Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program: Food safety certification
Strengthen your organization’s approach to delivering safe, compliant food products across the supply chain.
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Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program: Food safety certification
SQF is a GFSI-recognized Food Safety Program that is respected globally. Achieving certification under this framework demonstrates your facility's commitment to robust food safety management, regulatory compliance and consumer protection. By putting these science-based processes in place, your business can effectively mitigate risk, meet strict customer demands and strengthen commercial confidence in both domestic and global markets.
What is the SQF Code?
Applicable from primary producers to large manufacturers and organizations of all sizes, the SQF Program provides a structured approach for developing and maintaining a food safety management system. The standard utilizes a targeted suite of codes designed around the structure of the global supply chain. This allows your organization to choose the exact certification requirements that align with your specific industry operations and sector placement.
- SQF Fundamentals Program: Designed for small or developing suppliers to establish foundational food safety controls and build a baseline HACCP Plan
- SQF Food Safety Codes: are fully benchmarked and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). These industry-specific codes cover different supply chain sectors - including primary production, manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution and brokerage. To achieve certification, a facility's operations must be governed by a documented HACCP-based food safety system that meets all SQF compliance requirements
- SQF Quality Code: An advanced, stand-alone Code built for food safety certified sites looking to monitor quality attributes, manage process variation and ensure consistent product quality beyond standard food safety. This program is open to any site holding a GFSI-recognized food safety certification; it is not restricted solely to sites certified under an SQF Food Safety Code.
Value of SQF Code certification
Certification to the SQF Code by an independent third-party like DNV demonstrates that your organization has established a structured food safety management system with documented processes to identify, control and verify food safety hazards.
For sites choosing to add the Quality Code to their certification scope, it also confirms that you have processes in place to manage food quality and reduce process variation.
Achieving SQF Certification provides your organization with clear operational advantages that support commercial growth and regulatory compliance:
- Expanded Market Access: Meet the mandatory food safety benchmarks required by major international retailers and foodservice buyers where a GFSI-recognized certificate is essential
- Operational Performance: Drive facility efficiency by reducing product waste, decreasing costly rework and mitigating product recall risks
- Trust & Credibility: Build strong brand trust by demonstrating compliance with a rigorous, independent third-party audit
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How to get SQF certified
To achieve SQF certification, your organization must establish a food safety management system that meets the requirements of the chosen SQF program. This includes a HACCP based approach, documented procedures and the operational controls defined in the applicable SQF Code. DNV is an accredited third party certification body and can support your journey through SQF related training, self assessments, gap analysis and certification services.
As a DNV customer, you also get access to a suite of digital tools that can help you ensure compliance, continually improve and manage your entire certification journey with us.
Learn how to get started and become certified
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Obtain the Codes:
Obtain the Codes: Get a licensed copy of the relevant codes and familiarize yourself with the requirements; decide if certification to the SQF code makes good sense for your organization. The library of codes can be found here.
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Review available resources
Explore the available supporting guidance documents, Tip Sheets and Checklists to help you prepare for your audit. Resources can be found here.
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Assemble a Food Safety Team and define strategy;
Implementing an SQF Food Safety Management System should be a strategic decision for the entire organization. Senior Management must be actively involved and committed in shaping the business culture to support key objectives such as the food safety culture throughout the organization. In addition, you must appoint a designated SQF Practitioner as well as a back-up Practitioner and a supportive team to develop, implement and maintain your food safety management system.
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Determine competence needs:
The team implementing and maintaining the system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen SQF Codes, as well as competency in HACCP, allergen management and hygiene practices. DNV offer a variety of public and in-house courses world-wide that meet your competency training needs at all levels within your organization.
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Review consultant options:
Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic, and cost-effective strategy plan for implementation if you do not have this competence or capacity already.
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Develop management system documentation:
Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.
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Identify Food Safety Controls and document processes:
Identify your facility's core operations, food safety prerequisites (PRPs), and Critical Control Points (CCPs). Establish your validation and verification procedures. Your documented information must include clear site-specific procedures (SOPs) and standard monitoring forms/records need to prove compliance with your chosen SQF Code Requirements.
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Train Your Team
Your food safety team needs to be trained on daily food safety practices to ensure that operational records are consistently filled out on the floor. During this implementation phase, your organization will work to ensure daily operations perfectly mirror your documented food safety plan as part of your preparation for your initial certification audit. Note: The SQF Code recommends at least 90 days of operational records prior to a certification audit, where practicable.
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Select a certification body/registrar:
Selecting the right certification body/registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and range of free digital tools that help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.
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Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:
A preliminary evaluation by your chosen certification body can help identify gaps or weaknesses in your food safety management system. The gap audit is a preparatory awareness tool that allows your team to implement changes ahead of the formal assessment process.
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SQF Certification - FAQ
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SQF certification is an independent confirmation that an organization’s food safety management system meets the requirements of the applicable SQF Code. It is a HACCP based, GFSI recognized program that supports food safety, regulatory compliance and structured operational control across the supply chain.
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To obtain SQF certification, an organization must establish a food safety management system that meets the SQF Code requirements and undergo an audit by an accredited and approved certification body like DNV. Certification is maintained through regular audits.
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The cost of SQF certification depends on the size and complexity of the site, the chosen SQF program and the audit duration. Certification bodies provide tailored quotations based on the organization’s scope and operational profile.
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