22 replies to this topic

[augusteissaa]

Hi Team,

Who know the date when SQF will publish Edition 10 ? 

Thanks.

Auguste

[jkarau]

Hello!  I just checked the SQFI website- and nothing new has been posted.  The best I can come up with is "mid to late August" and "Q3"

[QABakery]

Hi there! I just checked the SQFI website and found this:

 

Implementation Timeline

• Q3: Official publication
• April 2026: Projected full implementation with Edition 10 audits in place
• Ongoing: Free resources and support tools available

[Scampi]

Q3 gets us to the end of September

 

They received a lot more public commentary than they were banking on (is my educated guess)   If it's released in August, I would be gobsmacked

[Jimimacintire]

The July SQF Newletter said ..."The July heat is here, and so is the momentum building toward SQF Edition 10. While the Code goes into effect for audits in the second half of 2026, now is the time for practitioners to prepare their sites, teams, and leadership for what’s ahead."

 

I emailed them asking for a more definitive date because my audit falls in Mid-April, they did not give me even an approximate date. only saying we will let you know. I still don't know for sure if I will be audited under 9 or 10.

[tadelong]

It's doubtful they know. They should commit to auditing you under 9 but IMEX they can't commit to anything in particular.

[Setanta]

I recently got an email touting 'instant access' and a Ed 10 Conversion Course when it does drop, so that makes me think it's sooner rather than later.

[GMO]

Blog is saying "Q3" which includes September.

 

SQFI | Collaborative Food Safety Evolution: SQF Edition 10 Shaped by Industry Voices

 

I'm guessing 30th September?  Right?  

[GMO]

Just seen this on the website:

 

SQFI | FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About the SQF Edition 10 Conversion Course

 

2. Do I need this course if my site won’t be audited to Edition 10 until the second half of 2026? 

Yes! Although audits to Edition 10 don’t start until the second half of 2026, early preparation helps you confidently align systems and train teams in advance, making your transition smoother and less stressful. 

[Tony-C]

Hi everyone,

 

I emailed SQFI just over a week ago to ask about this as the last I heard Edition 10 was going to be published in August.

 

This is the reply I received from SQFI Support:

 

‘We do not have a timeline for the Edition 10 release yet, however we do plan for it to be launched sometime in late Fall. A training will be released to go over changes around that time as well.’

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Setanta]

Late Fall...so December 19th? 

[GMO]

Late Fall...so December 19th? 

 

Yes, interesting choice of words... Definitely not the same as "Q3".  

[Lynx42]

If they push the release to Q4, will they also push the implementation date out past April?

[MSPShawn]

If they push the release to Q4, will they also push the implementation date out past April?

I believe they define the first audits on the new edition to be 6 months after the release date, so any release date after October will push you to be audited to edition 9, otherwise get ready for a push to audit on edition 10.

 

I skimmed through the public comments on edition 10 in April.  For the most part, they just moved stuff around in different sections and clarified a few things.  Anything that I saw that were "added" were things that common sense should have dictated it should be done anyway.

 

If you're still worried, then I would invest in the conversion course.

[Marshenko]

December is looking more and more likely.

[TimG]

  For the most part, they just moved stuff around in different sections and clarified a few things. 

 

Bummer. My predecessor has the entire document system numbered based on the SQF code it meets. I'm sure it seemed like a great idea at the time..

[Scampi]

December is looking more and more likely.

What makes you say that?  Although I wholeheartedly agree but based on nothing more than my gut

[Marshenko]

What makes you say that?  Although I wholeheartedly agree but based on nothing more than my gut

Same, just a feeling... the way they quietly transitioned from "end of August" to "end of fall" 

[GMO]

Same, just a feeling... the way they quietly transitioned from "end of August" to "end of fall" 

 

Agree.

 

Also loving the fact you're Beaker to my Bunsen!  

[Marshenko]

Agree.

 

Also loving the fact you're Beaker to my Bunsen!  

Haha.  You just now noticed this?!  I made this my avatar like 12 years ago 

[GMO]

Haha.  You just now noticed this?!  I made this my avatar like 12 years ago 

 

I'm old... And I have a sneaking suspicion I probably commented on it 12 years ago...  

[Tony-C]

I think to be fair to LeAnn Chuboff, Vice President, Technical Affairs, SQFI and her team some patience is due as this is a massive task. Releasing so many new versions of the SQF Food Safety Code at the same time is huge!

 

Have a look at the main 4 GFSI benchmarked certification schemes and you will see what I mean. Other certification schemes stagger the release of their standards or in the case of FSSC 22000 most of the scheme documents are published by ISO so there is just the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System Certification documents to update including Part 2 Requirements for Organization to be Audited Additional Requirements and in particular 2.5 FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements. See below.

 

SQF Food Safety Codes (Edition 9 published 2020 unless stated)

Primary Plant Production

Primary Animal Production

Aquaculture

Food Manufacturing

Pet Food Manufacturing

Animal Feed Manufacturing

Animal Product Manufacturing

Dietary Supplement Manufacturing

Storage and Distribution

Manufacture of Food Packaging

Quality Code

Food Retail, Edition 8.1

Foodservice, Edition 8.1

* Note Edition 8 published 2017 & Edition 8.1 published 2019

 

BRCGS Global Standards (Published Date)

Food Safety (Issue 9) 01 August 2022

Agents and Brokers (Issue 3) 01 October 2021

Packaging Materials (Issue 7) 28 October 2024

Storage and Distribution (Issue 4) 11 October 2020

Retail Issue 1 01 September 2016

BRCGS Others

Consumer Products: General Merchandise (Issue 4) 01 November 2016

Consumer Products: Personal Care and Household (Issue 4) 01 November 2016

Ethical Trade Responsible Sourcing (Issue 2.1) 09 June 2023

Gluten-Free (Issue 4) 05 February 2024

Plant-Based Global Standard Issue 1 01 January 2020

 

International Featured Standards  (IFS)

IFS Food Version 8 April 2023

IFS PACsecure Standard Version 3 February 2024

IFS Logistics Version 3 December 2023

IFS Broker Version 3.2 February 2024

IFS Wholesale  /Cash & Carry Version 3 November 2023

IFS HPC Version 3 December 2022

 

FSSC Certification Scheme Version 6

The Scheme is based on the publicly available standards/technical specifications:

ISO 22000:2018 requirements for any organization in the food chain;

Relevant prerequisite programs (PRPs) based on technical specifications for the sector

(e.g., ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS xyz); and

FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements as determined by stakeholders.

 

FSSC 22000 Scheme Version 6 Documents published April 2023. An update is expected given the publication of new ISO 22002 series. See attached.

 

 New FSSC 22000 Scheme Documents Review September 2025.jpg   181.91KB   0 downloads

 

Sorry some of that is blurred because the image has been downsized, for clarity:

Comments/Expected Updates from FSSC Version 6

ISO 22000 is published by ISO. The 2018 version was last reviewed and confirmed in 2023. Therefore this version remains current.

ISO 22002-100 2025 Prerequisite programmes on food safety — Part 100: Requirements for the food, feed and packaging supply chain is applicable generally across all food categories.

 

Regards,

 

Tony

Edited by Tony-C, Today, 06:47 AM.

[GMO]

You're more tolerant than me Tony (probably all round let's face it) because I think you know it's a big task before you start.  Set timelines and resource accordingly.  Or that's what an auditor might say...

 

You guys have more contact with the standard owners than me but is there a deadline to incorporate the GFSI outputs from last year into GFSI aligned standards?  You could argue at least SQF have started.  While ok, it takes time, all of the GFSI standard owners will have been involved in setting what GFSI agree on so it's not like they were starting cold in December 2024.

 

By soap box point I suppose is the slow reaction time for GFSI standards can result in increased retailer standards as they want to close / mitigate whatever gaps the appropriate standards aren't currently covering, even if they're eventually in plan.

 

Also is it me or are BRCGS versions slowing down?  BRCGS v 7 to 8 was I think 2015 to 2018.  V8 to 9 was longer to 2022 but with Covid that made sense.  Now not a sniff of rumour on v10 yet?  Once they even get started that will be another year or more or does someone know something I don't?