SQF 2.3.3 Contract Service Provider
Dear all,
Please help me with the following question. My contract service for calibration, specifically Flow meter (effluent discharge) is required to have any documentation such as certification, operating license. Or any additional documentation? Please, if you can help with this will be great.
Well, this is interesting - I am sitting here in the office working on a 2.3.3 Service Provider register and contractor entry requirements for a company that will get SQF 7.2 certified this year.
You need a copy of the contract or copy of a letter of agreement, etc.
The provider name, contact information
Their training if applicable and we add training on compliance to contractor GMPs or GSPs etc.
The facility has the back-up documentation and signed copies of the GMPs for contractors, etc.
That should do it.
Thank you for your answer. What if the GMP training is provided for us? Is that acceptable?
The GMP must be provided by your company, put a signoff on each one, have the contractor sign off they have been trained, etc.
Excellent! Thank you so much
From the Guidance -
What does it mean?
Many duties within the food production or processing facility may be conducted by individuals or organizations
that are not employed by the business, but are contracted to provide specialist services. These may include
companies involved in transport, construction, contract labor hire, engineering, pest control, sanitation,
chemical management, trash collection, refrigerated storage or uniform cleaning.
The contract service does not need to directly involve product safety or quality, but could still indirectly affect
the product or facility. For example, construction engineers may not have direct contact with food
manufacturing, but their work and presence in a food handling facility can indirectly impact food safety and
quality.
This element of the Code addresses how the services from these outside organizations are controlled monitored
and verified to ensure that food safety and product quality is maintained and customer specifications are
achieved.
What do I have to do?
Just as with raw and packaging materials, specifications must also be in place for all providers of contract services.
The specification may be included in the contract, and will describe fully the services provided, and how the safety and
quality of product are protected from the actions and presence of contract personnel. This will include, as necessary,
the qualifications of contract personnel and the equipment, tools, and chemicals permitted on site (e.g. a “no glass”
policy).
Contractors working within the facility will be subject to the same personal hygiene and welfare conditions as
employees. These conditions shall be included in the contract specification.
The specification must include the training required by contract service providers. Training examples could be training
done by service providers, training completed by supplier or certification as demonstration of training.
All current specifications for contract service providers must be included on a register (list).
2.3.3 Auditing Guidance
The auditor will seek evidence of the existence of a register of contract service specifications and will review a sample of specifications to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Code. Evidence will be sought by interview, review of specifications, and observation, and may include:
• Review of selected sample of contract service specifications to confirm compliance with the SQF Code requirements, including personnel hygiene and welfare;
• Qualifications and credentials of contract staff;
• Knowledge of contract service and Code requirements by contract personnel.
For some contract service provider like example emergency plumbing, electrical work, our company have approved suppliers meaning they are setup within our payment system. So in case if work is needed to be done a Work order & PO is created and sent to them. Once onsite they would go through a training module and then would go in and complete the work.
Other than them being trained when they come in and the work order which would only be created if certain work is needed, how can we make those contract service providers comply to the requirements.