SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification, Food Safety Glossary

A globally recognised food safety and quality certification program benchmarked against the Global Food Safety Initiative. SQF, which stands for Safe Quality Food, is a food safety and quality certification program administered by the SQF Institute, a division of the US-based Food Marketing Institute. It provides a set of codes covering different parts of the supply chain, including primary production, manufacturing, storage and distribution. SQF is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative, meaning it is benchmarked against internationally agreed criteria. Certification is based on a HACCP-based food safety plan supported by prerequisite programs, and businesses can be certified at levels that address food safety alone or food safety together with quality. Australian manufacturers and suppliers often pursue SQF certification because major retailers and export customers require a recognised third-party scheme. Achieving it involves implementing the relevant SQF code, appointing a trained SQF practitioner, and passing an audit conducted by a licensed certification body. Once certified, a business is re-audited on a regular cycle to keep its certificate, and the scope of certification is tied to specific sites and product categories. SQF sits on top of, and does not replace, the mandatory obligations under the Australian Food Standards Code. A Queensland frozen-vegetable processor gains SQF certification so it can supply a national supermarket chain, appointing a trained SQF practitioner and passing an audit by a licensed certification body against the relevant SQF food safety code.