Knowledge and implementation of HACCP-based management systems among small-scale honey producers in Brazil

Abstract

Increasingly globalized value chains and growing consumer awareness towards foodborne diseases have reinforced the importance of adequate food quality and safety management systems. A widely applied food safety management system is the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, which has become mandatory in many countries and is therefore of major relevance for food producers, processors and traders worldwide. However, mandatory HACCP implementation may act as a trade barrier for many developing and transition countries and pose particular difficulties for small food producers and processors. In this paper, we evaluate the current state of knowledge and implementation of HACCP-based management systems among small-scale honey producers in Brazil. The empirical analysis is based on original survey data collected from a random sample of 115 households involved in apiculture in the northeast of Brazil. In the interviews, beekeepers were asked about their knowledge of HACCP requirements and the implementation of these requirements. Based on a principal component analysis, we create knowledge and implementation indices and compare these indices to relevant household characteristics and honey production conditions. Both the knowledge of requirements and the implementation of these requirements are strongly linked to the households' connectedness along the value chain and their access to a suitable honey extraction facility. In order to enhance the competitiveness of the Brazilian small-scale honey sector, policy-makers should foster cooperation among producers and improve their connectedness to input and output markets. Furthermore, access to appropriate honey extraction facilities should be improved.