Removing a Food Sector Category on our Scope of Certification
Hello. We are an SQF-certified facility with Food Sector Categories 8, 20, and 26. We wanted to remove our Food Sector Category 26: Storage and Distribution since we feel that it really does not apply to us. Would anyone have advice for us? Thank you.
What was the reason why you had 26 to begin with?
Technically this a now a grandfathered FSC as Storage and Distribution is now an additional certification but there are exceptions such as one of our clients where 25% of their business is pass thru distribution and they were able to build that into their primary certification, it is when the percentage goes up greatly or is stand-along.
And you may not want to drop that one should you ever go the route of mass distribution, then you would need to go with a separate certification.
So, what was the reason you had 26 to begin with and why does it no longer apply?
Hello, thank you for replying.
The reason why we had FSC 26 to begin with is because when we first went into SQF, we had no idea what we were doing and we thought that we needed the FSC 26 because we ship product out (via our trucks and some LTL deliveries).
However, we think that this FSC 26 is more applicable to companies that receive and ship as their primary business.
We have incorporated a Shipping and Receiving Program for the other two FSC (8 and 20).
In addition, our audits are increasing in intensity and we are trying to streamline our business.
We look forward to your reply, thank you.