In-House Sampling of Raw Ingredients or WIP

Hello all,

We are currently certified under SQF FSC 26 Storage and Distribution. We are a pick and pack of Finished Products samples for sales and marketing teams as well as FP R&D samples for shelf life studies and retain purposes. However, a customer has requested that we store bulk seasoning for shelf life studies and sample upon request. I have asked if they can confirm that the bulk seasoning is not for retail use or consumption but have not received a response yet. If they cannot confirm, then our scope would also change as we currently do not store any raw ingredients/WIP. My question is as follows:

- Will sampling require us to be audited against the SQF Food Manufacturing code if they cannot confirm that is it is just for R&D purposes? Or is it sufficient enough to just have a sampling procedure in place (besides having to do a risk analysis). 

Also, is there anything else that I should be considering?

Thank you!

So, in answering this I assume that more than 75% of your work is centered on S&D and this activity would constitute less than the balance - might be closer to 95/5, but less than 25% is right to go with.

With that in mind - yes, you would NOT need to add on another certification - you would stay with S&D certification.

There would appear however to be a number of changes that you would need to make to allergen, recall,, defense, etc

I would suggest contacting your CB and running this by them as well cause let's face it, CB's can sometimes toss a monkey wrench in to what would be a simple addition.

Thank you. Therefore, the fact that it would be R&D material would not be a factor but instead be determined by the amount of work centered towards it? And you are correct in assuming that the work is centered on S&D. 

I appreciate your guidance. I will be contacting our CB for further clarification. 

Yes and thank you.