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GFSI: Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere

GFSI LogoThe increasing frequency and severity of food safety incidents across the globe certainly tests consumer confidence in the food supply chain. How do producers, processors, distributors, and retailers — all those responsible for getting our food from farm to fork — maximize the safety of what consumers will find on their plate during a night out to eat or on store shelves during their routine grocery shopping trip?In response to a number of food safety scares, a group of international retailers created the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) whose central aim has been “Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere.” GFSI, who now represents over 70% of food retail revenue worldwide, is committed to benchmarking food safety management schemes in order to enhance food safety and restore consumer confidence. Equally important, GFSI promotes common acceptance of GFSI recognized standards by retailers worldwide in order to improve the cost efficiency of food safety audits for food suppliers.  

SQF: Protecting Consumers, Protecting Brands

SQFThe Safe Quality Food or SQF Program is a third-party certification program managed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). SQF is a complete food safety and quality management system and is the only GFSI globally recognized standard based in the United States. An increasing number of U.S. and international food retailers are now expressing a preference for SQF Certified Suppliers. In the last year alone, the number of SQF registered companies has increased more than 100% globally and more than 400% just in North America! SQF certificates have now been issued in more than 30 countries.

Why are more suppliers and their buyers requesting SQF? SQF independent certification provides assurance that food has been produced, processed, and handled according to the highest possible standards and that it has met domestic and international food safety regulations. This leading risk analysis and prevention-based standard also serves the needs of all levels of the food supply chain and offers a host of unique features and benefits.

SQF Reference Documentation Links:

Food Sector Category Codes
SQF 2000 Code
SQF 1000 Code
List of Retailers who support SQF Certification

FSSC 22000

FSSC 22000 LogoFSSC 22000 is a complete certification program for Food Safety Systems for food manufacturers that process or manufacture perishable vegetable products, animal products, products with a long shelf life, and food ingredients like vitamins, additives, and biocultures.

The standard is based on ISO 22000:2005, which is a set of requirements for organizations throughout the food chain. It also draws from PAS 220:2008, a prerequisite program on food safety for food manufacturing.

Additionally, FSSC 22000 has been given full recognition by GFSI, the global food safety initiative. GFSI promotes common acceptance of GFSI recognized standards by retailers worldwide in order to improve the cost efficiency of food safety audits for food suppliers.

PJR, Your Certification Partner…

PJR knows certification. We operate on multiple continents as a full-service certification body certifying clients to a wide range of standards for which we carry multiple international accreditations. In 2009, PJR was the #1 reporting Certification Body in North America.*

While our range of certification services is diverse and our global reach is wide, we’re proud of our personalized, “you-centered” customer service:

  • Our dedicated Project Managers welcome the opportunity to answer all of your questions as they create a customized certification service plan and pricing for you — all free of charge.
  • Once you select us as your certification partner, we continue to make the experience easier for you by providing a single point of contact for scheduling and any customer service concerns throughout the certification process.
  • We offer our client-base free seminars, webinars, in-person training, and informational newsletters on a variety of topics.

*Based on Independent Association of Accredited Registrars figures. Visit www.iaar.org.