Validation Management

SQFI or designee may conduct a validation audit of SQF certified sites as part of the monitoring activities of the Integrity Program.

Pre-Audit Activities

The compliance team will select the certified site and provide notification to the site’s certification body. The certification body will inform the site that they have been selected for a validation audit.

The compliance team will ensure that a conflict of interest does not exist between the assessor and the site. The site’s last audit report will be made available to the assessor for review.

The date of the audit will be coordinated with the certification body and the assessor. The certification body may choose to have a representative present during the validation audit. Validation audits may be unannounced.

Validation Audit Process

The process used by the assessor to conduct the validation audit is defined as follows:

• The opening meeting: after introductions, the validation audit objective and process will be discussed. The assessor will answer any site questions regarding the process. Any changes made by the facility since the CB certification audit will be discussed.
  
• A facility inspection: a walk-through that mirrors the previous audit path, with emphasis on those areas selected for review. Documents and records may be requested at that time. The assessor may choose to inspect any areas that were not in the previous audit path.
  
• The closing meeting: the assessor will discuss further any observations that were identified during the validation audit.
  

Post Audit Activities

The assessor will discuss the results of the validation audit with the certification body. The results of the validation audit will be documented in a format provided by SQFI.

Effective Date:   June 5, 2025                                                                          

Supersedes:      August 21, 2023 

Original Date:    November 1, 2016