How to write the scope of certification?
[Company Name] has committed resources to obtain and maintain certification to the most current GFSI benchmarked edition of the SQF Code. The SQF certification is to Food Sector Category [##], Level [#] and applies to [all manufacturing and storage operations] at this facility for all products [manufactured or stored] at this facility (see Finished Products Specification Register).
I work in a secondary packaging facility, but our solution was simple: At the XYZ facility in Hometown, USA, we make secondary paperboard packaging for the food and beverage industry."
The next paragraph in our Quality Manual lists exclusions; "Exclusion: Design and development of products and services, clause 8.3, is excluded from the scope of the QMS since that is a function of corporate support services."
Keep it simple.
It's simply the products you would like to certify (INLCUDE) for your SQF Certification. This will appear on your certification. For example you're a dairy plant and want to certify milk, butter and cheese. you choose your category and the products that come under it. Also include your exclusions for example if you make ice cream but don't want to include it in your certification, you let the CB know in your application so they just ignore it when they audit you. Hope that helps!
Hello, I would tell you not to worry, that´s the Cert Office paper work, and is being reveiwed several times, always you will have the final ok.
BRC has a guideline: "F033 Guideline for defining wording of scope".
Some short tips:
The scope should include a general outline of the process, the product types and the differentiation of characteristics such as packaging types, storage or shelf life characteristics.
1. The Process
There should be a general outline of the main process, it does not require detail of every step but should provide enough detail so that the typical product characteristics can be understood.
It is suggested using appropriate words from the following (not an exhaustive list):
aseptic filling, baking, battering, blending, bottling, breading, brewing, canning, coating, cooking, conditioning, curing, cutting, dicing, distillation, drying, extrusion, fermentation, filtering, freeze drying, freezing, frying, grading, hot filling, irradiation, marinating, microfiltration, microwaving, milling, mixing, being packed in modified atmosphere, being packed in vacuum packing, packing, pasteurisation, pickling, portioning, refining, ripening, roasting, slaughtering, slicing, smoking, sorting, steaming, sterilisation, washing, waxing
Use of general terms such as ‘manufacture’, ‘production’, ‘preparation’, or ‘processing’ should be used with care but may be acceptable where the resultant products are clear.
Use of the words, for example:
Procurement, intake, receipt, storage, product design and development, handling, storage, dispatch, transport is not required since they are already included within the scope of the Standard and are assessed during the audit.
Use of words such as sales, marketing, trade, growing, distribution and delivery are NOT permitted because these are outside the scope of the Standard.
EXAMPLES
X ‘Processing of mango and mandarin’ = not acceptable as unclear as to what the ‘process’ is.
ü Acceptable example = ‘Pasteurisation of mango slices and mandarins segments and aseptic filling into glass packaging’
ü Acceptable example = ‘Sorting, grading and packing of mangoes and mandarins’
X ‘Primary production of red and white wines from grape and base wine intake, malolactic fermentation, cold stabilization, blending, storage, filtration to final approved tanks. Secondary processing as carbonation, filling, capping, corking, labelling and packing of red, white and sparkling wines in glass bottles’ = too much detail on sub processes
ü Acceptable example = ‘fermentation, carbonation and filling into glass bottles of red and white wines’
best regards,
Leila