Is outsourced packing considered contract manufacturing under SQF?

Hi Everyone,

We are looking to use an external company to pack our packaged bars into cartons. Would this external company fall under the contract manufacturer section of the SQF code? They are not producing our product, they are only putting the packaged bars into cartons and sealing the cartons shut. 

Thank you for your help!

Yes, as far as I know, contract manufacturer. Considering the fact that they are PRIMARILY packaging (from what I understood) your product. So you need to make sure of all their operations. 

they are a service (contract) provider and not a contract manufacturer.  Contract manufactuer woud make the product and pack it.  

We do this exact work for large companies, they send us their goods already produced and sealed and we simply package them in the designated case packs/assortments. These companies do not require any information from us in regards to SQF, BRC, food safety docs., etc. However, we also pack open goods into final packaging for large customers whom then require to see our certifications and food safety documents. I believe this scenario is more of the contract manufacture like what SQFconsultant said. 

So in conclusion, if you are sending your packaged goods to someone to be put into a box and sealed I would not consider that a contract manufacturer. 

We do this exact work for large companies, they send us their goods already produced and sealed and we simply package them in the designated case packs/assortments. These companies do not require any information from us in regards to SQF, BRC, food safety docs., etc. However, we also pack open goods into final packaging for large customers whom then require to see our certifications and food safety documents. I believe this scenario is more of the contract manufacture like what SQFconsultant said. 

 

So in conclusion, if you are sending your packaged goods to someone to be put into a box and sealed I would not consider that a contract manufacturer. 

I agree I would not consider them a contract manufacturer (I also would not consider you a contract manufacturer if you were packing designated sealed packages for me. I would say that I think the companies that are not requiring information from you are not following code. You are a contractor for them. They should have at least a copy of whatever certification you are required to have. If we have to have certifications from our contractors like plumber and electricians then certainly they should be requiring them from you.  At least that would be my interpretation of SQF code. 

Agreed! If the roles were reversed I would be asking for certification as well. If they ask for it, then I will provide it to them.