SQF Code
Quality and Food Safety Management System
QLC’s SQF certification consultants answer your questions
The SQF Food Safety Code is a standard setting requirements for food safety and quality, developed by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), part of the Food Industry Association (FMI). Its requirements are structured into three levels (1, 2, and 3) depending on a company’s intended compliance goals. Level 2 of the SQF Code has been recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) as equivalent to BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety, FSSC 22000, and IFS Food Standard.
The SQF Food Safety Code is intended for all businesses participating in the food chain, including service providers, subcontractors, and suppliers of equipment, packaging, cleaning agents, packaging materials, and other materials that may come into contact with food. It is particularly well-suited for companies that export their products or supply major retail chains (supermarkets).
Developing a management system according to the SQF Food Safety Code involves the following steps:
- Registration with the SQFI platform: The company registers in the SQFI database.
- Appointing an SQF Practitioner: A person is designated to develop and manage the SQF system.
- Training: The practitioner and staff are trained on the standard’s requirements and HACCP principles.
- Documentation Development: The necessary documentation, including policies, procedures, and records, is created.
- Internal Audits: Internal checks are conducted to assess compliance with the standard.
- Selecting a Certification Body: An accredited certification body is chosen to perform the external audit.
- External Audit: The certification body carries out the audit to assess compliance with the standard.
- Corrective Actions: Depending on the audit findings, the company implements corrective actions.
- Certificate Issuance: After successfully completing the audit and corrective actions, the SQF certificate is issued.
The difficulty level depends on the degree of compliance the company chooses. The SQF Food Safety Code can be implemented gradually, starting with basic food safety requirements and advancing to full compliance with both food safety and quality.
Level 3 of the SQF Food Safety Code constitutes a comprehensive system for food safety and quality management, with high requirements, and collaboration with a specialized consultant is considered essential. A functional system tailored to the company’s needs helps ensure easy adoption.
SQF systems are not widespread in Greece, so you may need to find inspectors and certification bodies from abroad (the United States or Australia, where these systems are more popular) approved by SQFI to carry out audits and issue certificates.
The certification process includes evaluating the company’s compliance with legal requirements for product safety, inspecting its infrastructure, and reviewing its management system according to the chosen compliance level. Certificates are typically valid for 12 months.
The SQF Food Safety Code covers essential aspects of food safety and legality as well as more specific requirements related to food safety and quality. It serves as a tool for assessing a company’s compliance level with international specifications. In Greece, the system is not widely used; businesses primarily adopt it to satisfy particular customer requirements. Like other globally recognized systems, it is a valuable resource for companies exporting products, especially to the USA or Australia.
The time required for development and setup depends on the complexity of the production processes, the number of sites to be certified, staff size, corporate commitment, and any required infrastructural adjustments. For small companies that already meet legislative requirements and do not need major infrastructural changes, it typically takes 2 to 6 months. The time needed for the audit and certification process depends on the availability of auditors, as an auditor from abroad may be required.