The certification requirements for produce sourced from another business depend on the Freshcare Standard your business is being audited against.

FSQ4.2 and SCS2 requirements

If your business is continuing to be audited against the Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard – Edition 4.2 (FSQ4.2) or the Freshcare Supply Chain Standard – Edition 2 (SCS2), the relevant requirements are:

  • FSQ4.2 – Element F11: Suppliers
  • SCS2 – Element M6: Supplier Management

If you source, pack or supply produce that will be represented for sale as Freshcare certified, the relevant growing and packing activities must be covered by current certification to:

  • the applicable Freshcare Standard; or
  • another food safety certification program recognised by Freshcare for this purpose.

The food safety certification programs recognised for FSQ4.2 and SCS2 are listed below.

This information will remain available while audits and certification to FSQ4.2 and SCS2 continue during the transition to FSQ5.

FSQ5 requirements

If your business is being audited against the Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard – Edition 5 (FSQ5), the relevant requirement is included in M7: Authenticity.

All produce represented for sale as Freshcare certified must be grown, packed or sourced from:

  • a business currently certified to a Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Standard; or
  • an alternate, approved GFSI Benchmarked Standard with the appropriate scopes.

When sourcing produce under FSQ5, check that:

  • the alternative standard is currently recognised by GFSI; and
  • the supplier’s certification covers the produce and growing, packing or supply activities relevant to your business.