2.3.4 Contract Manufacturers' SQF Quality Code or Equivalent?
Hello All,
My facility became SQF Quality Certified back in January of this year. We manufacture low risk processing aids and we are starting to get more contract manufacturers to cover our product demand. My question comes specifically from the SQF Code 2.3.4.2.iii.:
2.3.4.2 The site shall: iii. Audit the contract manufacturer annually at a minimum to confirm compliance to the SQF Quality Code and agreed arrangements, or accept the manufacturer’s certification to the SQF Quality Code or equivalent;
I understand we need to audit these contract manufacturers annually or accept their SQF quality certification, but what is acceptable for the SQF Qaulity Code equivalent?
A lot of our co-mans are ISO 9001:2015 certified which is a quality management code. Is ISO 9001 an equivalent to SQF Quality?
Any guidance will be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you!
I think another GFSI recognized scheme.
Thank you The Food Scientist, but it is still unclear. Will a SQF auditor accept ISO 9001 certification for our co-man's or will they need to be audited by us?
Since ISO 9001 isn't GFSI benmarked, I'd go out on a limb and say it's better safe than sorry that you'd have to audit them and ensure they are adhering to the agreement between your company and theirs in ensuring food safety and compliance.
Thank you all for the guidance. We are auditing them because I do agree it is much better to be safe than sorry, but I wanted to make sure I was not wasting time and money if I did not need to.
Thanks again!
One critical factor from an FS POV is that, afaik, your SQF Quality Certification demanded that you have also been certified to SQF's Safety co-Code,
iso9001, afaik, has no equivalent, parallel, safety expectations.
This is one particular reason why ISO22000 was developed.
SQF is a hybrid program of food safety and quality. The food safety part is GFSI certified. The quality part is not. I believe that GFSI does not benchmark quality programs.
CMHeywood,
Thank you! That is what I was thinking but since I cannot find the ISO 9001 code (at least not for free), I do not know how to show that all the requirements are being addressed. I am slightly afraid though that eventually we will get an auditor who would disagree.
I don't have a document that compares ISO 9001 to SQF quality code. Perhaps another IFSQN member can provide something.
A simple list showing the cross reference between ISO 9001 and SQF quality code might be an easy way to show an auditor that ISO 9001 certification implies compliance with SQF Quality Code.
That would be awesome! I would even do the work of comparing/contrasting the two codes if I could find the ISO 9001 code.
That would be awesome! I would even do the work of comparing/contrasting the two codes if I could find the ISO 9001 code.
Unfortunately ISO codes are copyright and are not available legally for free. :(