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2.1.1 Quality Policy
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SectionDetailsInitial ResponseEvidence
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2.1.1.1The policy statement prepared and implemented by senior site management to communicate the commitment to food safety shall also include at a minimum:

The site's commitment to establish quality objectives;
The site’s commitment to comply with customers’ quality requirements;
The methods used to measure the site’s quality objectives, and
The site’s commitment to continually improve its quality performance.
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2.1.1.2The site's vision and mission statement shall also be displayed in a prominent position and communicated to all staff. The vision and mission statement may be included in, or separate from, the organization’s food safety policy.
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2.1.1 Quality Policy Review
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2.1.2 Management Responsibility
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SectionDetailsInitial ResponseEvidence
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2.1.2.1The senior site management shall develop quality objectives and a process by which quality performance is measured.
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2.1.2.2The reporting structure shall identify personnel performing key process steps and responsible for achieving quality objectives.
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2.1.2.3The senior site management shall ensure adequate resources are available to achieve quality objectives and customer quality requirements, and to support the development, implementation, maintenance and ongoing improvement of the SQF Quality System.
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2.1.2.4Senior site management shall designate an SQF quality practitioner for each site with responsibility and authority to:

Oversee the development, implementation, review and maintenance of the SQF Quality System including quality fundamentals outlined in 2.4.2, and the quality plan outlined in 2.4.3;
Take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the SQF Quality System;
Communicate to relevant personnel all information essential to ensure the effective implementation and maintenance of the SQF Quality System; and
Ensure that site personnel have the required competencies to carry out those functions affecting product quality.
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2.1.2.5In addition to the SQF Food Safety Code requirements, the SQF quality practitioner shall:

Be competent to implement and maintain HACCP-based food quality plans;
Understand the SQF Quality Code and the requirements to implement and maintain a quality management system; and
Be competent in process control and/or other quality tools (e.g. process control charts, histograms, process capability etc.) to reduce process variation and achieve customer requirements.
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2.1.2.6Senior site management shall ensure site personnel responsible for performing key process steps and meeting customer requirements, and corporate quality requirements where applicable, have the required competencies to carry out those functions.
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2.1.2.7Senior site management shall develop and implement a quality communication program to ensure that all staff are informed of their quality responsibilities, are aware of their role in meeting the requirements of the SQF Quality Code and are informed of the organization's performance against quality objectives. The program shall include:

The defined vision and mission statement of the site;
The site's quality objectives and the process by which quality performance is measured, and
The methods by which customer quality requirements, and corporate quality requirements where applicable, are met.
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2.1.2.8Job descriptions for personnel performing key process steps and responsible for achieving quality requirements shall be documented and include provision to cover for the absence of key personnel.
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2.1.2.9Senior site management shall establish a process to trend progress in quality performance against agreed measures and objectives. The performance data including comparisons with external sources (e.g. industry, customers) shall be reviewed at least annually (see also 2.1.3.2) to demonstrate effectiveness of the quality management System and continuous improvement. Results shall be part of communication program to staff (see also 2.1.2.7).

Senior site management shall establish a process to trend progress in quality performance against agreed measures. Benchmarking shall be part of this process and the performance data shall be reported at least annually to demonstrate effectiveness of the quality management system and communicated to all staff.
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2.1.2.10Sites that are certified to the SQF Quality Code may use the SQF quality shield. Use of the SQF quality shield shall follow the requirements outlined in Appendix 5: SQF Quality Shield Rules of Use.
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2.1.2 Management Responsibility Review
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2.1.3 Management Review
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2.1.3.1Senior site management shall be responsible for reviewing the SQF Quality System. Reviews shall include actions required to:

Monitor compliance to specifications;
Measure and reduce process and product variation;
Meet customer requirements;
Take appropriate corrective action where applicable, and
Ensure sufficient resources are allocated to maintain and improve the performance of the Quality System.
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2.1.3.2The SQF practitioner(s) shall update senior site management on a minimum monthly basis on matters impacting the implementation and maintenance of the SQF System. The updates and management responses shall be documented. The SQF Quality System in its entirety shall be reviewed at least annually.
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2.1.3.3The Quality System, including food quality plans, shall be reviewed when any changes are implemented that have an impact on the site's ability to meet customer requirements and corporate quality requirements where applicable.
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2.1.3.4Senior site management shall ensure the integrity and continued operation of the Quality System in the event of organizational or personnel changes within the company or associated facilities.
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2.1.3.5Senior site management shall document and implement a change management process that details how changes in specifications, materials, equipment or resources are evaluated for their impact on quality, communicated to customers and effectively implemented.
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