2 replies to this topic

[Erasmo]

I’m not familiar with BRC or SQF and other schemes, but I know a lot of SQF auditors and consultants that does not meet the FSSC requirements, does anyone knows the requirements to be an SQF or BRC auditor? What I see, FSSC requirements are focused on experience in food manufacture

1. Work experience of auditors (FSSC22000)

Concerning the requirements on work experience of the auditors in ISO/TS 22003, clause 7.2.2.4, the following is added:

· The five years full time work experience in a food chain related industry, shall be in the food manufacturing industry in the areas of processing, technology, raw materials and /or products;

· The two years of full time work in quality assurance or food safety functions shall be in the food manufacturing industry;

· The allowance to reduce the required five years of total work experience with one year if the auditor has completed appropriate post secondary education, is not applicable.

· The competence of auditors shall be reestablished every 3 years.

Experience as a consultant, Teacher, Scientist… does not count.

[Tony-C]

I’m not familiar with BRC or SQF and other schemes, but I know a lot of SQF auditors and consultants that does not meet the FSSC requirements, does anyone knows the requirements to be an SQF or BRC auditor?

BRC Auditor Requirements:
Education
Degree in Food related or Bioscience/ or Completed higher education in Food related or Bioscience subject
Work Experience
Minimum 5 years in the Food Industry in quality assurance of food safety functions within manufacturing, retailing, inspection or enforcement.
Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of product categories for which they are approved
Qualifications
Management System Lead Assessor Course or BRC 3rd Party Auditor Course
Completed a recognised HACCP Training Course of at least 2 Days duration and able to demonstrate competence
Audit Training
Completed a period of supervised training, including witnessed audits, in practical assessment through 10 audits or 15 audit days involving 3rd party audits against GFSI approved standards.
At least 5 must be against the BRC standard.
Certification bodies must establish training programmes for each auditor including:
Global Standard for Food Awareness course by a BRC Trainer
Initial training including product safety, HACCP, Prerequisite programmes, relevant Laws and Regulations.
Supervised training to cover QMS, Audit Techniques and Specific Category Knowledge
Assessment of skills and knowledge for each category
Documented sign off of satisfactory completion of training programme

SQF Auditor Requirements
From SQF Code 10.9.1 SQF Auditors are registered with the SQF Institute. The SQF Institute has established specific criteria that SQF Auditors must meet including a requirement that Auditors demonstrate they are competent to Audit the Food Sector Category they apply for.
From SQF code 10.9.2 SQF Auditors are required to sign a contract with a licensed SQF Certification Body. They are required to:
i. Maintain their SQF Auditor registration;
ii. Maintain an audit log; and
iii. Sign and comply with the Code of Conduct for SQF Auditors.

Criteria for SQF auditors
1.3 Overview of the Requirements for SQF Auditor Registration. All applicants:
Must attend and successfully complete the following course: SQF Auditor Course taught by SQFI or a designee and successfully complete the on-line SQF Auditor Exam
Must attend an objective "Auditor Training" course of at least 8 hours in length
Must attend a HACCP Training course with certificate issued
Must have completed at least 160 hours of food safety and/or quality auditing in the food industry ( 20 audit days )
Must have at least 5 years work experience in food safety, HACCP program management and/or quality systems management within the food industry
For each Food Sector Category (FSC) that is requested for registration, applicant must demonstrate 5 years work experience in food safety and/or quality management within food industry within requested FSC, or 120 / 160 (for high risk FSC) audit hours within requested FSC, or a combination of work experience and audit experience for each FSC requested
Must be contracted to a SQF licensed Certification Body
Must sign and submit “SQF Auditor Code of Conduct”

Regards,

Tony

[Erasmo]

Summarizing:


BRC Auditor Requirements:

Work Experience
Minimum 5 years in the Food Industry in quality assurance of food safety functions within manufacturing, retailing, inspection OR enforcement.



Criteria for SQF auditors

Must have at least 5 years work experience in food safety, HACCP program management and/or quality systems management within the food industry



Work experience of auditors (FSSC22000)

Concerning the requirements on work experience of the auditors in ISO/TS 22003, clause 7.2.2.4, the following is added:

· The five years full time work experience in a food chain related industry, shall be in the food manufacturing industry in the areas of processing, technology, raw materials and /or products;

For FSSC, experience in Consulting, Teaching, packaging material manufacturing, primary production, etc. does not count.