10 replies to this topic

[NorCalNate]

I'm going through our annual Pest Control audit for SQF for my new company. I'm trying to understand what we have to do to satisfy SQF code for monthly verification of our Pest Control Provider's audits. Their audits are always signed off by our Op. Director, and their findings are incredibly detailed. How much effort do we have to put in to reviewing and documenting our review of their visits? 

 

We obviously perform annual Pest Control audits and monthly GMP walk arounds, so could we put something in our GMP walk around which would satisfy this part of the verification?

 

[Charles.C]

I'm going through our annual Pest Control audit for SQF for my new company. I'm trying to understand what we have to do to satisfy SQF code for monthly verification of our Pest Control Provider's audits. Their audits are always signed off by our Op. Director, and their findings are incredibly detailed. How much effort do we have to put in to reviewing and documenting our review of their visits? 

 

We obviously perform annual Pest Control audits and monthly GMP walk arounds, so could we put something in our GMP walk around which would satisfy this part of the verification?

Hi NCN,

 

Not a SQF user but this is presumably section 11.2.4 which seems highly prescriptive and closely similar to 11.2.12 in ver 8.1.

 

A portion of the Guidance given for 8.1 is -

 

 SQF 11.2.12 Auditing Guidance.pdf   161.03KB   125 downloads

 

There is also (for 8.1) an, IMO, excellent and detailed summary of practical requirements., eg -

 

Examples of records of pest control applications include service reports, pesticide usage logs, pest sighting logs, corrective action reports and trending of activity by the service provider.

 

PS - If the OP specifically referred to sub-clause (x) ie "Measure the effectiveness of the program to verify the elimination of applicable pests and to identify trends" I suppose these specific requirements should be appropriately answered within the Pest Contractor's Service report. 

[Cathy]

To my knowledge, the SQF Code does not mandate "monthly" verification. The frequency is up to you.  SQF is also typically quite flexible in how you achieve the goal as long as you have defined it and can demonstrate it.  Co-signing the service reports can be part of verification. Define it as such by stating in your program how you verify. What you are already doing sounds ok. Validation can be review of overall effectiveness through trending reports and review of the pest sighting log. 

[Charles.C]

To my knowledge, the SQF Code does not mandate "monthly" verification. The frequency is up to you.  SQF is also typically quite flexible in how you achieve the goal as long as you have defined it and can demonstrate it.  Co-signing the service reports can be part of verification. Define it as such by stating in your program how you verify. What you are already doing sounds ok. Validation can be review of overall effectiveness through trending reports and review of the pest sighting log. 

Hi Cathy,

 

Apologies to nitpick but IMO this is not (Codex) Validation. More like Verification. SQF auditors may well accept it though.

[Cathy]

Agree, Charles.  SQF typically accepts validation as any evidence that a program is working as intended.  Data trending is a very common response to that.  

[Subsqfpractitioner1986]

I have a question for SQF standards does anyone know how far apart the Interior Rodent Traps need to be??

 

TIA   

[Gelato Quality Lead]

I have a question for SQF standards does anyone know how far apart the Interior Rodent Traps need to be??

 

TIA   

Based on risk analysis! 

[Charles.C]

I have a question for SQF standards does anyone know how far apart the Interior Rodent Traps need to be??

 

TIA   

 

Hi SsP,

 

IIRC some typical trial intervals are discussed in another thread here (somewhere). However, as per Post 7, it "may depend".

[Miss Frankie]

I have a question for SQF standards does anyone know how far apart the Interior Rodent Traps need to be??

 

TIA   

We have one on each side of every door in production.  

 

 

We use a pest control company (same company as the last place I worked).  They come once a month, we get a detailed report, which we print out and keep in a binder. We can access trend reports online, as well as what type of activity.

 

SQF auditors were good with this method, with both companies.

[Subsqfpractitioner1986]

We just had our SQF audit we also used the same pest control company that we have been using for years. We also have 1 on each side of every door throughout our warehouses, but  he is asking we put 2 on each side of every door and I guess SQF has a specific standard on how far apart they need to be and that is the question I am looking for.    Is it 20 ft. apart? is it 30 ft. apart? is it 40 ft. apart??  

We have one on each side of every door in production.  

 

 

We use a pest control company (same company as the last place I worked).  They come once a month, we get a detailed report, which we print out and keep in a binder. We can access trend reports online, as well as what type of activity.

 

SQF auditors were good with this method, with both companies.

[Miss Frankie]

We just had our SQF audit we also used the same pest control company that we have been using for years. We also have 1 on each side of every door throughout our warehouses, but  he is asking we put 2 on each side of every door and I guess SQF has a specific standard on how far apart they need to be and that is the question I am looking for.    Is it 20 ft. apart? is it 30 ft. apart? is it 40 ft. apart??  

Ours are relatively close.  Probably less than 5 ft. from the doorways.  
The idea is a door is a potential entryway for a rodent, they want them to be attracted to the bait station before they have a chance to head off in other areas.  Since they tend to follow walls, closer to the doorway is better.

 

*as a side note, I grew up on a small farm.  My sister & I showed horses, we had rubber mats in the stalls.  Rats would rather tunnel under the edge of the mat at the gate opening than walk unexposed under the gate.  They don't like to be out in the open.