9 replies to this topic

[Foodie_2110]

Good morning everyone,

 

I am helping a small company to get SQF certified (Intermediate Fundamentals - Manufacturing). They have been in the business for a while and it's time for them to step up. I would not call myself a consultant, but rather a contractor.

 

My role is to help the company develop a Food Safety program to achieve the certification. They have a person on-site which received formal HACCP training. My plan is let that person be SQF Practitioner and oversee day-to-day activities, and myself as a backup practitioner.

 

My question is, in the roles & responsibilities, should I declare myself as a Food Safety consultant, or a part-time employee, or a contractor? As there are requirements for SQF Consultant from sqfi to be registered.

 

Thank you in advance for any insight!!!

[Scampi]

I hope you have insurance------------you're setting yourself up for a mighty fall

https://www.sqfi.com...ewers-directory

 

Perhaps you should be alot more familiar with SQF before "helping" another site 

[Foodie_2110]

I was looking at that and wondering if it's worth to be a registered SQF consultant on sqfi. It seems like another revenue channel for sqfi tbh. I am very comfortable with developing food safety program and since it is Intermediate Fundamentals level, I find this project feasible.

[Scampi]

I would still ensure you have some sort of liability insurance

 

And if I were in your shoes I would be calling myself a contractor, not a consultant      that should help to protect you legally speaking

[Foodie_2110]

I will surely take note of that. Thank you for your suggestion :)

[SQFconsultant]

Agree with Scampi.

 

As an SQF Consultant I carried E&O/Liability Insurance and now self-insure.

[Foodie_2110]

Agree with Scampi.

 

As an SQF Consultant I carried E&O/Liability Insurance and now self-insure.

Thank you, may I ask about your experience and insight about registered SQF Consultant?

[Lynx42]

For SQF, the primary and substitute must be employed by the site.  Would a contractor be considered "employed by the site?"

 

The primary and substitute SQF practitioner shall:
i. Be employed by the site;
ii. Hold a position of responsibility related to the management of the site's SQF System;
iii. Have completed a HACCP training course;
iv. Be competent to implement and maintain HACCP based food safety plans; and
v. Have an understanding of the SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing and the requirements to implement and maintain an SQF System relevant to the site's scope of certification

[Foodie_2110]

 

For SQF, the primary and substitute must be employed by the site.  Would a contractor be considered "employed by the site?"

 

The primary and substitute SQF practitioner shall:
i. Be employed by the site;
ii. Hold a position of responsibility related to the management of the site's SQF System;
iii. Have completed a HACCP training course;
iv. Be competent to implement and maintain HACCP based food safety plans; and
v. Have an understanding of the SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing and the requirements to implement and maintain an SQF System relevant to the site's scope of certification

 

 

The requirements for SQF Fundamentals - Intermediate is a bit different:

 

2.1.2.4 Senior site management shall designate a person responsible for each site with responsibility and authority

to:

i. Lead the development and implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) outlined in 2.4.2;

ii. Oversee the development, implementation, review and maintenance of the SQF System; and

iii. Take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the SQF System.

2.1.2.5 The person responsible designated under 2.1.2.4 shall:

i. Be fully employed or contracted by the site as a company employee/contractor;

ii. Hold a position of responsibility in relation to the management of the site’s SQF System;

iii. Be competent to implement and maintain food safety fundamentals; and

iv. Have an understanding of the SQF Food Safety Fundamentals and the requirements to implement and

maintain SQF System relevant to the site's scope of certification.

[jfrey123]

You should be a contractor to the site if you're going to be taking on any titled roles within the SOP's.  Regular paycheck for your services, company email, etc.

 

My partner and I continued to consult for SQF certified companies without registering as SQF consultants (because we too think it's a money grab), and the code is silent on the use of a "Food Safety Consultant" which we are (along with supply chain, business side, etc).  We were never given any pushback by auditors when sitting in on the SQF audits for our clients, but we also never took on roles within the companies we were advising.  We're merely present to help guide the staff through their own processes which we helped develop or improve.