11 replies to this topic

[chrcia]

Good day everyone, has anyone worked with any of the following certification bodies:
UL Registrar LLC
NSF
SAI Global
Bureau Veritas
TUV SUD

I am looking for honest feedback as I am looking to choose a certification body for my SQF Audit. Any input would be greatly appreciated

Thank You
Chris

[SQFconsultant]

Yes, every single one of them.

 

I like CICS - you can find them on the SQFI website.  Ask for Ms. Chomacho.

[chrcia]

Glenn what are your feelings on the other certification bodies? If you would prefer to answer privately my email is as follows
cciarcia@bsrseafood.com

Regards
Chris

[SQFconsultant]

Chris - your email address bounced back saying no such domain. Write me at glennosterconsulting@gmail.com

Thanks

[FoodChick]

I suggest that you look at your customer's approved audit companies.  We are located in the U.S. and one of our large customers does NOT accept SAI global as the audit company.  We had to switch audit companies for that reason.  It looks like Bureau Veritas is not on their list for the U.S., nor is TUV SUD.  You want to make sure your customers are going to accept an audit that you have performed. 

 

I'd also contact the audit companies you are interested in using and ask for auditor resumes.  Look at the backgrounds of the auditors and how their experience works with your food sector category.  I've had audits from AIB, Eurofins, SGS, PAO, SAI, and WQS and it really came down to the backgrounds of the auditors.  While auditors are qualified for food sector categories, I find that an auditor qualified for fresh produce that has a background in leafy greens, might not be the best for tree fruit crops.  Personally, I spend a lot of time searching for an auditor with a specific background within my food sector category as I find it makes the audit experience much more robust and practical. 

[Altermanm]

I don't know how they are in US but in Canada I strongly do NOT recommend NSF. Very disorganized, struggling to schedule the audits in a timely manner.

Our last 2 audits were scheduled 2 weeks before the audit, despite the fact that we were chaising for months to schedule the audits.

[Scampi]

I don't know how they are in US but in Canada I strongly do NOT recommend NSF. Very disorganized, struggling to schedule the audits in a timely manner.

Our last 2 audits were scheduled 2 weeks before the audit, despite the fact that we were chaising for months to schedule the audits.

 

 

Here here..........will never sign on with NSF again either

[mzydek]

I don't know how they are in US but in Canada I strongly do NOT recommend NSF. Very disorganized, struggling to schedule the audits in a timely manner.

Our last 2 audits were scheduled 2 weeks before the audit, despite the fact that we were chaising for months to schedule the audits.

I am having a really hard time with NSF as well. I ve been trying to schedule an audit and resolve an issue with them uploading our audit since November. They  do not respond or reply. they did not schedule my audit in a timely matter, now I have to try to file an extension. It has been a mess with them these last few months. I am not even sure how to go about the extension on my audit, so if anyone is experienced in this I could use assistance.

[Scampi]

I contacted SQFI directly last year as I was having the same sort of issues with NSF and our audit dates etc..............things got corrected expeditiously once I got the right person

 

Message me and I will give you the right name at SQFI to make this right

[michaelal]

Had an audit with NSF last August ... had our cert suspended, verification audit done in October 2018 ... Certificate was not issued until January 2019. Had to fight tooth and nail to have someone review or give feedback on our Corrective Actions and root causes. No consistencies between auditors, I had to request for someone else to review our corrective actions.

 

Now waiting for our "unannounced" surveillance audit that is going to coincide with my yearly verification audit. So unorganized and scheduling is horrendous.

 

 

Using Dicentra at our other facility and no issues, quick to reply and certificate issued within two weeks of submitting corrective actions.

[jcieslowski]

At my 'new' company (been here almost a year now) we have NSF and they were difficult to schedule but then easy to deal with after that.  At least for us.  The auditor did reject a few of my corrective and preventative actions but I sent him an email back explaining how it addresses the problem and, while he's not allowed to coach, he needs to provide better clarity on how the corrective action was not sufficient.  He backed down and approved them.

[teaks]

Agree with comments about NSF.  Have used SAI at a different company and was impressed by the quality of the audit and auditor.