Emergency Supplier Approvals

Hello All,

One of the conditions we have for all of our normal suppliers is an "up-to-date 3rd party audit". 

If it becomes an emergency situation and a GFSI certified supplier can not be found, what are some acceptable alternative conditions for bringing on a supplier?

What are y'all's thoughts on a company saying they are "GMP Certified"? Does this hold any validity in the tangible world of GFSI standards?

Thank you and have a great day!

Graham S

GMP Certified is acceptable for our plants, though we do generally prefer and default to GFSI certified suppliers.  But when a supplier we want lacks that GFSI, we'll ask for copies of their programs (allergen management, overall food safety program, sanitation, supplier approval, etc.) and review them as a whole to see if they have their house in order.

I agree with jfrey123, although if your own policies state that suppliers -must- be GFSI certified you'll have to work on revising them. It's also worth considering who your company is a supplier for, do your clients have GFSI requirements? Are you breaching any agreements with them by using suppliers that aren't a part of the GFSI network?

In general "GMP Certified" means a facility has undergone a standard GMP audit, usually against the FDA code. A third party comes in and spends ~2 days hitting every section of the FDA code that applies and checks their compliance with it. GFSI differs in that the requirements can often be above and beyond the FDA code. In that sense, a GFSI certification carries a bit more weight.

I would factor in the type of ingredient it is - a low vs high risk ingredient. 

One option - ask about their last FDA inspection. If they had any major findings. (Sometimes you can find this in public record on the FDA site). 

Also what jfrey123 and brothbro mentioned. 

A few potential alternative conditions that could be taken into consideration:

1. Audit: Regular audits and inspections should be conducted to verify compliance and mitigate any potential risks. This audit should focus on the supplier's adherence to food safety standards and practices, traceability, and quality control processes.

2. Supplier Qualification Assessment: Conduct a diligent assessment of the potential supplier's qualifications, including their ability to meet our specific requirements for food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. This assessment should encompass a review of their facilities, processes, and documentation.

3. Product Testing and Analysis: Mandate comprehensive product testing and analysis to ensure that the supplier's products meet our stringent quality and safety standards. This can be achieved through independent laboratory testing or through an established internal testing process.

4. Emergency Approval Review: Establish a designated review panel that would be responsible for evaluating and approving emergency supplier applications. This panel should consist of cross-functional team members who possess expertise in food safety, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Their role would be to assess the alternative conditions proposed by the potential supplier and determine if they meet our requirements.