Voluntary Modules
The SQF Institute developed new modules to serve as voluntary supplements for SQF 1000 certified producers and SQF 2000 certified suppliers and to help meet consumer and buyer demands for responsible environmental and social practices.
Responsible Environmental Practice
While legal compliance with environmental legislation is included in the SQF Codes, food buyers realize that the standards of environmental protection and enforcement vary in different parts of the world and that some consumers want more than just legal compliance.
The Responsible Environment Practice (REP) module provides a core set of requirements, which guide a producer through documentation of those management systems and procedures that demonstrate responsible environmental and/or land care practices. This standard is not designed to replace other more extensive programs that apply to assurance of good environmental practice. However, it provides the foundation needed to achieve more rigorous standards.
Responsible Social Practice
The Responsible Social Practice (RSP) module embraces the wide range of corporate social responsibility challenges facing the agri-food chain. Governments, interest groups and consumers are creating pressure on food industry employers and retailers to raise their social practice standards and to influence the standards of their producers and suppliers. Some retailers actively promote their social responsibility and that of their producers as one element of market differentiation.
Food Defense
The Food Defense Program was designed as a complement to the SQF 2000 Code for suppliers who wish to demonstrate higher levels of responsibility for food supply integrity to their customers and consumers.