Food Safety Auditing Services
SCS has built its reputation by conducting the most thorough and rigorous food safety audits in the food industry. SCS has the most complete audit checklists, exceeds standards for time spent “in field,” and employs some of the best qualified auditors. With an SCS food safety audit, customers can be confident that they are receiving the highest level of food safety due diligence and commitment to risk reduction. It is for this reason that SCS audits are widely accepted by major buyers – retailers, distributors, and food service companies.
SCS offers two types of audits:
- On-Site Audits: GAP / GMP / HACCP / GlobalGap / TNC / BRC / SQF 1000, 2000 / FPA
- Desktop Audits (Verified Audit): GAP / GMP / HACCP
SCS maintains proprietary risk management protocols. Specific crops are evaluated based on the SCS Crop Risk Guide, by type and degree of risk, in order to identify control points that require monitoring, customize audit plans, and prioritize the order and frequency of audits.
For more information on SCS Food Safety Services, contact Heena Patel
On-Site Audits
SCS conducts on-site audits for companies representing all sectors of the food industry. Its scored audits are widely accepted by major buyers who value the rigor with which SCS audits are conducted.
Suppliers with successful audits receive a listing in the searchable SCS Supplier Database where buyers have immediate access to supplier food safety audit history, certificates of achievement, and both label and commodity listings. In addition, suppliers have password protected access to their scored audit reports and can request free transmittal to prospective or current buyers.
GAP and GMP Audits
In 1997, the U.S. FDA launched the National Food Safety Initiative, a set of science-based guidelines for reducing microbial food safety hazards in fresh produce. Today, these guidelines represent the norm for food safety procedures and practices. Growers, packers, distributors, processors, and cooling and cold storage operations must regularly demonstrate to buyers that they engage in agricultural and manufacturing practices that minimize food safety risk.
SCS conducts comprehensive GAP/GMP audits that focus on procedures and practices related to land usage and history, harvesting practices, environmental hazards, water quality, pest control, recall/traceability, employee health and hygiene, and other related Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs). In addition, SCS audits include a food security component upon request. Finally, SCS conducts independently verification of other third-party GAP/GMP audits as part of its Vendor Management program.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Audits
HACCP is a scientific process control system for identifying and preventing biological, chemical and physical hazards at critical points in the food production and distribution process. It is built on seven principles and pre-requisite programs (SSOP/SOP).
For companies operating under HACCP plans, SCS includes a HACCP Food Safety Management plan review in its GAP and GMP audits. In addition, SCS independently verifies other third-party HACCP programs as part of its Vendor Management program. Companies that want to demonstrate and communicate the highest commitment to food safety may seek CertiClean™ certification and Food Safety Verification Testing for their fields and facility operations. Finally, companies interested in establishing a comprehensive HACCP-based Food Safety Management Plan can turn to SCS for expert guidance.
FPA Audits
SCS is an approved third-party auditor for the Food Processors Association’s FPA–SAFE program. FPA food safety audits target food processors and suppliers of food ingredients.
SQF Audits
Designed as a food safety program, SQF certification also ensures product quality. SQF is the only certification program endorsed by the Global Food Safe Initiative (GFSI) for primary production as well as manufacturing, food storage and distribution and agents/brokers. SCS is an accredited, SQF-approved auditor and certifier to SQF 1000, for primary producers and growers, and SQF 2000 for the manufacturing, processing and distribution sectors.
GlobalGAP Audits
Increasingly, retailers are requiring GlobalGAP audits of suppliers. SCS audits to GlobalGAP, which is an agricultural production standard that addresses site history, irrigation, harvest and post harvest operations, fertilizer usage, recycling and reuse, waste management and management practices.
TN10 Audits
Suppliers of produce to Tesco in the UK must comply with the Tesco Nurture (TN10) scheme — a set of safety, quality and environmental standards of production. Through a service partnership with NSF-CMi, SCS offers TN10 audits. The Tesco Nurture audit requires lab testing through an ELAP-accredited laboratory.
BRC Audits
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) rates SCS as an “excellent” certifier, with a 5-star rating. BRC audits target retailers, brand owners and manufacturing facilities doing business in or with the European Union.
For more information on SCS Food Safety Services or to schedule an audit, contact Nova Sayers
Desktop Audits
As part of its Vendor Management program, SCS conducts independent reviews of GAP, GMP, and HACCP audits performed by other third-party auditing companies to ensure compliance with food safety requirements based on industry standards and client’s established food safety/security policies. SCS reviews audits against its internal evaluation criteria, and makes corrective action requests to co-packers/suppliers. Third-party audit scores and SCS verified scores are available to the vendor management client through the SCS web site, via password protected access.
Applications
- Food and Agriculture Auditing Services – Application, Spanish, Adobe PDF
- Food and Agriculture Auditing Services – Application, Spanish, MS Word
- Food and Agriculture Auditing Services – Food Safety Auditing: USA GMP/GAP, SQF 1000, SQF 2000, GlobalGAP Option 1, GlobalGAP Option 2, and Tesco NURTURE, English - US, MS Word
- Food and Agriculture Auditing Services – Food Safety Auditing: USA GMP/GAP, SQF 1000, SQF 2000, GlobalGAP Option 1, GlobalGAP Option 2, and Tesco NURTURE, English - US, Adobe PDF
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