Safe Quality Food (SQF) Certification

View a PDF copy of our SQF certificate.

Safe Quality Food (SQF) is a complete certification program for managing food safety and enhancing quality systems throughout the food chain. First and foremost it is a food safety standard. Unlike other audit programs, SQF auditors must be affiliated with an accredited certification body that meets international standards set by recognized accreditation bodies such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Why SQF?

Retailers and wholesalers source food products from all over the world making it an ever-increasing challenge for U.S. retailers / wholesalers to know every supplier. Furthermore, the U.S. government has acknowledged that it cannot inspect all food manufacturers and producers, leaving the food industry to police itself - until now.

What are the benefits?

SQF is an internationally recognized program for implementing and auditing supplier food safety programs. Certification benefits all stakeholders. Just some of the benefits are:

• It can be used for virtually every type of product and process -offering two different standards or codes -SQF 1000 for primary producers and SQF 2000 for manufacturers

• It demonstrates a company's food safety commitment to government regulatory bodies

• Along with verifiable third-party audits, it serves as proof of due diligence throughout the food chain

• It provides consistent, credible, internationally accepted food safety and quality audits of suppliers

Who should become certified?

• Retailers

• Wholesalers

• Suppliers

• Certification bodies

• Auditors

How is SQF certification maintained?

SQF certification is renewed annually following a re-certification audit with procedures based on international guidelines.

TÜV is one of the first Registars in North America to receive accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to the SQF Program, a complete certification program for managing food safety and enhancing quality systems throughout the food chain.

The SQF program is managed by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), an organization that is owned and operated by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). TÜV SÜD America is presently one of only three Registrars in North America able to perform SQF 1000 and 2000 audits.

For more information, contact us.

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