6 replies to this topic

[JimGalbo]

Hi All,

 

I am having trouble trying to approve a supplier that refuses to send us COA's with their shipments.

 

The supplier in question supplies my company with food contact containers - drums and totes. They are unable to provide us with any documentation for individual shipments on the quality/cleanliness of the containers. Instead of rejecting them and sourcing a new supplier, I was hoping for some ideas on how I could make them compliant with SQF standards.

 

My initial idea was to develop a procedure to ATP swab the containers based on the quantity we receive at a given time. I'm not sure if this would be sufficient or not for an auditor.

 

Thank you,

 

Jim

[Scampi]

IMHO ATP would not be sufficient

 

Why not just clean and sanitize ALL prior to use?

[TimG]

Hello, I occasionally supply a certificate of conformance (CoC) for the very few jars we sell (like twice a year, very few). Some questions:

• Do you require a COA (or CoC) with each shipment of product?
• If so, is this due to internal risk analysis or a food safety scheme requirement?

 

Edit: A CoC is really a bare minimum if you don't want to clean these yourself. Matching the lot/qty they shipped. It's also not very hard for them to put a template together and provide it for you for each purchase..not sure why they are pushing back on it.

Edited by TimG, 05 May 2026 - 05:25 PM.

[jfrey123]

COA's in general aren't a firm requirement of SQF, and generally approval would/should defer more to your supplier's overall food safety plan vs some individual COA per lot (unless their plan relies upon testing each lot of finished product, which I've never heard of for packaging).

 

At best, you might be able to twist their arm into a CoC stating that the shipment has been checked to follow their food safety plan.  But effectively that's just a new LoG for each order and again not something they're likely to want to provide.

[liberator]

Do you have an agreed to specification with this supplier and does this specification include requirements about the suitability of the packaging for food contact? Including any micro requirements as well as tests that show it is a suitable packaging for the product you are packing.

 

If you have an agreed to specification, then as per above, a CoC from the supplier could work.

 

We used to have a salt supplier who wouldn't test each batch of salt for us but would always certify that the product meets the agreed to product specification. The CoC was sent each month and listed the batch lots supplied for that month.

 

I've audited many packaging suppliers, and they will only provide a CoC that states the product meets the agreed to specification between them and the customer, and that was acceptable.

[GMO]

Yep I'm in agreement with a CoC. After all a CoA requires some analysis to have taken place on that batch. Unlikely for packaging. But a CoC stating the batch meets the specification requirements including chemical residue (which wouldn't be picked up by ATP) and micro loading.

 

For food packaging being washed. That's not common. Most would invert packaging before filling and might use an air jet (obviously filtered). Water rinsing is messy, prone to blocking and not necessarily more hygienic depending on your application.

[Tony-C]

Hi Jim,

 

As per previous posts a CoC is normally acceptable with packaging deliveries with annual analysis including chemical migration.

 

In fact, the SQF Code (current Edition 9) includes reference to CoCs:

2.3.4 Approved Supplier Program (Mandatory)

2.3.4.2 The approved supplier program shall be based on the past performance of a supplier and the risk level of the raw materials, ingredients, processing aids, packaging, and services supplied, and shall contain at a minimum:

….

vi. Details of the certificates of conformance, if required; and

2.3.4.3 Verification of raw materials shall include certificates of conformance, certificates of analysis, or sampling, and testing. The verification frequency shall be identified by the site.

 

Regarding GMO’s comment regarding food packaging being washed, it is not unusual for bottles/jars to be washed/rinsed (particularly for glass packaging).

 

I would like to know the reason why you were considering ATP swabbing, perhaps you have some micro concerns?

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony