SQF 2.4.1 Food Legislation. Need help

Hi all,

Few month ago I took over QA manager position in food processing place. We process fresh fruits and vegetables. My predecessor has done a great job prearranging organization for SQF audit and passing with score 97 in March 2013. I am making ready everything for SQF re-certification audit that is coming up soon. The clause 2.4.1 makes me confused. We don't have any procedure in place that demonstrates the way we get informed of applicable legislation or any changes to that legislation. SQF says that it is mandatory to have that however we passed the last audit without any non-conformance regarding that part. Please share your expertise, examples and clarifications.

Many thanks,

Ostap

We utilize our weekly meetings with the USDA in conjunction with receiving emails regarding any new USDA Directives, Notices, and other legislative information via their automatic email feed in order to satisty that clause.

Subscribe to industyr relavent food safety periodicals, and also sign up for USDA and FDA recall alerts:

https://www.envoypro...om/USDA-ALERTS/

http://www.fda.gov/a...tes/default.htm

Then just write in your policy doc how you get info on regulatory info (FSMA is a good topic to track as well as recalls and withdrawals), create a folder in you email box so you have evidence that you actually get the emails. Also include who has responsibility for receiving the information and include this in the doc. I'd also recommend that you state that if your company is notified of a regulatory infraction that your CB and the SQFI be notified within 24 hours.

Does anyone have a sample of what a documented procedure for the methods and responsibilities of an organization keeping informed  of changes to relevant legislation etc.... Thanks in advance!

I am new to SQF and am trying to prepare our company for certification

This is the format I used for our SQF Level 2 audit.  Our auditor required more specifics, hence the greater detail.

This is the format I used for our SQF Level 2 audit.  Our auditor required more specifics, hence the greater detail.

Thank you so much, I have been banging my head against the wall for a month trying to figure out what would be "acceptable" for our auditor!

I hear ya, Loni_Plastic Jars.  This was a back-and-forth with our auditor...so I was doing some head banging of my own.  I'm glad you can use it.  Holler if you have any questions.

Hi all

Thank you very much for your contributions, they helped me a lot. But in my case it is different, we are a food packaging warehouse which we distribute to different countries such as the USA, Canada, South Africa and Latin America, I am trying to solve this point but I am still not satisfied, I do not know how to update ourselves on safety food in Latin American and South African countries

Samuel,

Check Governmental websites on a regular basis of the country you are distributing to? country specific food journals? Codex Alimentarius ? FDA website? Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)? Cofepris? ANMAT?

Does anyone have an example of Food Legislative procedure? I am new to the SQF and trying to understand the codes. Thank you

Procedure is simple, just document how you are staying up to date.  For example the Quality Manager receives monthly updates from the FDA through email of alerts, recalls and updates to the CFR and/or FSMA.  I would utilize more than one source to stay updated.  I also threw in ours that SQFI and Certifying body will be notified within 24 hours if a regulatory waring or event occurs.  Always helps to have that statement in places.