The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program is globally recognized
by retailers and foodservice providers who require rigorous and credible food
safety management. It is the only program recognized by the Global Food Safety
Initiative (GFSI) that is headquartered outside of Europe. SQF is owned by the
Food Marketing Institute (FMI), a trade association that serves as the voice of
food retailers.
GFSI mission is to provide continuous improvement in food
safety management systems to ensure confidence in the delivery of safe food to
consumers worldwide.
Except SQF, GFSI recognizes other schemes as global
standards for food safety such as BRC, IFS and FSSC 22000.
What makes SQF unique and different from other GFSI
recognized schemes is the integration of Food Safety and Quality component of
food manufacturing. SQF requires that companies certified at level 3 develop
and implement Food Quality Plan that is based on HACCP principles. Based on
that plan, critical areas for food quality are controlled through CQPs
(Critical Quality Points).
In general, there are 8 steps in achieving SQF
certification.
- Learn the SQF code
- Register your company
- Designate a SQF Practitioner – SQF practitioner must be employed by the company and must complete a certified HACCP course and have a good understanding of the SQF code.
- Choose a certification level
Level 1 - low risk products including
fundamental food safety controls.
-
Site has a building approved to make food
-
Site has pre-requisite programs in place
-
Site has an SQF Practitioner assigned
Level 2 - GFSI benchmarked, site has a certified
HACCP Food Safety Plan
Level 3 - comprehensive implementation of safety
and quality management systems.
-
Site has established a Food Quality Plan using
the HACCP Model
- Obtain SQF Licensed Certification Proposals from Accredited Certification Bodies.
6. Conduct a Pre-assessment audit, which helps to
identify GAPs in the company’s SQF system.
-
Certification Body Auditor conducted
-
Certification Body Consultant conducted
-
Conducted internally
7.
Schedule an Audit
8.
Participate and pass Certification Audit
Safe Quality Food consultants offers 16 auditing modules depending on
the type of operation that is to be certified. In addition, SQF recognizes 35
different food sector categories within the food industry.
In SQF there are 3 types of audits – 1) Desk audit (for initial
SQF audit only), 2) Certification Audit and 3) Surveillance Audit for those
that received low scoring and too many non – conformances during certification
audit.
Recently SQF implemented concept of unannounced audits that
are performed 30 days prior and 30 days after certification date. Within three
(3) certification cycles the certification body shall conduct one (1)
unannounced re-certification audit of the supplier.
In today’s world having robust food safety and quality
system is a must. SQF certification scheme is a great guideline in achieving
desired level of food safety and quality.
