Frequently Asked Questions: Safe Quality Food (SQF)
What is SQF?
SQF stands for Safe Quality Food and refers to a set of requirements for the food industry that addresses food safety from every aspect – agriculture, processing, retail and everything in between. The requirements are used as part of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification program required by many retailers and food manufacturers in order for them to purchase your product.
What are SQF certification requirements?
The SQF system is based on the principles of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety system. However, SQF goes beyond HACCP with a more comprehensive approach that includes legal and regulatory compliance and quality control. SQF also is applicable throughout the supply chain, whereas HACCP is used mostly in processing environments.
The SQF platform is generally more stringent than HACCP, requiring extensive documentation and more intensive auditing. SQF also offers three levels of certification that are applicable depending on where a business falls within the supply chain.
For more detailed information about the HACCP system, visit the Safe Food Alliance website. For more detailed information about SQF visit the Safe Quality Food Institute.
Who needs to be SQF certified?
The SQF system can be used by any food business from the farm to the table. Some of the more common food-industry sectors include:
- Food and ingredient manufacturers
- Pet food manufacturers
- Primary plant producers
- Primary animal producers
- Aquaculture
- Food packaging manufacturers
- Food storage and distribution
How can QT9 QMS help meet SQF requirements?
QT9 QMS is a highly rated quality management solution geared toward compliance and efficient systems. We offer more than 23 modules that come standard, including Document Control, Audit Management, Nonconforming Products, Corrective Actions, Employee Training and Electronic Batch Records integration.
Our QMS is backed by free software updates, full customer support, an available ERP integration and Business Intelligence tool. Contact us for more information.
