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What is SQF Certification?

SQF stands for Safe Quality Food and is a food safety certification scheme. Once your company implements a food safety system that meets the requirements of the SQF Code, you will be audited by a Third-Party Certification Body. Once they verify that you are meeting the requirements, they will provide your company with your SQF Certification.

SQF, by the SQF Institute, is recognized by GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative). This gives you the recognition you need to supply products to leading manufacturers and retails worldwide.

What are the SQF Levels?

There are 3 Levels of Certification as below:

Level 1: Food Safety Fundamentals

Focused on food safety fundamentals, this is the most basic level with the fewest requirements. It is most appropriate for low risk operations. It does not require HACCP. This level is not recognized by GFSI.

Level 2: Food Safety Code

This level includes food safety fundamentals and a HACCP approach to managing risks and hazards. This level is comparable to the ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and BRC standards and registration schemes. This level is recognized by GFSI.

Level 3: Quality

This will include system elements relating to quality. The results of your quality audit will not affect the score of your food safety audit. This level is also recognized by GFSI.

What is SQF (Safe Quality Food) code?

The SQF Code is a site-specific, process and product certification standard that enables suppliers to ensure that their customers receive food that has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain from farm to fork. SQF also covers product quality, if required, with the SQF quality code.

The SQF Code covers the entire food supply chain with individual codes and modules suited to your industry sector ensuring that requirements are specific to your operations.

SQF certification can be achieved through the following Food Safety Codes

• Primary production code
• Food manufacturing code
• Storage and distribution code
• Food packaging manufacturing code
• Retail operations code
• Food Service code
• Quality code, this can be added to any of the above code audits except the retail operations code

Benefits of SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification

Certifying your food management system against the SQF program requirements will bring the following benefits:

• Improve process management by helping to identify and manage risk
• Prepare for existing and new food safety and regulatory requirements
• Provide proof of due diligence and instil confidence in food safety, quality and legality
• Monitor product safety and/or quality
• Improve traceability
• Competitive advantage
• When achieving and maintaining certification to the SQF quality code this enables you to use the SQF quality shield on your packaging

How to prepare for SQF Certification?

Plan for Documentation, Implementation and training for SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification Consultancy Carry out Gap Analysis of Infrastructure and Documentation Practices against SQF requirements

• Designate and train your SQF Practitioner
• Conduct Awareness Trainings
• Designate teams to design, document and implement the required processes and food safety fundamentals
• Train your internal audit team and perform internal audits
• Conduct of Management Review and HACCP Team meetings
• Make corrections and improvements to your system
• Conduct a Pre-Assessment Audit (Optional)
• Choose a Certification Body and Schedule an Audit
• Certification Body Conducts Initial Certification Audits

Competent and Expert Consultant can help you establish system according to SQF (Safe Quality Food) Requirements. Consultants have professional method of implementing SQF requirement.

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