Highlights of SQF Edition 8

SQF, or Safe Quality Food, is a GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) standard for food packagers, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors/brokers. As of January 2, 2018, SQF has been auditing based on Edition 8 of the SQF Code, and there are a few updates to Edition 8 that may require attention if you’re used to auditing your plant to Edition 7.

We’ve included some links to SQFI resources and a complete list of changes further down, and here are a few highlights:

Corrective actions (minor and major) must be closed in 30 days

o Root cause analysis required for majors
o OIPs have been removed from the remarks auditors provide

Farm to Fork

o Edition 8 now goes farm to fork with the addition of a retail module for supermarkets and retail stores where food is sold

All shifts

o Auditors are required to audit operating or cleaning shifts, if applicable

Senior Management

o There is an emphasis on senior management’s role in food safety with required meetings between senior management and the SQF Practitioner

Unannounced Audits

o You may now elect to participate in a voluntary unannounced audit in addition to the mandatory unannounced audit every three years
o A voluntary unannounced audit will include recognition on the audit certificate

Changing certification bodies?

o A new protocol for changing certification bodies requires previous years’ audits to accompany the switch so past findings are communicated

New Required Elements

o Complaint management
o Allergen management
o Food fraud and food defense plans

FSMA

o References to FSMA have been added to the code

Level 3 = Quality Code

o The SQF Quality Code replaces Level 3
o The Quality Code is an unscored, pass/fail module
o No mandatory elements — all items are as applicable
o Identity preserved foods fall under the Quality Code
o Findings include major and minor quality deviations; no critical observations
o All findings must be closed within 30 days
o Not an unannounced audit
o A new focus on data along with SPC, trending, and other quality tools
o Resolve and identify quality complaints

A complete list of Edition 8 changes can be found here: Manufacturing Code Changes

You can find answers to frequently asked questions about Edition 8 here: SQF Edition 8 FAQs

In addition, a downloadable version of each new edition is available here: SQF Documents

At QWerks we aim to provide a paperless solution that helps you stay ahead of the curve in quality and during audits. Find out how QWerks can help solve your challenges at https://www.getqwerks.com/howitwerks