In increasing numbers, major North American retailers are requiring GFSI-recognized certification from their suppliers. SQF certification meets this requirement and provides assurance that a site’s food safety plan and management system are implemented in accordance with Codex Alimentarius HACCP principles and food regulations such as those set forth in European Food Law and the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). SQF certification shows buyers that the company is committed to the production, distribution, and sale of safe, quality food for consumers.

FoodChain ID Certification in America is accredited to certify sites to the SQF Code through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). We have extensive experience in third party certification for the food and beverage industry, which is matched by our commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. At FoodChain ID Certification, our customers are our top priority and we demonstrate this through close communication throughout the certification process.

Is your company considering SQF certification? If so, FoodChain ID Certification’s team of certification experts can help explain the process and get you started.

Download the applicable SQF Food Safety Code and review the certification process and standard requirements.

Assign one or more SQF practitioners for the site and complete training in Implementing SQF Systems available online or in-person through a SQF licensed training center.

Independent SQF consultants may be used to help develop the system, but the Code requires a designated SQF practitioner for each site who is a full-time employee of the company, trained in HACCP and competent to implement a food safety plan and all requirements of the SQF system.

Contact FoodChain ID Certification for a SQF application. Complete the application in full and return to FoodChain ID Certification staff for a proposal. FoodChain ID Certification will confirm the scope of audit, which includes relevant food sector categories (FSCs) for your company’s products or processes, applicable standard and audit duration, and assign a SQF registered auditor qualified to audit in your sector category. The scope of audit and certification fees will be detailed in the Certification Proposal and Agreement for your approval.

We recommend contacting us at least 3 months in advance of your desired audit time frame.

• Register the site at SQFI Assessment Database and select FoodChain ID Certification as your certification body
• Implement your SQF system with a recommended minimum of 2 months of records
• Conduct a gap analysis against Code requirements using the applicable SQF self-assessment checklist or contact FoodChain ID Certification to schedule a pre-assessment audit (optional)

Pre-assessment audits do not result in certification but are a way for the site to determine their level of preparedness by a qualified auditor. (Note that the same auditor cannot conduct both the pre-assessment audit and certification audit.)

Initial SQF audits are conducted in two stages: desk audit and facility audit. The desk audit is conducted first and is an assessment of SQF system documentation. Non-conformities resulting from the desk audit must be corrected before the site can advance to the facility audit.

Prior to the facility audit, FoodChain ID Certification will provide a Visit Plan to the site, which describes audit format and scope, section requirements and an approximate timeline to ensure processes and relevant staff are available for assessment. Eighty percent of the facility audit is conducted through direct observation, personnel interviews, and records review.

During the closing meeting of the facility audit, the auditor reviews any identified non-conformities with site personnel and provides a non-conformity report. Within 10 days of the audit, FoodChain ID Certification reviews the auditor’s initial report and makes it available to the site in ReposiTrak (SQF Assessment Database). The site is responsible for correcting audit non-conformities within 30 days of the audit and uploading correction action evidence to the database. Site corrective actions are reviewed, verified and approved by the auditor and FoodChain ID Certification, upon which an independent certification decision is made within 45 days of the audit. Where certification is granted, a final audit report (including approved corrective actions) and certificate are provided to the site via ReposiTrak.

Certified sites are publicly searchable through ReposiTrak, but audit reports cannot be shared without site permission.