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Costco USA and Canada Food Safety Requirements

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urmimalabose

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Posted 20 January 2025 - 02:44 PM

Hi fellow members of IFSQN!

 

Our company is gearing to produce products for Costco Canada, and we seem to be a little stuck on their date/ lot coding requirements.

 

We usually use a XXXX Ln JJJ format for Batch coding, where XXXX is the Product Code, Ln is the Line Number, and JJJ is the Julian Code for the date of production, and also a Best Before date. The indicated batch coding system relates directly to our traceability procedure as well.

 

We came across the Costco Requirement in Food Safety & Quality Audit Expectations for Costco Suppliers, which says:

"Julian code dating is not acceptable for any Costco product."  

 

This has now put us in a bit of a fix as to what can be better implemented that solves the current and long term supply to US and Canada. Any suggestion regarding this would be of great help.

 

Also for the date coding, we know the MMDDYYYY format for the US & Canada, but is there a particular Costco preferred Best Before Date Coding system?

 

Thank you ever so much!

 

Regards,

Urmi


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G M

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Posted 20 January 2025 - 03:16 PM

Hi fellow members of IFSQN!

 

Our company is gearing to produce products for Costco Canada, and we seem to be a little stuck on their date/ lot coding requirements.

 

...

"Julian code dating is not acceptable for any Costco product."  

 

 

... we know the MMDDYYYY format for the US & Canada, but is there a particular Costco preferred Best Before Date Coding system?

...

 

They're just pushing you to use a YYYYMMDD type format that is easier for consumers to read and understand.


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Scampi

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Posted 20 January 2025 - 03:40 PM

We supply Costco and include the Julian date into our code, just like you're proposing without any issues.  Some manufacturers used to put ONLY a BB and julian date on the package

 

you have to supply Costco an explanation of your coding for them in advance

 

BTW-did you get an SFCR license to import?


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TimG

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Posted 20 January 2025 - 03:53 PM

USA here. We use julian date in our code. We have a lot code explanation statement, which has been provided to CVS. It has never been an issue.

As others pointed out, I'm guessing they don't want you to use a julian date as the only code.


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ChristinaK

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Posted 21 January 2025 - 03:10 PM

I've worked with places supplying Costco for a few years. You can keep your lot/batch code on the product for your traceability purposes, however, there must be a stated best-by date in the MM/DD/YYYY format.

 

We would have 2 lines that would print on a jar:

  • Top line was our lot code, printed as "Lot XXXXXXXX"
    • The lot code explanation was provided to Costco. We had a singular lot code explanation document that I would send to all customers.
  • Bottom line was the best-by, printed as "Best By MM/DD/YYYY"

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