Freshcare producers certified to FSQ4.2 are approved to supply to Costco Wholesale for US markets. Freshcare-certified suppliers exporting to the United States should be aware of the below requirements:
Freshcare FSQ Acceptance
- Freshcare FSQ4.2 remains an accepted audit standard for Costco produce suppliers, provided audits are conducted by a Costco-approved Certification Body and released to Costco via the required audit platform.
Costco Produce Addendum
- The Costco Produce Addendum is mandatory where applicable.
- A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is required regardless of overall score.
- Addendum CAPs must be completed and uploaded within 14 calendar days.
Audit Release and Platforms (Produce)
- Costco requires authorisation for Certification Bodies to upload full audit reports and CAPs to their nominated system.
- For fresh produce, Costco uses Azzule. Manual uploads by suppliers are not accepted.
Audit Failures and Escalation
- Certification Bodies and suppliers must notify Costco within 24 hours of a failed audit.
- Costco must also be notified immediately if certification is suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
- Critical findings may trigger a mandatory re-audit at the supplier’s cost.
US-Specific Requirement – FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program)
- For finished food products produced outside the US, Costco requires an FSVP approval letter issued by Costco’s Qualified Individual.
- The letter is product- and site-specific.
- Where applicable, failure to provide this letter can result in automatic audit failure, regardless of certification outcome.