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Dec 27 2008
Umpqua Dairy achieves highest level of SQF Certification
Umpqua Dairy achieved highest level of SQF Certification
Umpqua Dairy continued our commitment to quality in 2008 by undergoing extensive training, auditing and evaluation with the SQF Certification Program. Umpqua Dairy was the first dairy in Oregon to undergo the rigorous process to become SQF Certified. We are currently the only dairy in Oregon to be SQF Certified. Umpqua Dairy received its Level III (the highest level of SQF Certification) in December 2008.
THE SQF (Safe Quality Food) PROGRAM
The SQF Program (Safe, Quality Food) is one of the world’s leading food safety and quality management systems, designed to meet the needs of retailers and suppliers worldwide. The Program provides independent certification that a supplier’s food safety and quality management system complies with international and domestic food safety regulations. This enables suppliers to assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain.
Investing in food safety and quality assurance is vital for any supplier or buyer striving to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace, where consumers want assurances that the food they buy is safe, no matter where it was grown, raised or processed.
As more and more of today’s food supply is sourced from around the globe, it has become increasingly difficult to track each ingredient from farm to table. Simply tightening regulations and increasing government inspections is not enough to ensure the safety of our food supply. The solution lies in prevention and all suppliers must accept responsibility for safe food production and invest in programs designed to PREVENT food safety incidents.
Retail and foodservice buyers also want assurances from their suppliers and are now requiring them to demonstrate that they are delivering safe, quality food. Because of heightened consumer awareness, the high cost of recalls and the vulnerability of their brands, retailers have moved away from traditional food safety inspections. They now favor suppliers who have implemented food safety and quality management certification, which focuses on prevention and risk analysis, and provides a higher degree of assurance that a supplier will maintain their commitment to food safety and quality every day.
SQF is designed as a food safety program, but it also covers product quality, a feature that is unique to a certification program of this type. Assuring consistent quality and meeting buyer specifications are important aspects of the buyer-supplier relationship
A COMMITMENT TO SAFE, QUALITY FOOD
The SQF Program is administered by the SQF Institute (SQFI), a division of the Food Marketing Institute(FMI), and is the result of more than 15 years of development. To date, more than 10,000 certificates have been issued to companies operating in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North and South America.
SQF certification is supported by an increasing number of U.S. and international retailers and foodservice providers, many of whom are expressing a preference for SQF-certified suppliers. In addition, the SQF Program is part of a landmark agreement among seven global retailers on mutual acceptance of global food safety systems.
THE SQF PROGAM:
• Offers the only primary production certification system endorsed by the Global Food Safe Initiative (GFSI) that links to food manufacturing, storage and distribution and agents/brokers management systems.
• Involves a rigorous registration process for auditors.
- The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) registers auditors in specific food
categories. SQF auditors are only permitted to audit primary production sectors in
which they are qualified.
- SQF auditors must work for a certification body that is licensed by SQFI/FMI and
accredited to international standards by an accreditation body also licensed by
SQFI/FMI.
• Allows the implementation of one program and one standard to meet global market
requirements.
• Focuses on risk assessment and prevention of food recalls and food safety incidents.
• Demonstrates commitment to the goal of “one system, one audit.”
• Enables both buyers and producers to demonstrate due diligence in food safety matters.
LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION:
• Level 1: Food Safety Fundamentals
Suppliers must establish prerequisite programs incorporating fundamental food safety controls essential to providing a sound foundation for the production and manufacture of safe food. This level is appropriate for low risk products.
• Level 2: Certified HACCP Food Safety Plans
In addition to meeting Level 1 requirements suppliers must complete and document a food safety risk assessment of the product and process using the HACCP method, and an action plan to eliminate, prevent or reduce food safety hazards.
This is the minimum level for suppliers of high risk products.
• Level 3: Comprehensive Quality Management Systems Development
Supplier is required to complete and document a food quality assessment of the product and its associated process to identify the controls needed to ensure a consistent level of quality. Level 1 and Level 2 certification are prerequisites to gaining a Level 3 SQF certificate. After achieving Level 3 an SQF-certified supplier is authorized to use the SQF 1000 or 2000 Certification Trade Mark (according to the type of certification achieved).