Do I need a new audit if we have separate warehouse?

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

According to the scenario you described, this is my take:

You do not need to notify SQF unless this will affect you product category or you are producing in the New Facility (a different HACCP Plan) Since is just storage these are the steps you may need to take for the next Audit:
1. Invoke your Management of Change Procedure - Briefly document the description of the change and how it will affect your HACCP Plan.
2. Since this a change on your HACCP Plan, document risk analysis and document the new changes to your Food Safety Plan and HACCP Plan.
3. New changes, verify and validate the Food Safety Plan, HACCP Plan, temperature monitoring records,and any other new procedures implemented.
4. Have all these records available for your next Audit.

I have heard on past Audits that you should notify SQF as a courtesy when you have these type of changes in your operation. There is nothing on the SQF guidance indicating that you have to notify unless the change is going to add another HACCP Plan or make change product category.

I hope this helps.

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.

Hi Monica,

In addition to the advice above I would be proactive and inform your certification body.

Kind regards,

Tony

Need to contact your CB for an add-on to your audit.

I think you should notify your certification body. In the meantime you need to update your HACCP plan and have it verified and validated by the appropriate authority. Ensure you have all your documentation for that warehouse and your thermometers calibrated by the relevant body.

According to the SQF Manual 7.2

2.2 Identifying the Scope of Certification

' When activities are carried out in different premises but are overseen by the same senior, operational, and technical management and are covered by the one SQF System, the site can be expanded to include those premises (eg. off-site product warehouse). All premises must be listed in the facility description in the SQF assessment database,

Hope I was helpful.