Valid-IT is a database of UK Retailers Approved ingredient suppliers for ingredients that they consider high risk for being Genetically Modified or contaminated by artificial or dyes that are banned in food.
All Approved suppliers will have undergone an assessment of their systems and procedures and are recognised as having systems in place to minimise any risk of contamination with GM ingredients or illegal dyes.
Ingredients that are derived from potentially Genetically Modified sources need to be validated that they are NON GM.
These currently include origins* of :-
Spice Ingredients, need to be verified that they are free from illegal dyes and comply with the recommendations and meet the levels of detection for non-permitted colours in spices ads defined by the UK Food Standards Agency.
High risk ingredient origins* are currently :-
Current non-permitted dyes* include :-
* These lists are not exhaustive and may be reviewed periodically as deemed necessary. Please ensure to check the website regularly for any changes to the controlled ingredients. You will not be automatically notified if this list is changed.
Valid-IT is administered by Eurofins on behalf of participating retailers to control the risk of GM contamination of specified GM materials. The model used is a supply chain model where all suppliers of sensitive materials back to, but excluding, growers must be Valid-IT approved. Part of the approval process will be an assessment of control of growers to ensure Non-GM status.
Valid-IT approval does not, of itself, guarantee that any individual batch of material will not be contaminated with GM but evaluates the systems in place to minimise the risk of such contamination.
All retailer food products and supplements that include ingredients that are subject to control or are derived from materials subject to control fall within the scope of this policy.
Controlled ingredients are defined by the specific retailer and are currently
Valid-IT is administered by Eurofins on behalf of participating retailers to control the risk of contamination of specified spices with illegal dyes. The model used is a supply chain model where all suppliers of sensitive materials back to, but excluding, growers must be Valid-IT approved.
Valid-IT approval does not, of itself, guarantee that any individual batch of material will not be contaminated with illegal dyes but evaluates the systems in place to minimise the risk of such contamination.
All retailer food products and supplements that include ingredients that are subject to control or are derived from materials subject to control fall within the scope of this policy.
Controlled ingredients are defined by the specific retailer and are currently
Fresh spices, dried and chopped spices and spice extract, including colours and oleoresins, are excluded from this policy, however please be aware that some ingredients used in the above may be subject to the Non GM policy. These ingredients may also be subject to specific control by retailer policy. Valid-IT approval is only pertinent to contamination with illegal dyes and does not indicate compliance with any other relevant retailer policies. It remains the responsibility of suppliers to ensure all retailer policies are complied with.
There must be a demonstrable system in place for the control of materials potentially contaminated with illegal dyes. These will generally fall within 2 categories:
All suppliers, except agricultural suppliers or suppliers of exempt material, must be listed on Valid-IT. Suppliers who are already listed on Valid-IT may be used for the supply of any materials within the scope of their listing. If your supplier is not listed on Valid-IT then you may register them as a sole supplier to you. All of the evidence required will have to be submitted on behalf of the supplier and the conditions for listing will be the same as for any other supplier. This supplier will only appear on your website entry and will not be generally available for the supply of Valid-IT materials.. The cost for each sole supplier registered will be the same as that for an individual application.
Each batch/lot of Valid-IT material should be tested, by an accredited laboratory, for the presence of illegal dyes The three most recent of these analyses for each spice to be listed must be submitted with the application. Minimum requirements are testing for Sudan Dyes I-IV and Para Red by a recognised method. Where risk assessment dictates testing should also be carried out for the following colours, in line with Food Standards Agency Guidance:- Sudan Red B, Sudan Red 7B, Sudan Red G, Butter Yellow, Metanil Yellow, Orange G, Rhodamine B, Orange II, Toluidine Red, Annatto, Bixin and Norbixin.
Renewal will be required annually. The evidence submitted for renewal should be the same as that submitted for a new application as above.
Any significant changes to accreditation status or to processes that would have a significant effect on the status of the product must be notified to Eurofins. There is no need to inform Eurofins of any variation in suppliers if these are Valid-IT approved suppliers and the materials purchased are within the supplier scope as detailed on Valid-IT. These changes can be captured at renewal. Any non Valid-IT approved suppliers should not be used for the supply of Valid-IT materials until such time as their Valid-IT approval is completed. Where suppliers lose their Valid-IT approval you will be notified and you must cease to use these suppliers until such time as their approval is reinstated. Any incidences of non-conforming materials or product withdrawals relevant to this policy affecting your supply chain should be notified to Eurofins.
Website: http://www.valid-it.com
Enquiries: ValidIT@eurofins.com
