SQF: Safe Quality Food Certification

SQF is an internationally recognized food safety management system and certification scheme. SQF provides a comprehensive framework for managing food quality and safety within the food supply chain, from production to distribution.

The benefits of SQF are:

SQF Gap Analysis and Pre-Assessment  

We can provide an SQF gap analysis before your official SQF audit and certification, during which an LRQA food safety assessor will review how your system has addressed, or plans to address, the requirements of the SQF standard. It will give your organization the opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have about your system, or the SQF assessment process, with us. The gap analysis does not result in certification, but instead helps identify any weaknesses before the actual SQF certification audit takes place.

SQF Audit and Certification  

At LRQA, we specialize in helping to provide food safety assurance across the food supply chain. Our SQF audits and certification will help assure your organization is delivering safety quality food no matter where you are in the food supply chain. Once your organization has successfully completed an SQF audit and technical approval is given, you will be awarded SQF certification, providing credibility for your stakeholders through the globally recognized LRQA brand. 

Customized Assurance and Second Part Assessments 

In addition to being certified to a GFSI-recognized food safety standard, many customers may also require assessment against their own company-specific standard or criteria.

We can help to combine your SQF certification with a second party, company-specific or customized assurance program. In addition, if your organization needs help to develop its own solution, we can work with you, delivering value by understanding your assurance needs, expectations and requirements. We’ll then work together to assure you have the right program in place to meet these assurance needs, identifying a suitable approach to assessment, criteria, methodology and reporting.

The certification is valid for a year from the date of issue. To maintain certification the organization must pass an annual audit. LRQA is required to conduct an unannounced audit of your site once every three years. The unannounced audit occurs within a specified time frame window.

The cost of SQF certification varies depending on multiple factors such as the size of the organization, the organization structure, and the scope of the certification. Contact us to request a quote based on your specific needs.

The path your organization takes to achieve SQF Food certification depends on your business’s size, maturity, and existing approach to managing risk, amongst other
factors. But the standard process to becoming IFS certified includes three main steps.

Your organization can request a voluntary SQF pre-audit as preparation for the initial SQF certification audit. When your organization is ready, request the initial certification audit. The auditor will go on-site to review your food safety and quality systems, products and production processes in line with SQF requirements. The auditor will issue an action plan listing all the findings and your company will have to complete it detailing the implemented corrections, root cause analysis and corrective actions. The report and action plan released by the auditor is the subject of an independent technical review. Based on the result of the technical review, the certificate issuance is recommended or not.

The latest version of SQF was published in May 2021. Currently, there is no new version of SQF in development. However, the standard is reviewed every three years and may require changes based on market conditions.