SQF Re-Cert changing Audit Date

Good Morning,

I am new to the SQF scene and the company I work for has an SQF certification expiring in May of 2019. The audit takes place in February. The code states a +/- 30 days before or after the initial audit date is when re-certification can take place. 

The months of November through March are our busy months and taking time away from management and personnel away from the focus of production to conduct the audit becomes very stressful and cumbersome to conduct and show around an auditor. I'm not familiar with the parameters of being able to change the audit date to possibly the end of March versus the middle of February. 

If a date change is not feasible, what would be repercussions, other than going through a desk audit again, of letting the certification lapse or going with another certification body? Is this a viable reason to extend or change the date on the audit? 

Any assistance on this topic would be great. 

Thank you. 

You can request a formal change to your audit window once with SQF

The “Next” audit date on your certificate, is actually your certificate anniversary date. This date should be the last date of your initial audit, unless it has moved at some point. The expiration date is the anniversary date, plus 75 days."   

This was from my CB about this very subject

If you let it lapse, you have to start all over again, plus anything made in that window is not "certified"

You can request a formal change to your audit window once with SQF

 

The “Next” audit date on your certificate, is actually your certificate anniversary date. This date should be the last date of your initial audit, unless it has moved at some point. The expiration date is the anniversary date, plus 75 days."   

 

This was from my CB about this very subject

 

If you let it lapse, you have to start all over again, plus anything made in that window is not "certified"

So if we are to change it that one time, would it begin to revolve around the changed time in the future? Or would it still go off of the initial audit date? 

All subsequent audits would be under your NEW date.

Double check with your own CB, that is what mine has told me 

Thanks for the info. Very much appreciated. 

Hello Sweet'n'low,

This exact issue is happening to me this year. Our recert date is mid January and December to January is our busiest time. With holidays and end of the year inventory happening, operations is asking to move the audit away from this time.

I have reached out to our CB, but I am curious on how it went for you and how hard was it to change the recert date.

Thank you,