U.S – The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. Animal Feed Industry and its suppliers, has unveiled its new Safe Food/Safe Feed (SF/SF) certification program website.
In 2004, AFIA launched the SF/SF Certification Program to establish comprehensive standards of excellence that go beyond existing regulations to maximize food and feed safety. It is a voluntary, independently certified program administered by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), designed for both AFIA members and non-members across the U.S and Canada.
“Nearly 20 years ago, we envisioned a way for US and Canadian animal food manufacturers to maximize food and feed safety by exceeding regulatory standards. Now, through the voluntary, independently certified SF/SF certification program, we are more than 875 facilities strong, helping farmers and ranchers raise healthy, productive animals, which in turn provides a safer food supply for all of us,” said Paul Davis, program administrator, and director of quality, animal food safety and education for the AFIA.
The program comprises of four certifications: FSC36, the original SF/SF certification program; FSC32, the program for manufacture of pet food; FSC34, the program for the manufacture of animal feeds; and International Safe Feed/Safe Food, for facilities that export their products globally.
All of these programs help communicate food safety risks to the industry, build consensus among industry segments, provide continuing education for their workforce and enhance customer confidence in the food and feed supply.
The new website includes background information on each of the certifications, information on how to join and renew, testimonials from program participants, information on how to check registration status and more.
SCS launches FSSC 22000 V5.1 training course
Meanwhile, the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Global Services, global leader in independent certification and verification, has proclaimed it has launched an approved Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 Version 5.1 Standard training course for food safety management, a benchmark set by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) based on standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The training program will offer instructor-led training courses in English and Spanish, both in-person and virtually, for food supply chain organizations including food and pet food manufacturers.
“We are delighted to receive approval from FSSC 22000. The Approved Training Organization status extends our ability to train food and beverage manufacturers, and provide them with the knowledge they need to implement the programs to meet the FSSC 22000 requirements,” said Radojka Barycki, director of food safety training and consulting at SCS.
SCS is an approved training provider for GFSI standards, which include SQF (Safe Quality Feed) and PrimusGFS, an audit certification program certified in 22 countries that provides total produce supply chain coverage.
The company which has been conducting FSSC 22000 certification audits since 2019, also offers food safety training courses such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Internal Auditor Training, FSMA PCQI, among others.
