7 replies to this topic

[Tea_spread]

Hello, 

   We have IFS certificate and we produce Spreads from fruit (jam). We would like to hire a company that deals with the storage and distribution of products in our country, but everything what we found does not have a GFSI certificate.

What do we need to be abel to hire such company?

 

Our products are sealed in the original packaging and do not have a temperature regime, which means that they are not easily perishable (2 years shelf life)

 

Thank you for your help.

 

 

[Scampi]

You could perform an onsite audit 

 

Can you at least find one with a food safety plan?

 

Given that your product is very low risk, you may be able to perform a risk analysis to accept a company without GFSI certification

[Marloes]

You are talking about complete finished consumer products (e.g. bottled jam)?
This actually happens a lot. A lot of retailers also require you to store your product at a third party warehouse of their choosing (and off course they only pay for the product once they have shipped it out) .

You should do a risk assesment (as always    ) but since your packaged product is low risk (long shelf life, no refrigeration needed etc.) there are not that many things that could go wrong. Check with your own CB is if there are additional requirements.
You should at least have a signed statement of the 3th party that they comply to all relevant food safety regulations (e.g. proper storage, pest control, FIFO, cleaning, basic employee knowledge that food is handled). And performing audits/inspections at the side is a smart way to create control.

[QAGB]

You are talking about complete finished consumer products (e.g. bottled jam)?
This actually happens a lot. A lot of retailers also require you to store your product at a third party warehouse of their choosing (and off course they only pay for the product once they have shipped it out) .

You should do a risk assesment (as always    ) but since your packaged product is low risk (long shelf life, no refrigeration needed etc.) there are not that many things that could go wrong. Check with your own CB is if there are additional requirements.
You should at least have a signed statement of the 3th party that they comply to all relevant food safety regulations (e.g. proper storage, pest control, FIFO, cleaning, basic employee knowledge that food is handled). And performing audits/inspections at the side is a smart way to create control.

 

I agree with this.

 

Regarding the retailer requirements, I know there are some retailers that require 3PLs to have GFSI (just to warehouse finished goods). I understand that some products carry higher risk than others, but I know at least one that doesn't risk assess. They just require everything to be stored in a GFSI certified warehouse whether food or non-food, with no thought to risk.

 

In this case, the OP would have to work with their team to identify a warehouse that meets this criteria.

 

Alternatively, if this is to satisfy GFSI requirements internally, the warehouse does not need to be GFSI certified as mentioned by Scampi and Marloes. Just need to be sure to conduct the proper assessments to meet the standard.

[SQFconsultant]

SQF has a full listing of SQF ceetified companies here... www.sqfi.com

[Tea_spread]

Thank you for your answer.

Marloes- yes we talking about complete finished customer products (closed, labeled, packed in transport boxes, on a pallet), and this hired company delivers our buyer when they order (3 transport boxes or 2 pallet).   

 My plan is specify in the contract the items that need to be met: proper storage, pest control, FIFO, cleaning and etc. We need to go in audit every year? 

 

Would that be enough?

 

Thank you

[Marloes]

Thank you for your answer.

Marloes- yes we talking about complete finished customer products (closed, labeled, packed in transport boxes, on a pallet), and this hired company delivers our buyer when they order (3 transport boxes or 2 pallet).   

 My plan is specify in the contract the items that need to be met: proper storage, pest control, FIFO, cleaning and etc. We need to go in audit every year? 

 

Would that be enough?

 

Thank you

 

Putting the requirements into contract is a good idea.
You don't have to audit every year. But perhaps a visit (audit) in a set interval to verify that they are handling your products correctly is a smart move (all depends on risk assesment .

 

My gut feeling would say plan a small audit at the beginning of the contract and if all is well set up a low audit frequency (every 3 years or so), if it smells fishy go more often.
You don't want the customer to end up with rodant droppings all over your carefully produced jams.

[Norbert007]

If you are IFS certificated, that means you have access to the IFS database I think.  (BRCGS and FS22000 also have ones which are open access) and you can search for logistics companies who are already certified.  Does not appear to be any BRCGS or FS22K but may be IFS??