SQF is the leading GFSI standard across North American retail. We get manufacturers, packaging suppliers and distributors certified to SQF Code Edition 9, with SQF Practitioner support built in.
SQF, Safe Quality Food, is a Global Food Safety Initiative benchmarked certification programme administered by the Safe Quality Food Institute, a division of FMI, the Food Industry Association. It is one of the most widely recognised certification schemes across North American retail.
SQF is a HACCP-based food safety and quality management system covering primary production, manufacturing, packaging, and storage and distribution. SQF Codes provide sector-specific guidance across 17 industry sectors, so the applicable code depends on the nature of the business, whether that is food manufacturing, pet food, packaging, or cold storage and distribution.
The current applicable version is SQF Code Edition 9, published in October 2020 and effective since May 2021. With over 12,000 certified sites across 40 countries, SQF certification provides independent verification that a product, process or service complies with international, regulatory and customer-specific requirements.
SQF certification follows a two-stage audit process: a Stage 1 documentation review confirming the food safety management system meets the Code's requirements on paper, followed by a Stage 2 on-site audit confirming the system is implemented and working in practice.
SQF offers two distinct levels of certification. The Food Safety Code is the GFSI-recognised baseline. The Quality Code is an optional add-on for sites that want to go further.
Edition 10 has been in development for several years, but its GFSI benchmarking review means Edition 9 remains the operative standard for the foreseeable future.
Edition 9 was published in October 2020 and became effective in May 2021. Edition 10 was originally planned for release in 2024, but SQFI's benchmarking application for Edition 10 remains under GFSI review.
SQF Code Edition 9 published, with improved clarity and risk-based requirements over Edition 8.
Edition 10 originally planned for release. Publication delayed while GFSI benchmarking review continues.
Audits to Edition 10 anticipated to begin at the earliest, pending GFSI review completing and a transition window of at least six months.
In practice, this means certification work undertaken now should be built to Edition 9, with an awareness that Edition 10 is expected to expand requirements around environmental monitoring and food fraud prevention, areas that already feature prominently in other GFSI-recognised standards such as BRCGS and FSSC 22000. Building these considerations into your current SQF system now, even though they are not yet mandatory under Edition 9, positions your site well for an eventual transition.
SQF is required by retailers and brand owners across North America and increasingly recognised internationally, across every stage of the food supply chain.
Manufacturers supplying North American retailers, where SQF Food Safety Code certification is a standard condition of supply across most food categories.
SQF provides dedicated codes for pet food manufacturing, recognising the distinct hazard profile and regulatory requirements of this sector.
SQF includes a dedicated Food Packaging code for manufacturers of food contact packaging materials, addressing hazards specific to packaging production.
Cold storage and distribution centres supplying retailers that specify SQF certification across their supply chain, including for businesses that do not manufacture food directly.
Businesses manufacturing on behalf of brand owners who require SQF certification at the facility level as part of their supplier qualification process.
Manufacturers already certified to the SQF Food Safety Code who want to pursue the Quality Code add-on for brand differentiation and the SQF Quality Shield.
We cover the full scope of SQF consulting, from initial certification through to Quality Code add-on implementation.
A review of your food safety management system against SQF Code Edition 9 requirements for your sector, identifying gaps and producing a predicted certification outcome ahead of Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
Full design and documentation of your SQF system, including a HACCP-based food safety plan, prerequisite programmes, and the management commitment and food safety culture elements specific to SQF.
Support in identifying, training and positioning your SQF Practitioner to meet the Code's qualification and authority requirements, including interim external support where needed during transition.
A full mock audit structured around the Stage 1 documentation review and Stage 2 on-site audit, identifying gaps before your certification body audit.
Design and delivery of a scheduled internal audit programme covering the full scope of your applicable SQF Code, including food safety plan verification and prerequisite programme checks.
Review of product traceability and label reconciliation procedures, an area SQFI has specifically clarified in recent guidance and a frequent source of audit findings.
Implementation of the SQF Quality Code add-on for sites pursuing the Quality Shield, including continuous process parameter monitoring and product consistency systems.
For businesses holding or pursuing BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or IFS Food alongside SQF, we identify shared requirements and structure the consulting programme to avoid duplicated work.
A monthly retainer covering document maintenance, regulatory update alerts including Edition 10 developments, internal audit scheduling and helpline access.
Our SQF Practitioner training course builds the qualifications your nominated Practitioner needs to meet the Code's requirements. We also offer HACCP training and internal auditor training aligned to SQF Code Edition 9.
SQF certification follows a defined sequence. Our part of the process typically takes a few weeks. The certification body audit timeline depends on their scheduling and is outside our control.
| Stage | What happens | Our role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gap assessment | Your management system is reviewed against SQF Code Edition 9 requirements for your sector, identifying gaps against Stage 1 and Stage 2 expectations. | We conduct the assessment and deliver a written action plan with a predicted result. | 2 to 3 days |
| 2. SQF Practitioner confirmation | The SQF Practitioner role is confirmed or assigned, meeting the qualification and authority requirements of the Code. | We assess current candidates and advise on training or interim support needed. | 2 to 3 days |
| 3. System design | The food safety management system is designed and documented, covering the HACCP-based food safety plan, prerequisite programmes and management commitment elements. | We write all documentation in collaboration with your team. | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 4. Traceability and label reconciliation | Traceability and label reconciliation procedures are reviewed and documented, addressing a frequent area of SQF audit findings. | We review and document traceability and label reconciliation procedures. | 2 to 3 days |
| 5. Implementation | The documented system is put into practice. Records are generated. The system runs for an evidence period before audit. | We provide implementation support and review early records for compliance. | 2 to 4 weeks |
| 6. Internal audit | A full internal audit covers the applicable SQF Code scope. Non-conformances are recorded and closed. | We conduct the internal audit and close all findings. | 2 to 3 days |
| 7. Mock certification audit | A full mock audit structured around Stage 1 documentation review and Stage 2 on-site assessment, identifying any remaining gaps. | We conduct the mock audit, issue a findings report and close all identified gaps. | 2 to 3 days |
| 8. Certification audit | The certification body conducts Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits, resulting in certification if requirements are met. | We provide standby support and draft corrective action responses for any findings. | Up to the certification body |
| 9. Ongoing surveillance | Annual re-certification audits, with continued monitoring of regulatory developments including Edition 10. | We provide a retainer covering document maintenance, pre-audit preparation and helpline access. | Ongoing |
Our gap assessment scores your current system against SQF Code Edition 9 requirements for your sector, giving you a predicted result before a single document is rewritten.
The gap assessment covers the SQF Code Edition 9 requirements applicable to your sector, whether that is food manufacturing, pet food, packaging, or storage and distribution. It assesses management commitment, the food safety plan, prerequisite programmes, and site-specific requirements against the Stage 1 documentation review and Stage 2 on-site audit criteria used by certification bodies.
Particular attention is paid to the SQF Practitioner role, since the Code's specific qualification and authority requirements for this role are a common area of non-conformance, and to traceability and label reconciliation, an area SQFI has specifically clarified in recent guidance.
We review your existing food safety documentation against the applicable SQF Code requirements for your sector.
We assess whether your SQF Practitioner meets the qualification and authority requirements specified in the Code.
We assess the physical operation against documented procedures, including traceability and label reconciliation practice.
We produce a written gap assessment with a predicted certification outcome and a prioritised action plan.
For sites already certified to the Food Safety Code and considering the Quality Code add-on, we offer a focused gap assessment covering only the additional Quality Code requirements.
The same issues appear across SQF audits regardless of sector. Knowing where these gaps cluster is the most effective preparation.
The Code requires the SQF Practitioner to hold specific training, including HACCP and SQF-specific training, and to hold a position of authority within the organisation. Sites that designate the role without confirming these requirements are met are a frequent source of non-conformances.
Plans carried over from a previous certification, a template, or a similar site without being adapted to the specific products, equipment and processes are quickly identified by auditors comparing the plan against what they observe on site.
SQFI has specifically clarified mandatory product identification requirements around product changeover and label reconciliation. Gaps in this area, where labels and product records do not reconcile cleanly through a changeover, are a frequent finding.
A documented management commitment policy that is not reflected in actual management behaviour, resourcing or decision-making is a common gap between paper and practice, and is increasingly scrutinised across GFSI-benchmarked schemes.
Internal audit programmes that do not cover every element of the applicable SQF Code, including prerequisite programmes and sector-specific requirements, leave gaps that surface during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification audits.
SQF Codes are sector-specific across 17 industry sectors. Documentation built using guidance for the wrong sector, or for a generic SQF approach not tailored to the applicable code, creates a mismatch that auditors identify quickly.
Three of the most widely required GFSI-benchmarked schemes for food manufacturers. The right choice, or combination, depends on your customers and target markets.
| SQF Code Edition 9 | BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 | FSSC 22000 Version 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFSI recognised | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Published by | Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) | BRCGS | Foundation FSSC |
| Structure | 17 sector-specific codes | Single standard with category-specific modules | ISO 22000 plus sector-specific PRPs |
| Strongest markets | North America | UK, Commonwealth, North America, global | Accepted by all major global retailers |
| Our consulting | SQF | BRCGS Food Safety | FSSC 22000 |
What drives the timeline and cost of an SQF project. We provide a written proposal with a fixed fee after the initial consultation.
Timeline
How long our consulting work takes
Cost factors
What drives the consulting fee
No existing certification or formal food safety management system. Our consulting work typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Certification body scheduling is separate and outside our control.
The closer your existing systems are to SQF Code Edition 9 requirements, the less consulting time is required. The gap assessment establishes this precisely.
Significant documentation and system work can be shared if you already hold BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or IFS Food certification. Our consulting work to add SQF typically takes 1 to 3 weeks, focused on the standard-specific additions.
The specific SQF Code for your sector, whether food manufacturing, pet food, packaging, or storage and distribution, determines the precise scope of requirements to address.
For sites already certified to the Food Safety Code and pursuing the Quality Code. Our consulting work for this typically takes 1 to 2 weeks.
If your nominated SQF Practitioner needs additional training to meet the Code's qualification requirements, this is scoped alongside the main consulting programme.
A gap assessment only, a full implementation programme, or a Quality Code add-on package each carry different fees. All scopes are defined in writing before work begins.
Certification body audit fees for Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits are separate from our consulting fees and paid directly to your chosen SQF-approved certification body. We advise on CB selection during the initial consultation.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from businesses preparing for SQF certification.
SQF, Safe Quality Food, is a Global Food Safety Initiative benchmarked certification programme administered by the Safe Quality Food Institute, a division of FMI, the Food Industry Association. It is a HACCP-based food safety and quality management system covering primary production, manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution. The current applicable version is SQF Code Edition 9, published in October 2020 and effective since May 2021. SQF certification is widely recognised by retailers and brand owners, particularly in North America, with over 12,000 certified sites across 40 countries.
The SQF Food Safety Code is the GFSI-benchmarked food safety certification, based on HACCP methodology and required by retailers as a baseline. The SQF Quality Code is an optional add-on for sites that have already achieved Food Safety Code certification, addressing quality management beyond food safety, including product specifications, consistency and consumer satisfaction. Sites certified to the Quality Code may display the SQF Quality Shield on packaging in addition to the standard SQF certification mark.
An SQF Practitioner is the individual at a certified site responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining and reviewing the SQF system. The SQF Code requires the SQF Practitioner to have specific qualifications, including HACCP training and SQF-specific training, and to hold a position of authority within the site's organisational structure. The role is broadly analogous to the PCQI role under FSMA or the HACCP team leader role in other systems, but with SQF-specific competency requirements.
SQF Code Edition 9, published in October 2020 and effective from May 2021, remains the applicable version for audits. Edition 10 was originally planned for release in 2024 but has been delayed while SQFI's benchmarking application for Edition 10 is reviewed by GFSI, with the review expected to continue until March 2026. Audits to Edition 10 are anticipated to begin from January 2027 at the earliest, with a transition window of at least six months after Edition 10 is finalised. Edition 9 will continue to be the basis for certification audits until that transition window opens.
SQF certification is required by retailers and brand owners, particularly in North America, from businesses across the food supply chain. This includes primary producers, food manufacturers and processors, pet food manufacturers, packaging manufacturers, and storage and distribution operators. SQF Codes cover 17 industry sectors with sector-specific guidance, so the applicable code depends on the nature of the business.
An SQF gap assessment reviews your food safety management system against the requirements of SQF Code Edition 9 relevant to your sector, covering management commitment, the food safety plan based on HACCP methodology, prerequisite programmes, and site-specific requirements. It identifies gaps, assesses readiness for the Stage 1 documentation review and Stage 2 on-site audit, and produces a written action plan with a predicted certification outcome.
The most common SQF audit issues are: the SQF Practitioner not meeting the qualification and authority requirements specified in the Code. Food safety plans not built around a site-specific hazard analysis. Product traceability and label reconciliation gaps, an area SQFI has specifically clarified in recent guidance. Management commitment and food safety culture not evidenced beyond policy documents. Internal audit programmes that do not cover the full scope of the applicable SQF Code.
Our consulting work moves fast. From gap assessment to mock audit ready, most businesses are there in a few weeks. The total time to certificate depends on when the certification body can schedule your Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits, which is outside our control. We make sure our part never holds you up.
Yes. Gap assessments, documentation development, food safety management system design and SQF Practitioner support are all available remotely. We work with clients in any country. On-site visits are available for mock audits and where the production environment requires a physical review.
Yes. SQF shares its HACCP-based foundation with other GFSI-recognised schemes such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and IFS Food. Businesses supplying both North American retailers requiring SQF and international or European retailers requiring BRCGS or FSSC 22000 can share significant documentation and system work between the schemes. We assess your existing certification and scope a programme that addresses the additional requirements specific to the second standard, avoiding duplication of work.
You can commission any of these on their own, with an agreed scope and a written quote, without taking on ongoing consulting. See all food safety services.
To establish the real size of the project before an audit date is booked.
Read about A gap assessment →In the weeks before the audit, once the system is built.
Read about Certification audit preparation →Where the clause requires audits and nobody internal is independent enough.
Read about An internal audit →Tell us your sector, your current certification status and your timeline. We will tell you exactly what SQF Code Edition 9 requires.