SQF Version 9 Approved Supplier Amendment

Hello,

I am not sure I am understanding the 2.3.4 Approved Supplier Amendment. How I am seeing it is that we need to approve an additional supplier just in case we run into an emergency situation. Currently we process raw product that simply goes into a large tote. That would be the only emergency supply that we would need. We have always ordered enough totes to last almost the full year. Then we order again about halfway through to cover the rest of the year. Last season we approved an additional tote manufacturer but never purchased anything from them. This makes it difficult to get updated documents for the approval. No one wants to spend the time to send documents for a company that does not plan on purchasing anything. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Listing them prior to the actual emergency isn't an approved emergency purchase, it's actually adding an approved supplier to your register.  When it comes to the emergency purchase(s), your SOP should detail what circumstances might lead to the need for an emergency need, and which documents you need to get as the emergency purchase is being made.

Getting a LoG, copy of their GFSI cert, and a spec for the totes in question, with a documented review that they meet or exceed your requirements for the specification on the tote (or material supplied) should be sufficient me thinks.

Hi SafetyNut,

This exception is for when you order from non-approved suppliers in an emergency. Your procedures need to reflect what you would do to ensure the raw material is acceptable prior to use:

Relevant section from SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing 2.3.4 Approved Supplier Program (Mandatory):

2.3.4.4 The receipt of raw materials, ingredients, processing aids, and packaging from non- approved suppliers shall be acceptable only in an emergency situation and provided a receiving inspection or analysis is conducted and recorded before use.

Kind regards,

Tony