Contract Manufacturers

Facilities (sites) that are contracted by the SQF certified site to produce, process, pack and /or store part of or all of one or more products included in the site’s SQF scope of certification are defined as a contract manufacturer. In some cases, a product may be manufactured interchangeably at the certified site and by the contract manufacturer. In other cases, a contract manufacturer may only be used intermittently to fulfill or supplement the certified site’s production. Contract manufacturers must follow the requirements outlined in the SQF Food Safety Code.

Why is it in the Code & why is it important?

The SQF code requirements for Contract Manufacturers ensure that food safety hazards are being managed by both the contractor and the certified site in a manner the aligns with the SQF code. This level of oversight provides further assurance to customers and stakeholders that products listed in the scope of certification are being managed to ensure food safety hazards are controlled. The relationship between the site and contract manufacturer is different than that of a supplier in that they are seen to be an integral part of the manufacturing process. Where they control the entire manufacturing process they are seen by customers and stakeholders are requiring the same level of oversight. The contract manufacturing must be assessed for risk to determine if their process or part of their process in high or low risk. This will determine how they are managed. High risk sites must achieve SQF certification and low risk sites must show compliance to SQF or another GFSI recognized program particular food sector category. The code also emphasizes the requirement to have contracts with distribution centers that may handle product manufactured at the site or contract manufacturer sites. The contract must ensure the distribution center’s adhere to any customer requirements plus also ensure those centers are certified or audited as defined above or as stated in 2.3.3.2 of the code.

All the requirements in the code for contract manufacturers and distribution centers combine to ensure these important partners are managing food safety systems similar to the certified site.

RIO Road to Audits (Records, Interviews, and Observations)

Additional References

• FDA Archived Documents Supply-Chain Program Requirements and Co-Manufacturer Supplier Approval and Verification for Human Food and Animal Food https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/06/2017-24098/supply-chainprogram-requirements-and-co-manufacturer-supplier-approval-and-verification-forhuman