SQF Code Edition 9 - Safe Quality Food 2.4.3: 2.4.3 Food Safety Plan (Mandatory)

A food safety plan follows the twelve steps of the Codex Alimentarius HACCP guidelines, is implemented and maintained, and shows how the site controls the safety of all products and processes in scope; more than one plan may be needed (2.4.3.1). It is built and kept by a multidisciplinary team including the SQF practitioner and staff with technical, production and engineering knowledge, drawing on outside advice where expertise is lacking (2.4.3.2). The team documents each plan's scope with start and end points and all inputs and outputs (2.4.3.3); product descriptions referencing the finished product specification plus safety-relevant data for example composition, pH, water activity and storage (2.4.3.4); intended use, target consumers, possible consumption by vulnerable groups, further processing needs and possible alternative uses (2.4.3.5); and a flow diagram of every step, raw material, packaging, service input (water, steam, gases), scheduled delay and output including waste and rework, confirmed on site across all stages and operating hours (2.4.3.6). It identifies all hazards reasonably expected at each step, including from inputs (2.4.3.7); analyses each for significance using a documented, consistently applied method (2.4.3.8); sets control measures for every significant hazard (2.4.3.9); identifies critical control points, modifying the process where a significant hazard has no control measure (2.4.3.10); sets and validates critical limits (2.4.3.11); documents monitoring procedures naming who monitors, the sampling and test methods and frequency (2.4.3.12); and documents deviation procedures for product disposition and process correction on loss of control (2.4.3.13). Approved plans are implemented in full, their implementation monitored, and fully reviewed at least annually or on changes to process, equipment, inputs or anything affecting safety (2.4.3.14); CCP monitoring and corrective action are verified and plans verified within 2.5 (2.4.3.15); CCP monitoring, corrective action and verification records are kept and used (2.4.3.16). Where the law of the country of production or destination prescribes another methodology, plans meet both Codex and that law (2.4.3.17).