Recalls for SQF Certified Sites

In accordance with the SQF Code and the Certification Body Criteria, SQFI is required to receive notification to foodsafetycrisis@sqfi.com from SQF certified sites and certification bodies when a food safety event requiring public notification occurs.

• The site is required to provide notification within 24 hours of the event to SQFI and their certification body
• The certification body is required to notify SQFI within 48 hours of site notification including actions to be taken by the certification body to protect the integrity of the SQF certificate.

If notification of the recall is received through a source other than direct communication from the site and/or certification body (e.g., FoodTrack Alert), SQF Compliance, or designee, will inform the certification body to follow up with the site.

Details of food safety event notifications will be recorded on the Compliance Activities spreadsheet.

An acknowledgement of receipt of the food safety event notification is sent to the site via email by SQFI Compliance team, or designee.  This acknowledgement includes a request to complete an on-line form with information for trending purposes.

If the event is deemed “special” situation by the Vice President of Technical Affairs, SQFI, the information will be reviewed by the SQFI crisis team as outlined in the SQF Contingency Management Plan.

The SQFI Compliance team, or designee, will email the certification body if the site or Certification Body does not provide notification within the required timeframes.

Recalls will be summarized and reported to the SQF Technical Advisory Council (TAC) and Certification Body committee, at minimum, on an annual basis.