Good Documentation Practices

The FDA requires organizations to plan, implement, and maintain processes and procedures to keep consumers safe from foodborne illness. Establishing and maintaining a well-functioning documentation system for this plan can be a big challenge for businesses. Documentation provides legal evidence that you and your employees are following the practices and procedures that are deemed necessary for safety. This course reviews good documentation practices (GDPs), including the do’s and don’ts of creating records, document control, common errors, and key characteristics of GDPs.

Close-up of two people reviewing a document at a table, one person holding a pen and the other flipping through papers, with a blurred office background.

Learning objectives:

  • Recognize common mistakes made in documentation

  • Explain what good documentation practices are

  • Identify commonly used documents

  • Utilize measures for document control

Outline

1.     Introduction

2.     Regulatory standards

4.     Record keeping requirements for CGMPs

5.     Group activity: Handwashing SOP critique

6.     Document control

7.     Good documentation practices

8.     Group Activity: Documentation do’s and don’ts review

9.     Electronic records