SQF - SAFE QUALITY FOOD

SQF—Safe Quality Food— is a program initiated by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). It works on the vision ‘one world; one standard’ to meet the food safety management requirements of suppliers and buyers across the globe. SQF is owned and regulated by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). SQF certification is a program initiated to reduce the need for multiple food safety audits.

Getting SQF Certified enables your organization to comply with international and domestic food safety regulations providing the suppliers with an assurance that food has been produced, and handled according to the highest viable standards.

All Audits are to be administered under the recent revision to Edition 8 compliant SQF Food Safety Management System of the SQF Code as of January 1, 2018.

KEY BENEFITS OF ACHIEVING SQF TO YOUR ORGANIZATION

Achieving SQF Certification can bring your organization with numerous benefits. These benefits can be classified under 3 categories:

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Helps organizations to get recognized worldwide.
Encourage a degree of confidence in food safety and quality.
Leads to greater opportunities
Enhanced brand reputation and increased marketability domestically and globally.

COST ADVANTAGES

Continual improvement in product quality, safety and legality with minimal cost.
Building an effective SQF system will enhance the process management in the organizationenabling them to identify and manage risk to continually monitor and improve the system.
Reduction in material waste.
Streamlines risk and process management within companies

SAFETY AND QUALITY ADVANTAGES

Addresses food safety requirements.
Issues proof of due diligence.
Encourages more responsible agricultural and manufacturing processes.
Complies with regulatory and administrative requirements.

SQF REQUIREMENTS

Building your food safety system compliant to SQF Code requirements is workable goal for your organization. The steps to develop and implement an SQF system includes:

Downloading the SQF Code, applicable resources and training for your organization from the SQF website www.sqfi.com.
Getting your company registered in the SQF database.
Appoint an employee as an SQF Practitioner who will be your internal expert on SQF to guide the development, documentation and implementation of your SQF food safety system.
Develop & Implement the SQF System at your facility.
Conducting Self-Assessments of your SQF system.
Choose a Certification Body.

PB Consultant will assist for a quote for your certification audit.
Conduct an optional pre-assessment audit to identify any gaps between your system, practices and the SQF Code to prepare for your certification audit. Self-assessment checklists are available on the SQF website.
Schedule a certification audit with 4C Consulting.
Complete your certification audit inclusive of a documented review and facility assessment.
Obtain your SQF Certificate when your organization demonstrates C-Complies rating or greater with no outstanding non-conformances.