1 reply to this topic

[ez 210]

Hi,

 

I was wondering if anyone would have any insight to my question:

 

A little background before getting into the question. Currently the company I work for is looking to get SQF certified. We produce our own brand of products and also act as a co-manufacturing facility for multiple different companies. 

 

We source our own raw material/packaging/ingredients for our brand of products. While the clients we have source their own and send them to us to use. 

 

In our HACCP plan we have outline the products and ingredients used in our own brand, but do not include our co-man clients. Our own products and co-man products are of the same nature, process and do not differ in CCPs. 

 

My questions is when applying for SQF certification, does the certification apply only to our own products listed our HACCP plan? If so, would the HACCP plan have to include all co-man products and ingredients to apply to their products as well? Also, to avoid including all products, would it be possible to have the HACCP plan generalized to a process rather than listing off product/ingredients?

 

I thank anyone that has any knowledge or input.

 

 

[Tony-C]

Hi ez 210,

 

 

Welcome to the IFSQN forums.

 

If you were manufacturing a product for me I would expect it to be included in your HACCP (Food Safety) plans.

 

Your clients should send you sufficient information about the raw material/packaging/ingredients they supply in order for your team to assess if there are additional hazards associated with those.

 

SQF requirements are in Section 2.4.3 Food Safety Plan (Mandatory).

Clause 2.4.3.1 A food safety plan shall be prepared in accordance with the twelve steps identified in the Codex Alimentarius Commission HACCP guidelines. The food safety plan shall be effectively implemented and maintained and shall outline how the site controls and assures food safety of the products or product groups included in the scope of the SQF certification and their associated processes.

 

So, answering your question you need a HACCP plan to cover the scope of the products/product groups. Your products and your client products could be regarded as one product group if they are similar and undergo the same processes.

 

I doubt the SQF would let you exclude your Clients products from your scope of certification, even if they did allow that exclusion, if I were your Client I would be very unhappy that my products were excluded from a site food safety certification.

 

It doesn't appear to be too much trouble to include both you own and your clients products in your HACCP (Food Safety) plans so that is what I would do and this also means a bit of peace of mind.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony