How to Determine Site Audit Requirements for an SQFI Multi-Site Audit

The minimum number of sub-sites to be audited at a certification audit or recertification audit is:

i. Where the sub-site number is less than 75, then the square root of the number of sub-sites with 1.5 as a coefficient (y=1.5√x), rounded to the lesser whole number, with a minimum number of 5 for subgroup numbers less than 20; or

ii. Where the sub-site number is 75-100, then the square root of the number of sub-sites with 2.0 as a coefficient (y=2.0√x); or

iii. Where the sub-site number is greater than 100, then 20% of the number of sub-sites.

🍎 Multi-site SQF Certification Made Simple

Using Golden Acres Apple Orchards as an Example

Golden Acres is a company that owns 1 central site and multiple apple orchards (sub-sites) across the country. Let’s walk through what the SQF audit process would look like for them.

1. The Central Site

This is Golden Acres' main headquarters where food safety management is coordinated.

• The central site is always audited at the initial certification, re-certification, and surveillance stages.
• The central site must maintain oversight of internal audits and corrective actions for all orchards.
• The central site is to be audited before the majority of the sample sub-sites.  

2. The Sub-sites (Apple Orchards)

These are the actual growing sites. A sample of these orchards will be selected each year for auditing.

🔢 How Many Orchards Get Audited? SQF reference:

This depends on how many sub-sites Golden Acres has:

➤ Rule i: Fewer than 75 orchards

Use: y =1.5√x ​

• Round UP to the nearest whole number
• If there are less than 20, audit at least 5 orchards

Example: 10 orchards

• √10 ≈ 3.16
• 1.5 × 3.16 = 4.74 → Round up to 5
• ✅ Audit 5 orchards

➤ Rule ii: 75–100 orchards

Use: y = 2.0√×

Round down

Example: 81 orchards

• √81 = 9
• 2.0 × 9 = 18
• ✅ Audit 18 orchards

➤ Rule iii: More than 100 orchards

Use:

Y = 20% of total sub-sites

Example: 130 orchards

• 20% of 130 = 26

🗓️ Audit Timing and Frequency

• Annually, Golden Acres must have:
• A central site audit
• A sample of orchards audited
• Re-certification audits must occur on the anniversary date of the first audit ±30 days
• For seasonal orchards, audit timing may shift based on harvest schedules and weather
• Surveillance audits (mid-year checks) happen if any site receives a “C – Complies” rating

🎯 Who Chooses Which Orchards Are Audited? 

The certification body (not Golden Acres) chooses the orchards. Their selection must:

• Include at least 25% random orchards
• Cover a wide range of:
• Sizes
• Locations
• Processes
• Complaints or past audit issues
• Ensure all orchards are audited at least once every 5 years

🔁 Special Cases 

➤ Sub-site with secondary growing areas

If one orchard (sub-site) has 4 or more growing plots:

• The main orchard must be audited
• Plus 50% of the growing areas
  (More can be included based on risk)

➤ New orchards SQF reference:

• Must be audited at the next re-certification
• Included in the audit sample calculations going forward
• Cannot be added to the list once the audit plan is finalized for the year

❌ What Happens If There's a Major Problem? 

If the central site or any selected orchard receives:

• A “Fails to Comply (F)” or a Critical Non-Conformity,
  Then:
• All certifications are suspended until a re-audit shows improvement.