SQF Audit Under New Ownership – Initial Audit Question

We’re under new ownership, but everything else—products, location, process, equipment, and employees—remains the same. For our SQF audit this year, it’s being treated as an initial audit, even though we already have an SQF Manual and established processes. Has anyone else experienced this, and is there anything specific we should prepare for?

Sorry, can you elaborate

Were you already SQF certified?  WHO is saying your audit this year will be "treated" like an internal audit, and what does that mean exactly

I have not.  However, I wouldnt exepect any thing different than in previous audits.   

On the brigher side, it may prolong the time to an unannounced audit.   

15.5 Change of Business Ownership

If the ownership of a certified site changes (e.g., the site’s business has been sold), within thirty (30) calendar days of the change of ownership the new owner is required to notify the certification body and apply to retain the SQF certification and the existing certification number.

If the staff with major responsibility for the management and oversight of the SQF Food Safety System has been retained, the certification body may retain the existing audit frequency status.

If there are significant changes in site management and personnel, the certification body is required to complete an initial certification audit and issue a new certificate and a new certification number. The audit frequency applicable to a new certification applies.

Do you know if someone did the step one requirement of notifying SQF of the sale?  If they didn't, I could see that as the reason they're approaching it as an initial audit.  But if you can demonstrate the new owners did not come through and axe all of the existing personnel, I would push back against your CB and show them the code.  Running it as an initial audit means they get to charge more, and if it's not expressly required then I wouldn't want to pay for that nor go through the effort of the desk audit.