Safe Quality Food (SQF) standard is now revised to Edition 9. All units to be audited afresh or for surveillance audits are to follow this edition post October 4, 2021.
SQFI has introduced four code amendments to be implemented and audited with the applicable Edition 9 codes:
- Medical screening applies to Personnel Hygiene and Welfare, 3.3.1.1; 4.3.1.1; 9.3.1.1; 10.4.1.1; 11.3.1.1; 12.4.1.1; 13.3.1.1; 17.3.1.1. These elements shall include a medical screening procedure for all employees, visitors and contractors who handle exposed product or food contact surfaces.
- Approved Suppliers applies to 2.3.3 in the primary food safety codes and 2.3.4 in all other codes except Storage & Distribution. Approved supplier registers shall include supplier contact details. All approved and emergency suppliers shall be registered.
- Multi-site program. Sub-sites within an SQF multi-site program can only operate in one or more of these food sector categories – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 26.
- Application of Agricultural Chemicals. The requirements of 7.7.3.2, 5.7.3.2, 8.7.3.2, and 18.8.4.2 shall apply to the person(s) applying chemicals as well as the person making decisions on chemical application.
The implementation date is October 4, 2021.
Edition 9 Code Amendment Downloads
The Purpose of SQF Changes:
Purpose of Revisions to SQF Program have been to achieve following goals:
- Make the Standard to be adaptable all Industry Sectors,
- To Incorporate latest additions to Food Safety Maintenance Act FSMA
- To make Continual Improvement a part of Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
- To Incorporate all benchmarking requirements of GFSI as per the latest released version
Benefits of the SQF program
- Program provides important tools and guidance materials in promoting quality driven management practice in food production, processing and supply.
- SQF has been endorsed and widely acknowledged by leading sector players in the food production industry including the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Food Quality and Management Control Systems.
- Promoted informative yearly certification and third-party audits to help retailers and processors maintain the SQF Food Safety and Quality benchmark.
- The SQF program allows the validation of food processing and production systems throughout the whole Food chain.
- Suppliers and producers with the SQF certification have an increased competitive advantage in the market.
Our Approach
QSE’s “Ten Step Approach”™ to Registration is designed and perfected to cost- effectively prepare facilities for successfully passing Certification Audits with minimum or no nonconformities. QSE emphasizes on developing Simplified Documented Management Systems to meet or exceeds the requirements of any Management System Standard requirements. This 10 Step Approach has a built-in discipline to involve all employees including top management right from the beginning to achieve long-term desired results. Our approach is so complete that we have helped over 800 companies obtain certification, of which, majority have obtained certification with zero deficiencies.