Hi Flywell,
SQF Requirements are specified in Clause 2.3.4.2 where a summary of the food safety controls implemented by the approved supplier is required:
The SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing – System Elements Edition 9
2.3.4 Approved Supplier Program (Mandatory)
2.3.4.2 The approved supplier program shall be based on the past performance of a supplier and the risk level of the raw materials, ingredients, processing aids, packaging, and services supplied, and shall contain at a minimum:
i. Agreed specifications (refer to 2.3.2);
ii. Reference to the level of risk applied to raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and services from
the approved supplier;
iii. A summary of the food safety controls implemented by the approved supplier;
iv. Methods for granting approved supplier status;
v. Methods and frequency of monitoring approved suppliers;
vi. Details of the certificates of conformance, if required; and
vii. Methods and frequency of reviewing approved supplier performance and status.
If you look the BRCGS Scheme then requirements are extended and I expect other food safety management system certification schemes to follow suit:
BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 8
3.5 Supplier and Raw Material Approval and Performance Monitoring
3.5.1.2
The company shall have a documented supplier approval procedure to ensure that all suppliers of raw materials, including primary packaging, effectively manage risks to raw material quality and safety and are operating effective traceability processes. The approval procedure shall be based on risk and include either one or a combination of:
• A valid certification to the applicable BRC Global Standard or GFSI-benchmarked standard.The scope of the certification shall include the raw materials purchased
• Supplier audits, with a scope to include product safety, traceability, HACCP review and good manufacturing practices, undertaken by an experienced and demonstrably competent product safety auditor. Where the supplier audit is completed by a second or third party, the company shall be able to:
– demonstrate the competency of the auditor
– confirm that the scope of the audit includes product safety, traceability, HACCP review and good
manufacturing practices
– obtain and review a copy of the full audit report
or
• where a valid risk-based justification is provided and the supplier is assessed as low risk only, a completed supplier questionnaire may be used for initial approval. The questionnaire shall have a scope that includes product safety, traceability, HACCP review and good manufacturing practices, and it shall have been reviewed and verified by a demonstrably competent person.
Also Note BRCGS Guidance that validation of certification is required, not merely a certificate and a score:
The acceptable methods of supplier approval will depend on the raw material and the risks associated with it (e.g. the output of clause 3.5.1.1); they will include one or more of the following activities:
• certification to the relevant BRC Global Standards scheme, such as the Global Standards for Food Safety; Packaging and Packaging Materials; Storage and Distribution; Agents and Brokers; or another of the GFSI-benchmarked schemes. The site must confirm the validity of the certification. This will include:
– confirmation of the certification status (e.g. this can be confirmed on an independent database; for BRC Global Standards it can be confirmed at www.brcdirectory.com). Photocopies of certificates are not recommended and on their own are not considered suitable validation of certification status. During the BRC Global Standards audit the site may be asked to demonstrate its validation process
– confirmation that the certification remains up-to-date (e.g. by receiving confirmation of successful completion of the recertification processes or by recording certificate expiry dates and completing checks for ongoing certification)
– ensuring that the raw materials are within the scope of the certification.
Kind regards,
Tony