What’s New for SQF Code Ed. 7

Originally posted on SQFI.com.

The issuance of a sixth version of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Guidance Document in January 2011 presented the SQF Institute with an opportunity to review and update the SQF 1000 and 2000 codes. The decision was made to combine the SQF 1000 and 2000 codes into one code, including modules for all industry scopes identified in the sixth edition of the GFSI Guidance Document.

The SQF Code Ed. 7 continues to recognize the system elements in an independent module (module 2) that is required for all operations undergoing an SQF audit. In addition to the system elements, the operation must comply with the module that reflects its food sector category (modules 3-15). The modules follow the same food sector categories as in the GFSI Guidance Document; however, the modules better reflect Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) of the industry being audited. For example, there is a separate module for farming of produce and farming of animals. Additionally, packaging and distribution each have their own module.

Major changes:

• Contract manufacturers and product development are now auditable at Levels 2 and 3
• Allergen management, approved suppliers and training are a part of the system elements
• Glossary, logo usage rules and food sector categories are included in the code
• Site design and prerequisite programs (sections 5 and 6) have been combined to remove redundancies
• Some system elements are mandatory
• GAPs include elements of the United Harmonization Standard
• Clause added on continuous improvement
• Clause added for Environmental Monitoring Program for high-risk processes
• Scoring of Opportunities for Improvement (OIPs) has been removed; a simplified scoring system has been incorporated instead
• Recertification date is now tied to the date of the audit
• Auditor and certification body criteria have been revised

A map between modules 2, 7 and 11 and their corresponding 1000 and 2000 elements can be found here.

Harmonized Standard - Confusion Surrounds GLOBALG.A.P Adoption

A common theme recently has been the confusion between the Harmonized Standard and when GLOBALG.A.P adopted it as the National Interpretation Guideline.  To help make this clearer, GLOBALG.A.P released a statement, and the following excerpt may help clear up any questions:


We have created a subset of the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) version 4. Standard, called the GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Version 4 Standard.


The new Produce Safety Standard contains only the food safety Control Points and Compliance
Criteria (CPPCs) from the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Version 4. The CPCCs have not changed and are
identical to the CPCCs found in the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Version 4. Only the environmental,
workers safety and welfare related CPCCs have been removed.


The GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Version 4 Standard is the collection of those CPPCs from the
GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard, which fulfill the requirements of the GFSI Guidance Document
Version 6.


We allow all our accredited CBs to certify the GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Standard. The
GLOBALG.A.P. General Regulations apply and there are no specific qualification requirements for
inspectors and auditors.


As the Produce Safety Version 4 Standard is just an excerpt of the existing accredited IFA
standard, the GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Version 4 Standard shall not require new
accreditation assessment by the AB. We kindly ask you to allow your GLOBALG.A.P. accredited
CBs to issue GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Standard certificate with your AB logo.