Glossary
Supplier Compliance
Definition
Supplier Compliance refers to a supplier's ongoing adherence to the regulatory, contractual, certification, and food safety requirements that your facility has defined as conditions of doing business, including documentation requirements, audit participation, and response to corrective action requests.
Supplier compliance is the operational dimension of supplier quality management. Where supplier quality management describes the overall program, supplier compliance describes the day-to-day verification that your suppliers are meeting their obligations: certificates of analysis are current, food safety certifications have not lapsed, documentation is complete, and corrective action requests are responded to on time.
Where It Fits
Supplier compliance requirements typically include:
- Valid food safety certifications (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or equivalent) with documented renewal dates
- Certificates of analysis (CoA) for each lot of material supplied
- Allergen declarations and statements
- Adherence to your facility's supplier code of conduct or food safety requirements
- Timely response to SCAR requests and corrective action documentation
- Participation in supplier audits as required