The announcement was made at the 2004 International Food Safety Conference currently underway in Barcelona, Spain. FMI owns and operates the SQF program through the SQF Institute.
“This endorsement recognizes that the SQF system sets the gold standard for global food safety,” said Tim Hammonds, FMI president and CEO. “It reassures retailers and their consumers that products from SQF-certified suppliers comply with the world’s most rigorous safety standards — notably the international Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles.”
“SQF offers a total management approach to ensure the safety and quality of foods before they reach the retail market,” he said. “It covers both training and third-party audits to verify that a supplier’s food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled in accordance with the highest international standards. “Using the SQF program, retailers and suppliers can work together to achieve a transparent and effective way to measure food safety while ensuring efficiencies in the audit process.”
Currently, more than 4,000 businesses in 16 countries have been certified as complying with the SQF system. “This endorsement,” Hammonds added, “shows that numerous suppliers worldwide are already using the most advanced and scientifically sound food safety management tools available today.”
Note: The Global Food Safety Initiative was formed in 2000 to benchmark food safety standards worldwide; develop rapid alert systems; encourage worldwide government cooperation; and promote consumer education. Its members, including FMI and CIES — The Food Business Forum, account for 65 percent of food retail sales worldwide.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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