Jump to content

  • Quick Navigation
Photo

Documents Control List Clarification

Share this

  • You cannot start a new topic
  • Please log in to reply
11 replies to this topic
- - - - -

carine

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 407 posts
  • 26 thanks
6
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth

Posted 23 January 2026 - 07:23 AM

Hi all, 

 

Regarding  the documents control list,  for example in HACCP Manual, it includes has Product Description, Flow Chart, Hazard Analysis etc.   would u pls advice whether we are required to list out all document details in the control list , or is it sufficient to list the HACCP manual only?  


  • 0

GMO

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 4,286 posts
  • 966 thanks
506
Excellent

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted 23 January 2026 - 07:29 AM

It depends if it's one document or not. Personally I have always document controlled them as separate documents. Either approach I believe is valid as long as they're controlled.


  • 0

************************************************

25 years in food.  And it never gets easier.


Thanked by 1 Member:

cookinmaple

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 69 posts
  • 14 thanks
11
Good

  • Canada
    Canada

Posted 23 January 2026 - 12:23 PM

My control list only has the Document Title, Document Number, Version Number, Issue Date, and Last Revision Date. 

 

Each of my documents has a revision log attached. The revision log details changes made, dates, who revised it, and who approved them.


  • 0

Thanked by 1 Member:

Bingo67

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 140 posts
  • 6 thanks
3
Neutral

  • United States
    United States

Posted 23 January 2026 - 04:31 PM

Cookinmaple do you keep a master list everytime a chnage is completed? I have a master list with document number (etc) but not attched to each document. But I am considering changing to your way.

 

Pros & Cons?

 

How will this be affected by SQF 10?


  • 0

cookinmaple

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 69 posts
  • 14 thanks
11
Good

  • Canada
    Canada

Posted 23 January 2026 - 05:28 PM

My Control List is my Master List. My procedure states that whoever approved the revision must update the control (master) list. Annually, the control (master) list is reviewed to ensure its accuracy. 

 

I have no pros or cons to mention, as this works fine for us. I will add that only 2 people have the authority to approve revisions, which prevents random people from changing the list. 

 

I haven't looked into how SQF10 will affect this, since the final version of 10 isn't available yet.


  • 0

jfrey123

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 1,271 posts
  • 342 thanks
582
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Sparks, NV

Posted 23 January 2026 - 05:53 PM

How will this be affected by SQF 10?

 

Too early to say how Edition 10 will change as it isn't formally released yet.  However to be clear, current SQF 9 expects you to have a register of all documents including forms.  Not expressly mentioned in code but called out in the formal guidance documents:  SQFI | Code Document

 

I'm not in charge of the document control for any of my sites.  Last time I did maintain a FSQMS manual, I had a document register in it with the Document Number and Document Title only.  I loathed the idea of changing the register to show the date of each Program/Policy/SOP because it meant I had to include the register itself in the change request forms and reprint/replace them each time.  This was in the SQF 7 days, and auditors didn't love that I lacked the revision dates on the register, but also couldn't fault me when each SOP/Program document had a thorough revision history built into it.  The register told them where the documents were, the documents themselves showed their own history and dates and I was flawless at connecting the dots back then.


  • 0

GMO

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 4,286 posts
  • 966 thanks
506
Excellent

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted 23 January 2026 - 05:59 PM

I have to admit I'm personally a fan of having the revision details on the log itself. Just so that you can see as a summary why documents have been reviewed and changed. On the document, when you have a procedure which has gone through 20+ revisions it can just get a bit lengthy. Also it's useful to see overall I think whether there are a range of reasons why documents have changed. It's not a big deal though.

 

 

But ultimately as long as it's recorded either on your document log or on the document itself then it complies with most standards I believe and that's the point.


  • 0

************************************************

25 years in food.  And it never gets easier.


Thanked by 1 Member:

jfrey123

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 1,271 posts
  • 342 thanks
582
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Sparks, NV

Posted Yesterday, 05:34 PM

Without looking at your whole manual, I feel like this "master list" is only registering your top-level procedure for many of these topics.  Example:  You list "Job Description" as Document No "AEI-JOB" without the "X00" number delineator that other programs show, which would make me wonder how many job descriptions you have under this AEI-JOB heading to begin with.  I've always been under the impression that you would have a separate description for all jobs within the facility, and each of those jobs would need to be listed on this master list/register.  Same for the Food Safety Manual, it lacks the tail end of the number format making me think you're referring to a large manual with an effective date of Jan 1, 2021.

 

The format itself is pretty similar to what I see everywhere.  There's just potentially a lot more programs you'll want to add to it.  And just make sure this master list format is explained in your AEI-DO-P01 Document Control Procedures.  That procedure should clearly spell out all of your policies, programs, and SOPs are registered on the AEI-DO-L01 Document Master List.


  • 0

carine

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 407 posts
  • 26 thanks
6
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth

Posted Today, 05:35 AM

Hi all, 

 

Regarding  the documents control list,  for example in HACCP Manual, it includes has Product Description, Flow Chart, Hazard Analysis etc.   would u pls advice whether we are required to list out all document details in the control list , or is it sufficient to list the HACCP manual only?  

Attached Files


  • 0

EvenKeel

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 7 posts
  • 1 thanks
0
Neutral

  • Ukraine
    Ukraine

Posted Today, 06:43 AM

You do not need to list every section inside the HACCP manual separately. It’s generally sufficient to list the HACCP Manual as one controlled document, as long as it clearly includes and controls all the internal elements (product description, flow charts, hazard analysis, etc.) with proper version control and approval. Auditors usually expect detail at the document level, not the subsection level, unless your system manages those sections as standalone documents.


  • 0

carine

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 407 posts
  • 26 thanks
6
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth

Posted Today, 08:19 AM

hi, what if my each section of HACCP manual have different rev no & date.  you mind share urs master docmumnet control list for my reference 

You do not need to list every section inside the HACCP manual separately. It’s generally sufficient to list the HACCP Manual as one controlled document, as long as it clearly includes and controls all the internal elements (product description, flow charts, hazard analysis, etc.) with proper version control and approval. Auditors usually expect detail at the document level, not the subsection level, unless your system manages those sections as standalone documents.


  • 0

BigGaz1982

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 28 posts
  • 1 thanks
3
Neutral

  • United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

Posted Today, 11:07 AM

My current HACCP Plan is a single document which has a single DOC-Reference and Issue Number.

 

My previous HACCP Plan for a Manufacturing Site was split into multiple documents as the content was far too much for a single one.

 

Currently, the HACCP Plan is listed as a single document in the register. For my previous HACCP, each was listed separately.

 

A good rule of thumb: If it has it's own file on a PC, then it is a separate document. If it has its own reference code, it is a separate document. All separate documents must be listed in the Document Register.


  • 1



Share this

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users