3 replies to this topic

[yruvalcaba]

I have a question about the definition of a contract manufacturer.

 

For example, if my business sells roasted coffee, and we use a third party to decaffeinate coffee before we roast, is that company considered a contract manufacturer? 

 

The debate is that the decaffeinating company does not produce a finished product for us. They just handle one step in the middle. 

[kfromNE]

Who is supplying the beans to the company to decaffeinate. If you are - then it is a contract manufacturer. Doesn't matter if it is a finished good or not.  

[SQFconsultant]

In line service provider.

 

Assuming they ship to you for packaging and distribution.

 

If they roast it and package it its a contract MFG.

[jfrey123]

Contract Manufacturer (or co-man, co-manufacturer): Facilities that are contracted by the SQF certified site to produce, process, pack and /or store part of or all of one or more products included in the site’s SQF scope of certification. In some cases, a product may be manufactured interchangeably at the certified site and by the contract manufacturer. In other cases, a contract manufacturer may only be used intermittently to fulfill or supplement the certified site’s production. Contract manufacturers must follow the requirements outlined in the SQF Food Safety Code.

 

A straight read of the definition for contract manufacturer from the code leaves me thinking the decafeinator in your example is a contract manufacturer.  They are a processing part of a product you offer under your scope.  They're not a supplier because they're taking your product and returning it.  They should be vetted as a co-manufacturer, and their process should be called out in your HACCP flow and HA.