What does the annual chemical audit encompass for an SQF program?
What does the annual chemical audit encompass for an SQF program? I can't find any guidance on it or that it's even required. Can anyone shed some light on this?
First welcome SpiceyQA!
Next - no light to shed.
Never heard of that one.
What does the annual chemical audit encompass for an SQF program? I can't find any guidance on it or that it's even required. Can anyone shed some light on this?
First, what kind of facility are you? If you're a food manufacturing facility - are you referring to 11.6.4.1 - 11.6.4.5 which is storage of hazardous chemicals and toxic substances.
Sounds like you are talking about a specific thing called a Chemical Audit? Never heard of that.
During my limited SQF Audits I have had auditors check we are using appropriate sanitizer, our chemicals were locked away correctly, that I had a SDS available for everything in house, that our hand soap was from an approved supplier, stuff like that.
First, what kind of facility are you? If you're a food manufacturing facility - are you referring to 11.6.4.1 - 11.6.4.5 which is storage of hazardous chemicals and toxic substances.
We are a spice blending company so I am referring to 11.6.4- storage of hazardous chemicals
I just re-read through 11.6.4 Storage of Hazardous Chemicals and Toxic Substances and could not find any sign of an annual chemical audit needed. This section of your code should be covered during your annual internal audit so is that what you mean?
I just re-read through 11.6.4 Storage of Hazardous Chemicals and Toxic Substances and could not find any sign of an annual chemical audit needed. This section of your code should be covered during your annual internal audit so is that what you mean?
are a spice blending company so I am referring to 11.6.4- storage of hazardous chemicals
I think so. I just started at this company right after the audit and am trying to figure out what they are trying to do. The internal documents vaguely reference a annual audit in the chemical storage SOPs.
"An annual chemical storage will be conducted"
This is the line I am wracking my brain trying to figure out what it means. FYI I cannot ask the former QA Manager as she left on poor standings.
I think your previous QA manager was referring to a self inspection or inventory of the chemical and making sure the company is compliant to 11.6.4 not an actual audit per se but I could be wrong. Why not, just go by the SQF guidance itself rather than trying to decode the previous QA manager?
11.6.4.1 Hazardous chemicals and toxic substances with the potential for food contamination shall be stored so as not to present a hazard to staff, product, packaging, product handling equipment or areas in which the product is handled, stored or transported.
11.6.4.2 Processing utensils and packaging shall not be stored in areas used to store hazardous chemicals and toxic substances.
11.6.4.3 Daily supplies of chemicals used for continuous sanitizing of water or as a processing aid, or for emergency cleaning of food processing equipment or surfaces in food contact zones, may be stored within or in close proximity to a processing area provided access to the chemical storage site is restricted to authorized personnel.
11.6.4.4 Pesticides, rodenticides, fumigants and insecticides shall be stored separate from sanitizers and detergents. All chemicals shall be stored in their original containers, or in clearly labelled and suitable secondary containers if allowed by applicable legislation.
11.6.4.5 Hazardous chemical and toxic substance storage facilities shall:
i. Be compliant with national and local legislation and designed such that there is no cross contamination between chemicals;
ii. Be adequately ventilated;
iii. Be provided with appropriate signage indicating the area is a hazardous storage area;
iv. Be secure and lockable to restrict access only to those personnel with formal training in the handling and use of hazardous chemicals and toxic substances;
v. Have instructions on the safe handling of hazardous chemicals and toxic substances readily accessible to staff;
vi. Be equipped with a detailed and up-to-date inventory of all chemicals contained in the storage site;
vii. Have suitable first aid equipment and protective clothing available close to the storage area;
viii. In the event of a hazardous spill, be designed such that spillage and drainage from the area is contained; and
ix. Be equipped with spillage kits and cleaning equipment.
I think with "annual chemical audit" he was referencing to a review of the inventory, usage and ensuring all the chemicals went through an approval process and were provided by an approved supplier.
Speaking from experience... Flush the old system and use the information provided by arahman. Sometimes reinventing the wheel means throwing out the square one first because it doesn't work! We specifically are under Module 13 so ours is much less inclusive than a food manufacturer. We just need to verify food safe are not stored with food safe and keep a cleaning chemical register. Much less involved than Module 11.
How would I validate the chemical control program?
Speaking from experience... Flush the old system and use the information provided by arahman. Sometimes reinventing the wheel means throwing out the square one first because it doesn't work! We specifically are under Module 13 so ours is much less inclusive than a food manufacturer. We just need to verify food safe are not stored with food safe and keep a cleaning chemical register. Much less involved than Module 11.
No misuse occurrences, no product contamination, visual inspections show proper storage and use, logs (if any) are complete and verified, no customer complaints, no controls violated, registers updated, all SDS accounted for etc. Just document these verification and make sure your SOPs reflect your process.
Hello,
for this point of SQF Safety Code. Do we need to have inventory of maintenance chimical products (like grease or thing like that).
Thank you.
Yes, that too.
Thank you so much.