios de México. I also have some experience as a grain producer because my father was a grower, and for that part I feel very identified with the agricultural sector.
- How do you think the vegetable production has evolved in Sinaloa?
Sinaloa continues to maintain the supremacy in Mexico in the vegetable production, derived from an agricultural business culture built in decades, and the commercial alliance with international markets. The horticultural production in Sinaloa is one of the great engines of the state economy by virtue of the big investments. This constitutes an area of opportunity for suppliers, laborers, trading companies and service providers.
- What do you consider are the main challenges dealing the grower industry today?
From the perspective of our company, with a focus on food safety. I think that the main challenge dealing producers in Mexico is to have a clear understanding of the new American Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), because this law applies to national and imported fruits and vegetables. Mexico is the main exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables to the US market; therefore, it is precisely the Mexican exporters that have the most interest in meeting the requirements of the FSMA about imported food.
- How do you consider that the new international regulations such as FSMA and the new buyers and consumers requirements impact the companies?
Most Mexican exporters have already established a food safety program and audits a third-party organization, either through a private scheme or through the Mexico’s National Service for Agri-Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA). These exporters will be one step ahead of compliance with FSMA standards.
Even though they continue complying with the criteria of private or governmental food safety, where Mexican producers are doing an excellent job, has very important challenges ahead to fully comply with FSMA. Especially regarding the supply of information that importers need to comply with the FSVP (Foreign Suppliers Verification Program) of the FSMA. The level of scrutiny in detail of their food safety programs will increase, which some exporters may consider aggressive.
- What new services has PrimusLabs included to adapt to the changes in the Food safety laws and the market demands?
Primuslabs is a world leader in food safety and has been serving the fresh produce industry for more than three decades. Primuslabs offers comprehensive analyzes in food, water and environment samples for microbiology and pesticide residues, following the approved methodologies (AOAC, FDA, BAM / PAM) with technical supervision and quality assurance by qualified scientists in all our locations. Our highly qualified staff has more than two decades of experience in food safety analysis and handling thousands of product samples. This extraordinary professional force assures our clients that the best practices will be used in the processing of their samples and will provide the most accurate results.
Primuslabs adheres to a strict chain of custody for all samples, from collection to analysis, the use of cutting-edge technology and quality control programs, are combined in order to ensure accurate and reproducible analytical results. In addition, for all samples taken by Primuslabs, GPS points are included in the electronic report to show the sampler’s path. This gives assurance that the correct areas were sampled and that the personnel attached to the sampling plans.
Additionally, laboratory results are automatically loaded and are available in the customer’s Supply Chain portal. This personalized website allows movements of audits and data analysis through the supply chain. Advanced data analysis can be carried out, allowing to improve the capacity for decision making for the approval and verification of the provider. Summaries of results can be easily downloaded and exported to Microsoft Excel for further review.
For more information, you can visit www.azzule.com or contact us for your personal access information.
- What is the importance of microbiological analyzes and laboratory tests on growers companies?
A lot of food that are brought to the table may be contaminated and be a risk to our health, and our families, for this reason, it is essential that food producing and distributing companies carry out microbiological analyzes of their products.
As we discussed in a previous point, most Mexican exporters already have a food safety program. Performing microbiological analysis on a frequent basis allows them to monitor the different stages of their process, detect if there are microbial loads and possible contamination risk points.
Primuslabs offers PCR (rapid) methodology, where we can deliver results to our clients in 24-48 hours, and this allows our clients to take corrective actions and comply with their safety program, the FSMA requirements and its buyers.
- Which of them do you consider indispensable for a company to comply with international laws?
One of the FSMA changes states that producers must perform a statistical calculation of water quality, as well as their test methods.
Primuslabs offers approved water analyzes for the generic E. coli and more, to determine the water quality profile. Our main method is IDEXX Colilert (SM9223) which is included in the FDA’s “Equivalent Testing Methodologies for Agricultural Water” list, and can be used for FSMA compliance.
In the following link you can consult the methodologies approved by FDA.
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/UCM575255.pdf
- What is PrimusLabs University and what are the main courses taught?
PrimusLabs University was established to educate food safety professionals on practices and policies for the prevention of contamination of foodborne diseases through concepts, rules, skill development and behavior improvement.
Additionally, there is due training in the PrimusGFS and Primus Standard schemes, as well as training in basic microbiology and sampling, and FSMA requirements and water analysis.
- What are the most important changes that the PrimusGFS Scheme version 3 has had?
The most important changes in the new version 3, is that all FSMA requirements have been incorporated, including those of the Product Safety Rule, Preventive Controls for Human Food and the Sanitary Transportation Rule.
In addition, this new version has been expanded from three to seven modules, to meet the specific needs of the auditees.
- Module 1: Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
- Module 2: Farm
- Module 3: Indoor Agriculture
- Module 4: Harvest Crew
- Module 5: Facility
- Module 6: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
- Module 7: Preventive Control (PC)
- Something else you want to add?
Just to thank for the visit to our facilities, and give us the opportunity to publicize our services in this space.
For more information you can consult our sites or contact us at 01 (667) 7-16-50-77.
www.primuslabs.com; www.azzule.com; www.primusgfs.com
Source: Eleven Rivers Growers