Hello,
We are currently SQF Level 2 certified but after the audit we have a new refrigerated warehouse to store ingredients and finished product. its about 10 minutes away from the production plant
We make a pick list every day to get all the needed supplies to produce and we are sending all finished product to the warehouse as it comes out of the production line.
All the shipping/receiving paper work is at the warehouse.
So my question is if may I notify in advance about our new warehouse or I just need to wait until we got the new audit.
My next question is if the warehouse will be entering in a certification process separate from the plant certification?
Your help will be highly appreciated.
Monica Quinonez
New Jersey
Hi Monica,
It basically sounds like you need to revalidate yr HACCP Plan, eg from the SQF Guidance -
The HACCP Plan is not a static document. Critical limits must be re-validated at least annually (refer 2.5.2.1 v) by the
SQF practitioner, and the entire Food Safety Plan verified annually. When changes occur in the process, the HACCP
Plan must be updated and re-validated to reflect the changes (refer 2.1.4.3).
Personally i would interpret the "changes" above as "significant" changes which yr new storage sounds likely to represent.
IMEX (non-SQF) the usual procedure is to carry out a "new" documented risk assessment for the HACCP stages involved and, assuming satisfactory, adjust the hazard analysis etc as/if required together with appropriate documentation.
I would normally include such a "major" change within an annual HACCP Review/Verification.
Whether there is any specific obligation towards SQF notification sounds like a query for yr auditor/CB unless someone here as direct knowledge. Revalidation frequencies/events are discussed elswhere in the SQF Standard but without noting any additional external obligations afai could see (as per previous post).
PS - Yr last query is a good one but i have no idea as to a generic answer. I anticipate that some other posters here must have experienced a similar situation.