This study was conducted to derive the level of importance of HACCP evaluation items in meat packing plants. Based on the results, we proposed a method to increase the objectivity of HACCP criteria for meat packaging plants by giving different evaluation scores to each evaluation item. To assign a differential score for each HACCP evaluation item, the severity of the hazard and the rate of non-compliance in the past 3 years (3,905 of the prerequisite section, 2,057 of the HACCP management section) were analyzed. The results were as follows. The importance and score differentiation of each HACCP evaluation item was derived. The total scores of the prerequisite section and HACCP management section were set at 200 and 100, respectively. However, to maintain objectivity of the HACCP evaluation items, further study is needed to develop detailed criteria for each HACCP evaluation item and score.

This study was conducted to analyze the reasons for and advantages and disadvantages of implementing the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system on animal farms in Korea. The study was carried out by randomly selecting 45 swine and 24 dairy farms where HACCP has been implemented. The results were as follows: 24% of the swine farmers responded that extension of their business was the major reason for implementing HACCP; the second (21%) was financial support from local or national government. Dairy farmers had similar responses. The top advantage of adopting HACCP was improvement of the welfare of employees in both swine (21%) and dairy (22%) farms. The first-ranked disadvantages of HACCP implementation were HACCP education (23%, swine farm) and high turnover of employees (24%, dairy farm). On farms, HACCP may increase the sanitation and safety levels of domestic livestock products. However, the Korean government should address the disadvantages of HACCP to encourage its adoption at the animal production stage.