16 replies to this topic

[Marcos77]

Hello all,

 

Hoping somebody can help me better understand this...

 

Does Costco require both a Costco GMP audit and a GFSI audit?  We have been having a GFSI audit (SQF) every year with a Costco addendum, but they are the only customer we have that requires 3rd party certification.  We are most likely staying with SQF since it has helped really change our focus to food safety, but out of curiosity, would we really only need the Costco GMP audit to sell to Costco and not the GFSI scheme?

[olenazh]

We've been having Costco as a customer for years, and always had GFSI + Addendum. May be, they've changed their manufacturer requirements lately? Anyways, it would totally depend on their requirements, not on this forum peoples' suggestions/advise:)

[Njaquino]

At a previous company I was at, we had Costco as a customer. You can select either GMP or GFSI with their addendum. Talk to one of the audit CBs. That is what I did to decide which made sense for us. You can find the CBs that work with Costco on the document attached. They can answer your questions more thoroughly. 

Attached Files

•  Master-Audit-Expectations-V1-0.pdf   1.17MB   190 downloads

[Marcos77]

We've been having Costco as a customer for years, and always had GFSI + Addendum. May be, they've changed their manufacturer requirements lately? Anyways, it would totally depend on their requirements, not on this forum peoples' suggestions/advise:)

 

I doubt anything has changed and wasn't suggesting that.  I am new to working with Costco.  As a company our relationship with Costco was set up years ago with people who no longer work at our company, so I don't have much insight as to what conversations took place.  Like I said, I was just curious if anyone knew the requirements.  I have seen other posts on this forum about similar topics that seem to imply that it could go either way depending on the company, but they were from many years ago. That's the only reason I saw fit to ask.  Thanks for responding!

[Marcos77]

At a previous company I was at, we had Costco as a customer. You can select either GMP or GFSI with their addendum. Talk to one of the audit CBs. That is what I did to decide which made sense for us. You can find the CBs that work with Costco on the document attached. They can answer your questions more thoroughly. 

Thanks!

[oigdaym8]

Page 6 of the document that Njaquino shared begins the discussion on the audit types accepted. Njaquino answered as I would have.

[SQFconsultant]

I have three SQF clients that sell to Costco - they require an addendum be added just for Costco.

[Ryan M.]

You have the option to discontinue SQF and have a Costco GMP audit if you don't have any other customers who require some GFSI schemed audit.  However, you would limit yourself to other customers if you do this.  

 

If you are already GFSI certified Costco only requires a one page addendum which is part of your GFSI audit.  Attached is the Costco addendum from a couple years ago.  Not sure if it is still current, but gives you an idea.

 

Hello all,

 

Hoping somebody can help me better understand this...

 

Does Costco require both a Costco GMP audit and a GFSI audit?  We have been having a GFSI audit (SQF) every year with a Costco addendum, but they are the only customer we have that requires 3rd party certification.  We are most likely staying with SQF since it has helped really change our focus to food safety, but out of curiosity, would we really only need the Costco GMP audit to sell to Costco and not the GFSI scheme?

 

Attached Files

•  Costco addendum_checklist_in_excel.xlsx   35.07KB   141 downloads

Edited by Ryan M., 07 August 2020 - 09:14 PM.

[OrRedFood]

I found this thread while researching the Costco addendum to an SQF audit. 

 

Does anyone have experience on whether Costco is likely to allow exceptions for processes that do not have a metal detector or X-ray capability?  We are a maker of sauces, jams, and similar, hot-fill-hold process, with a magnet in line that is placed to aid in metal "dust" removal in raw ingredients in very small amounts, such as tomato paste.  TIA!

[Ryan M.]

I found this thread while researching the Costco addendum to an SQF audit. 

 

Does anyone have experience on whether Costco is likely to allow exceptions for processes that do not have a metal detector or X-ray capability?  We are a maker of sauces, jams, and similar, hot-fill-hold process, with a magnet in line that is placed to aid in metal "dust" removal in raw ingredients in very small amounts, such as tomato paste.  TIA!

 

Yes.  You must conduct a risk assessment to show you do not require metal detection or x-ray for your process and products.  I've done this at a number of sites and it generally is accepted without question.  However, be sure you do not have complaints around foreign objects in your products because that is a red flag.

[Scampi]

FYI Costco just released an update to their supplier requirements

 

All manufacturing operations must have a properly installed and calibrated X-ray detection device for

finished product, except in the following circumstances:

● Product texture, density, or chemical composition is such that it limits the performance of

the X-ray technology to an unacceptable level. These operations will be required to have a

metal detector installed as well as a letter from a subject matter expert confirming that Xray

is not applicable.

● Shell Eggs, whole raw agricultural commodities, whole roasted coffee beans, whole muscle

meats, and packaging products will be exempt from the X-ray requirement. The operation

will need to maintain current good manufacturing practices and prerequisite programs to

mitigate foreign material contamination.

● Operations that utilize a physical barrier (e.g. screen, filter, sieve) that's appropriately sized

and placed will be exempt from the X-ray device requirement. The operation will need to

conduct integrity checks at a defined frequency, and maintain current good manufacturing

practices and prerequisite programs to mitigate foreign material contamination.

All X-ray and metal detection devices must have a proper rejection mechanism to segregate rejected

products. Rejected products must be physically controlled and have access restricted until evaluation by

designated personnel can be completed.

 

etc--------i have not posted the full list from this section

 

Just received on Tuesday

[mv11021]

 

FYI Costco just released an update to their supplier requirements

 

All manufacturing operations must have a properly installed and calibrated X-ray detection device for

finished product, except in the following circumstances:

● Product texture, density, or chemical composition is such that it limits the performance of

the X-ray technology to an unacceptable level. These operations will be required to have a

metal detector installed as well as a letter from a subject matter expert confirming that Xray

is not applicable.

● Shell Eggs, whole raw agricultural commodities, whole roasted coffee beans, whole muscle

meats, and packaging products will be exempt from the X-ray requirement. The operation

will need to maintain current good manufacturing practices and prerequisite programs to

mitigate foreign material contamination.

● Operations that utilize a physical barrier (e.g. screen, filter, sieve) that's appropriately sized

and placed will be exempt from the X-ray device requirement. The operation will need to

conduct integrity checks at a defined frequency, and maintain current good manufacturing

practices and prerequisite programs to mitigate foreign material contamination.

All X-ray and metal detection devices must have a proper rejection mechanism to segregate rejected

products. Rejected products must be physically controlled and have access restricted until evaluation by

designated personnel can be completed.

 

etc--------i have not posted the full list from this section

 

Just received on Tuesday

 

Could you possibly post the full requirement update? We are not a Costco supplier but consult with them and want to understand the new requirements.

 

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Scampi]

It's a huge document actually so i cannot upload it in it's entirety   Is there something specific you're looking at?

[mv11021]

It's a huge document actually so i cannot upload it in it's entirety   Is there something specific you're looking at?

We want to understand the full scope of the metal detection/x-ray requirement so we can advise customers what is needed for new packaging lines.

 

Thanks again for your help thus far.

[RajaBD]

Attached.

Thank you.

 

Attached Files

•  Costco FM Control.png   187.09KB   1 downloads

[RajaBD]

Attached.

Attached Files

•  Costco FM Control.1.png   1MB   0 downloads

[Ryan M.]

We want to understand the full scope of the metal detection/x-ray requirement so we can advise customers what is needed for new packaging lines.

Thanks again for your help thus far.

Go to the link below. That’s all of Costcos food safety files (direct from Costco). It includes their FS audit requirements / standard and checklists they use.

https://www.dropbox....8RhJL-jHUa?dl=0

Others have suggested reaching out to CB’s which is a start, but also know Costco food safety department is really there to help suppliers and you can contact them directly. Their contact info is in that Dropbox folder as well.