7 replies to this topic

[Gaganreet]

Could anyone help me with the SQF system verification: Validation and effectiveness & verification activities. do I need to mention all PRP's or just CCPs, GMPs, CPs for verification and validation? Does anyone has a template that i could use? 

[Scampi]

I verify my entire program over the course of the year, but that's my personnel preferance 

SQF requires the following;

The methods, responsibility, and criteria for ensuring the effectiveness of all applicable elements of the SQF Program shall be documented and implemented. The methods applied shall validate that:
i. Good Manufacturing Practices are confirmed to ensure they achieve the required results;
ii. Critical food safety limits are reviewed annually and re-validated or justified by regulatory standards when changes occur; and
iii. Changes to the processes or procedures are assessed to ensure the controls are still effective. This is what you need to pay extra attention to---so If you've updated a procedure, did you reassess it to ensure it's still working?
Records of all validation activities shall be maintained.

 

I have altered the CFIA reassessment forms as I find them the most straight forward to use, and I didn't have to reinvent the wheel.  DON"T FORGET, you also need to meet CFIA's requirements which are different from SQF  https://inspection.c...25869759693#a66

 

I cannot find the reassessment forms at the moment, but will keep looking

[Mulan1010]

There is lots of shared information on this site for Verifications and Validations - You might try a search to see other examples and input on topic.

 

But in answer to your question.  We basically listed each section of the SQF Code and then listed how we would verify and validate each section for SQF Purposes.  We then determined the frequency we would complete each task.  All of our validations are annually and the verifications vary but for the most part most of our GMP Programs are verified quarterly and the SQF System Elements are Annually or Bi-Annually, with the exception of the Monthly SQF Update with Management.  I am attaching a template of how we set up our verification and validation schedule; it was first shared in a training session for SQF.  We have used this template since the 7.2 Edition, modifying and updating as the code changes.  So far what we has been acceptable to the auditors but this is just one example on how things can be done, if you do the search you should find a lot more.

 

Please note how we address the SQF Verifications and Validations is different than how we address our HACCP Verifications and Validations.  Take that back, verifications are very similar in that we basically either observe and confirm procedures are being followed as described in our programs and/or review paperwork to ensure tasks are being completed and recorded as they should be.  But the Validations are not the same.  For HACCP we validate our CCP's and our Supporting Pre-Requisite Programs for the HACCP Hazard Analysis with Scientific Support and ensure we are meeting the parameters of the support.  We have those validations on file to meet our country's government requirements.  We do review them annually but do not redo them annually, as SQF Requires, we only redo them if something has changed that could affect them directly or there is newer scientific support available with different parameters.  For the SQF Elements there is not necessarily scientific articles out there for support, that we are aware of, so we use our information to support the standards are being met such as Customer Complaints, Non-Compliance Reports and Traceability Exercise Reports for examples. 

Attached Files

•  SQF_System_Verification_and_Validation_Schedule.xlsx   295.95KB   82 downloads

[Gaganreet]

I verify my entire program over the course of the year, but that's my personnel preferance 

SQF requires the following;

The methods, responsibility, and criteria for ensuring the effectiveness of all applicable elements of the SQF Program shall be documented and implemented. The methods applied shall validate that:
i. Good Manufacturing Practices are confirmed to ensure they achieve the required results;
ii. Critical food safety limits are reviewed annually and re-validated or justified by regulatory standards when changes occur; and
iii. Changes to the processes or procedures are assessed to ensure the controls are still effective. This is what you need to pay extra attention to---so If you've updated a procedure, did you reassess it to ensure it's still working?
Records of all validation activities shall be maintained.

 

I have altered the CFIA reassessment forms as I find them the most straight forward to use, and I didn't have to reinvent the wheel.  DON"T FORGET, you also need to meet CFIA's requirements which are different from SQF  https://inspection.c...25869759693#a66

 

I cannot find the reassessment forms at the moment, but will keep looking

Hi Scampi,

thanks for your reply.

 

I am quite confused at this time. I have a Master document list where I have a column to mention 'Review date' which will be updated yearly (since we will review our program yearly or when needed). Secondly, we have internal audits in place for SQF which are done yearly as well. Internal audits verify that we are doing what is mentioned in the procedures and as per SQF. Apart from that we have weekly and monthly GMP audits too.

For CCPs and Preventive controls, I have verification and validation in place under HACCP Plan. 

Question: is this sufficient or I need a separate document for verification and validation for every clause of SQF?

[Gaganreet]

There is lots of shared information on this site for Verifications and Validations - You might try a search to see other examples and input on topic.

 

But in answer to your question.  We basically listed each section of the SQF Code and then listed how we would verify and validate each section for SQF Purposes.  We then determined the frequency we would complete each task.  All of our validations are annually and the verifications vary but for the most part most of our GMP Programs are verified quarterly and the SQF System Elements are Annually or Bi-Annually, with the exception of the Monthly SQF Update with Management.  I am attaching a template of how we set up our verification and validation schedule; it was first shared in a training session for SQF.  We have used this template since the 7.2 Edition, modifying and updating as the code changes.  So far what we has been acceptable to the auditors but this is just one example on how things can be done, if you do the search you should find a lot more.

 

Please note how we address the SQF Verifications and Validations is different than how we address our HACCP Verifications and Validations.  Take that back, verifications are very similar in that we basically either observe and confirm procedures are being followed as described in our programs and/or review paperwork to ensure tasks are being completed and recorded as they should be.  But the Validations are not the same.  For HACCP we validate our CCP's and our Supporting Pre-Requisite Programs for the HACCP Hazard Analysis with Scientific Support and ensure we are meeting the parameters of the support.  We have those validations on file to meet our country's government requirements.  We do review them annually but do not redo them annually, as SQF Requires, we only redo them if something has changed that could affect them directly or there is newer scientific support available with different parameters.  For the SQF Elements there is not necessarily scientific articles out there for support, that we are aware of, so we use our information to support the standards are being met such as Customer Complaints, Non-Compliance Reports and Traceability Exercise Reports for examples. 

Hi Mulun1010,

 

thanks for template. 

[Mulan1010]

Hi Gaganreet - You are welcome. - Reading your reply to Scampi and a suggestion is that you can list items that you are currently doing in the template shared if you find they fit; no need to re-invent the wheel or add to your tasks, just list what you are currently doing and be able to provide the proof if requested.  We do all the same that you listed as well.  I guess they really like the several layers of support. I will say that from what I have gathered from the auditors (since they can not consult :)) is that Internal Audits are separate from verifications and validations.  However, if you find that you are basically doing the same thing for both then there is nothing to say that you can not complete them at the same time.

[Gaganreet]

Hi Gaganreet - You are welcome. - Reading your reply to Scampi and a suggestion is that you can list items that you are currently doing in the template shared if you find they fit; no need to re-invent the wheel or add to your tasks, just list what you are currently doing and be able to provide the proof if requested.  We do all the same that you listed as well.  I guess they really like the several layers of support. I will say that from what I have gathered from the auditors (since they can not consult :)) is that Internal Audits are separate from verifications and validations.  However, if you find that you are basically doing the same thing for both then there is nothing to say that you can not complete them at the same time.

Thanks Mulan, that makes sense... agree with your suggestion, really appreciate it!

[Charles.C]

Just to comment that although their auditors appear blissfully unaware of it so that most auditees seem to act accordingly, SQF stopped requiring validation of PRPs around version 7.2.