Guidance for re-commissioning vacuum packers
What is re-commissioning?
Re-commissioning is the process of dismantling, cleaning and disinfecting the parts of a vacuum
packer.
Due to the potential for the survival of E. coli O157, and to help prevent cross-contamination, all
vacuum packers that are to be re-commissioned must be made safe prior to use for ready-to-eat
food, with suitable cleaning and disinfection techniques.
Any food business using a vacuum packer should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on
regular cleaning, servicing and maintenance.
To ensure effective disinfection the internal components of the machines need to be accessible
and where necessary removed for full cleaning and disinfection. Some machines cannot be
effectively dismantled and disinfected. These machines must not be used for both raw and ready-
to-eat food.
How is a machine re-commissioned?
A full dismantle should only be undertaken by a competent engineer as the internal components
need to be accessible, cleaned and disinfected. For example, an experienced vacuum packer
engineer or someone familiar with CE marking requirements.
The vacuum packer needs to be completely stripped down to expose an empty machine chamber.
This should include, for example, the removal of the sealing bars, infill boards, vacuum pump,
pipe work and other internal items.
The chamber and the internal components that have been removed should either be heat
disinfected (for example using a steamer) or chemically disinfected using appropriate chemicals,
concentration and contact times, prior to the machine being put back together.
Chemical disinfectants used in this process must comply with BS EN 1276:2009 or BS EN
13697:2001 or an equivalent standard.
Vacuum packers that have deteriorated or are damaged such that they can no longer be
thoroughly cleaned / disinfected must not be used. Depending on the degree of deterioration or
damage, re-commissioning may not be possible.
Guidance for re-commissioning vacuum packers 1|Page
When should a machine be re-commissioned?
Circumstances that require a vacuum packer to undergo re-commissioning include (this list is not
exhaustive):
• if the owner / operator cannot be sure of its previous use
• raw food has inadvertently been processed in a machine designated for ready-to-eat food
only
• the use of the machine is to be changed from raw food to ready-to-eat food
• the use of the machine is prohibited by enforcement action on the evidence that it is not
safe for use with ready-to-eat food, unless effectively re-commissioned
• any other time where contamination from a source of E. coli 0157 may have occurred and
the machine is due to be used for ready-to-eat food
How should I record the re-commissioning?
Keep a record of each time the machine has been re-commissioned. Verification of effective
cleaning can consist of a signed and dated cleaning schedule from the competent person
documenting:
• the procedure followed
• the disinfection method used (heat or chemical)
• if heat disinfection, the time and temperature combination used
• if chemical disinfection, the specific chemical, the contact time and the concentration used
• who undertook the process
Open government licence
© Crown copyright 2019
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where
otherwise stated. Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to
obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
To view this licence:
Visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Email [email protected]
Write to: Information Policy Team
The National Archives
Kew
London
TW9 4DU
About this publication:
Enquiries: https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/businesses/find-details
Follow us on Like us on Facebook:
Twitter: @foodgov
32T 32T facebook.com/FoodStandardsAgency
32T 32T
Guidance for re-commissioning vacuum packers 2|Page
