How complex is it to switch from FSSC22000 to SQF?

Hello everyone,

I work for a Food Manufacturing company in NSW, Australia that processes both raw wholegrain and also produces food ingredients using grain. 

There is nothing added to our product, it is literally just milled and packaged. 

We have been certified as FSSC22000 but it feels like a lot of work for a very basic product that we procedure. A lot of the paperwork, procedures take up so much time when in reality, it doesn't really align with the business. 

We are thinking of switching to SQF. Has anyone else switched from FSSC22000 to SQF. My boss is interested in here if SQF is just as much work as SQF but I don't know much about SQF to be able to answer this.

Nothing is complex. But FSSC 22000 can be implemented with minimum & necessary documents.As we all know, documentation plays a crucial role in maintaining food safety standards and compliance. However, it is equally important to focus on necessary documentation. This not only saves time and resources but also helps us streamline our processes more effectively. Documentation, we mean any written records, procedures, instructions, forms, or any other material that outlines our food safety system.

Hi ChelseaC,

It think that you would find SQF certification a lot simpler. The SQF Food Safety Code does not have the complexity of referring to 3 sets of requirements that the FSSC 22000 Certification Scheme is based on:

ISO 22000:2018 requirements for any organization in the food chain;

Relevant prerequisite programs (PRPs) based on technical specifications for the sector (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS xyz); and

FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements.

With the FSSC Certification Scheme, HACCP Application is more complicated because of the need to assess hazards/control measures and decide if they are to be managed as prerequisite programmes, operational prerequisite programmes or as critical control points. The SQF Code is more straightforward and requires a food safety plan to be prepared in accordance with the traditional twelve steps identified in the Codex Alimentarius Commission HACCP guidelines.

Another plus is the SQF Food Safety Code and Guidance are free, so you can have a look at them and decide for yourself at no cost. You can download the appropriate SQF Food Safety Code for your Food Sector Category (FSC) here: https://www.sqfi.com.../code-selector/

Kind regards,

Tony