The Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification process is a rigorous and comprehensive system that ensures food safety and quality throughout the supply chain.
You may be eager to receive your SQF certification because your customers are asking for it.
However, obtaining SQF certification starts with several small steps, including developing a food safety plan and procedures, implementing effective food safety procedures, and training and record keeping. You must also ensure that your SQF program is effective through an internal audit.
If you are seeking an SQF certification, we can help guide you through the process. To begin the SQF certification process, you must first understand the requirements and standards set forth by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI). This includes familiarizing yourselves with the SQF Code, which outlines food safety and quality management systems requirements.
We always recommend that the food manufacturer or storage/distribution facility undergo a pre-assessment to determine your readiness for certification. This involves a thorough review of the company’s food safety and quality management systems and an assessment of your compliance with SQF standards.
Once the pre-assessment is complete, you can proceed with the formal certification process, which involves an on-site audit by a certified SQF auditor. This audit evaluates the company’s food safety and quality management systems and your compliance with SQF standards. If your facility meets all requirements, it will be awarded SQF certification. Achieving SQF certification is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates a company’s commitment to food safety and quality. It also provides a competitive advantage in the marketplace, as many retailers and food service providers require your suppliers to be SQF-certified.
However, the certification process can be confusing for beginners. For example, you may find that the requirements don’t make sense or think you comply, but you are not sure. Or you might be overwhelmed with the requirements? Some clients also over-commit to the requirement, which is amazing, but incur unnecessary costs that may not help the company.
By understanding the SQF certification process and its requirements, companies can better prepare for the challenges ahead and ensure their success in achieving certification.
Identifying Common Challenges in Achieving SQF Certification
While achieving SQF certification is a significant accomplishment, it is not without its challenges. Companies may encounter several common obstacles when pursuing SQF certification, including developing a comprehensive food safety plan, implementing effective training and education programs, maintaining compliance with SQF standards, and overcoming supply chain and vendor management challenges. These challenges can be complex and require careful planning and execution to overcome.
One of the most common challenges in achieving SQF certification is developing a comprehensive food safety plan and procedures that meet the requirements of the SQF Code. This involves identifying potential hazards in the production process, implementing control measures to mitigate these hazards, and establishing monitoring procedures to ensure the effectiveness of these controls.
Developing a comprehensive food safety plan requires a thorough understanding of food safety principles and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Collaboration across all levels of the organization is also required to ensure that everyone is aligned with the company’s food safety objectives.
Just because you are trained in the HACCP course doesn’t mean you can write the HACCP plan. Writing a HACCP plan is a skill. It is easier to watch and critique than to write a HACCP plan.
Often, this lack of skills can demotivate your staff from implementing the food safety programs.
Implementing effective training and education programs is another common challenge in achieving SQF certification. This involves ensuring that all employees are properly trained in food safety principles and procedures and providing ongoing education to keep them informed of any changes or updates to SQF standards.
Effective training and education programs are essential for maintaining compliance with SQF standards and ensuring all employees are equipped to uphold the company’s food safety objectives. However, implementing these programs can be challenging, requiring time, resources, and a commitment to ongoing training and education.
It is also important to note that reading from paper and having employees sign the record is not considered training. The training process involves going through the requirements, showing and assessing the staff’s competency or ability to perform the tasks.
Developing a Comprehensive Food Safety Plan
Developing a comprehensive food safety plan is critical to achieving SQF certification. The food safety plan outlines the company’s approach to identifying potential hazards in the production process, implementing control measures to mitigate these hazards, and establishing monitoring procedures to ensure the effectiveness of these controls.
Developing a comprehensive food safety plan requires a thorough understanding of food safety principles and a commitment to continuous improvement. To develop a comprehensive food safety plan, we must conduct a rigorous hazard analysis to identify potential hazards in your production process. This involves evaluating each step of the production process to identify any biological, chemical, or physical hazards that could threaten food safety.
Once potential hazards have been identified, companies must implement control measures to mitigate these hazards. This may involve implementing sanitation procedures, establishing temperature controls, or implementing allergen management procedures. In addition to implementing control measures, companies must establish monitoring procedures to ensure the effectiveness of these controls. This involves regularly monitoring critical control points in the production process to ensure that hazards are effectively controlled.
Monitoring procedures may include visual inspections, testing for pathogens or contaminants, or reviewing records of sanitation procedures. You must ensure you have proof that the monitoring procedures have been properly conducted.
By developing a comprehensive food safety plan and procedures that address potential hazards, implement control measures, and establish monitoring procedures, you can better position yourself for success in achieving SQF certification.
Implementing Effective Training and Education Programs
Implementing effective training and education programs is essential for maintaining compliance with SQF standards and ensuring all employees are equipped to uphold the company’s food safety objectives. Effective training and education programs involve ensuring that all employees are properly trained in food safety principles and procedures and providing ongoing education to keep them informed of any changes or updates to SQF standards.To implement effective training and education programs, companies must first identify the specific training needs of their employees. This may involve conducting a training needs assessment to determine which employees require training in particular areas of food safety.
Once training needs have been identified, companies can develop training programs that address these needs. Training programs may include classroom instruction, hands-on training, or online courses. In addition to initial training programs, companies must provide ongoing education to inform employees of any changes or updates to SQF standards. This may involve regularly updating food safety procedures, conducting refresher courses on specific topics, or providing access to resources such as training materials or online courses.
Maintaining Compliance with SQF Standards
Just because you pass the first SQF audit doesn’t mean you’ll do well on your second SQF audit.
Maintaining compliance with SQF standards is essential for achieving and retaining SQF certification. This requires ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement. You can conduct regular audits of critical control points in the production process, review records of sanitation procedures, or test for pathogens or contaminants as per your SQF verification procedures. All identified areas of non-compliance must be corrected. In addition to monitoring procedures, you can use internal audits or engaging third-party auditors to review your company’s systems and processes. By conducting regular evaluations, we can identify any areas for improvement and take corrective action to address them.
Are you ready for your audit? Don’t take a guess. Let us help you review your food safety management system.
When I worked in the food industry, no one wanted to do an internal audit! Don’t leave your internal audit to staff that does not know how or have no intention of helping you find deviations before the auditor! We can help you. Contact us.