FOOD SAFETY - REGULATORY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST REGULATORY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST - FOOD SAFETY 27 28 3. Regulatory Affairs Specialists Communicate Packaged food is composed of different ingredients, each of which have their own set regulations. Many companies, when creating new products, obtain ingredients from other suppliers. Regulatory affairs specialists constantly communicate with ingredient suppliers to secure all the information necessary to make informed decisions. Frozen pizza manufactures for example don’t produce cheese themselves but purchase it from outside vendors. A regulatory affairs specialist would ensure that the vendors provide ingredients that are safe to sell in their company of operation. They also need to translate this information into labels that will be sold on the frozen pizza boxes. 4. Regulatory Affairs Specialists Have Educational Backgrounds in Nutrition and Food Science Typically, regulatory affairs specialists have bachelor’s degrees in scientific disciplines such as nutrition, food science, chemistry or biology. These degrees prepare students for the broad range of responsibilities needed to understand the food manufacturing process. However, within recent years, there has been a rise in the number of colleges offering one to two year certificates and degrees in regulatory affairs. These programs provide the skills and knowledge to pursue careers related to regulatory affairs within the healthcare, food, industrial chemical and agrochemical industries. 5. Regulatory Affairs Specialists Play a Role in Research and Development Research & Development (R&D) professionals aren’t the only ones who consult on product formulations. Regulatory affairs specialists also play a role in the development of new and existing products because of the in-depth knowledge of food regulations. R&D often consults with regulatory affairs to ascertain what regulations they must follow when creating a new product. For example, a company could request a product that lists “high in fiber” on their label. Regulatory affairs specialists know exactly how much fiber needs to be added to a recipe in order to declare “high in fiber” on the label. 6. Regulatory Affairs Specialists are Responsible for Developing Labels In many companies, it’s up to regulatory specialists to develop food labels for their products. They provide label and packaging artwork reviews for a variety of food products entering the food market. Nutritional labels have very specific specifications that companies must adhere to as defined by different regulatory agency policies. During the label development process, they create and define workflows for label review, product review and sign-off processes needed by the required business teams. 7. Regulatory Affairs Specialists are Organized Regulatory affairs specialists must manage a wide range of tasks, from creating nutritional labels to advising the R&D team. They stay organized to avoid becoming overwhelmed in their job. Organization also allows them to track and follow up on related documentation. Furthermore, they must be organized enough that they can create realistic action plans while prioritizing work activities. 8. Regulatory Affairs Specialists are Adaptable, Have an Attention for Detail and can Write Well Being a regulatory affairs specialist requires a wide range of skills. However, there are a few which are more essential than others. These skills include: • Adaptability – New regulations are always being created and formulations change quickly. Regulatory specialists thrive in a variety of environments, responsibilities and people. They must be adaptable to change and push companies forward when these changes must occur. • Attention for Detail – Having an attention for detail could arguably be the most important skill that any regulatory affairs specialist could have. They parse through thousands of pages of documents. This is to ensure that their product meets all laws and regulations. Having one error on a food label can mean high cost fines for the company. • Writing Skills – Regulatory affairs requires the preparation and review of documents which can be hundreds of pages long. They are required to write reports and other forms of documentation. Often times, these reports are highly structured and based on detailed templates. However, following these templates still requires clear and concise writing skills. Conestoga College is an Education Partner of ours, check them out on FoodGrads! Click their logo below! Available Programs: Regulatory Affairs Conestoga College persons to whom, or bodies to which, Parliament has delegated an authority. Examples are: • Cabinet. • A minister. • An agency. The authority to make regulations must be expressly delegated through enabling legislation. Photo by dusanpetkovic/iStock/GettyImagesPlus Photo by Pekic/E+ Wondering how to find the right career for you? May that career be one in food safety and auditing? Then check out our partner Mentorship series with CareersNOW! In the following video, you’ll get: • Career advice from experts in the industry. • Tips on matching personality and career. • Career development tips and tricks. • A look into the day in the life of a food safety officer. • Advice on how to find a business mentor or manager. • Information on research and development in food safety. The following YouTube Mentorship series features our own Nicole Gallace! Ontario Jobs | CareersNOW! Mentorship Series - Auditor / Food Safety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=190FLph2nc8 Not sure how to find the right career? Looking for a career coach to help you find the career of your dreams in food safety and auditing? Wondering how to find a business mentor to help you achieve your professional goals?
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