Do we need to extend SQF Scope for distributing and storage?
We are and have been under scope 12 certification under SQF. We are a processing facility of Shell Eggs but we do get eggs prepackaged that we purchase and sell to our customers. During a recent Audit we were told that we also have to be certified under Distributing and Storage also. We have been doing this (Purchasing outside prepackaged eggs(cross docking)) for several years and not one auditor has said anything about it. So my question is do we have to be certified under distributing and storage also?
Hi whiteman, if you are storing and distributing your own manufactured eggs and this is deemed in accordance with good food safety practices by the auditor then I would have thought the additional controls you would need for the purchased eggs would be robust supplier management.
Regards,
Simon
We are and have been under scope 12 certification under SQF. We are a processing facility of Shell Eggs but we do get eggs prepackaged that we purchase and sell to our customers. During a recent Audit we were told that we also have to be certified under Distributing and Storage also. We have been doing this (Purchasing outside prepackaged eggs(cross docking)) for several years and not one auditor has said anything about it. So my question is do we have to be certified under distributing and storage also?
First off - there is no Scope 12 Certification - there "WAS" module 12 under SQF 7.2 Food Safety Code for Manufacturing - this module however is now under SQF 8.1 Food Safety Code for Storage and Distribution with Food Sector Category #26.
Breaking off Storage and Distribution into it's own certification has created a tremendous amount of confusion with facilities and now I see, the Auditors are having an issue with it as well.
YOU DO NOT have to add a separate certification on - and I have confirmed exactly this same kind of situation for a seafood company that is primarily involved with fileting of fish and then also distibuting a number of related pre-packaged items. I contacted SQFI directly and we had a lovely chat - in the end it was determined that the seafood company did not have to have 2 separate certifications and then I contacted the soon to be CB for this one (as we are developing their SQF program in VA USA right now - as in today) and clarified it through them and they said just 1 cert at FSC 9, Modules 2 & 11 applies.
This is how this all works - the storage and distribution cert is intended for companies that do just that and nothing else or it can be applied to a company such as our seafood client if the percentage of volume of storage/distribution is above 50% in comparision to the fresh/raw/frozen side of the operation and the holding periods are longer than 15-30 days - that is a general ball park, as it turns out for our seafood client they run about 80% fresh/raw/frozen seafood, live lobsters and live crabs quick turn around and out of the door of 1-4 days and for the dry goods (distribution) side of things max time is about 7-10 day.
Your company should be Food Sector Category (I think this is what you meant to say) #12 and Modules 2 & 11.
I think SQFI needs to straighten this one out - because the miss-info out there is getting deep.
With that said, call your CB and explain your operation so you don't end up having them SELL you on getting another certification which is un-needed. Also, best to inform them of what the Auditor said because his blanket statement will not apply to everyone.