Improving food safety on World Accreditation Day
Never before has hygiene had so much attention, including that for food. This year’s World Accreditation Day focuses on food safety and the role that accreditation can play in ensuring that Canadians can have confidence in the quality and safety of their food.
We are all now pretty clear about washing our hands, but what about everything else? How do we know that those in the food supply chain have taken all the right hygiene steps to keep us safe?
While there are many laws and regulations to that effect, it is conformity assessment, including inspection, testing and certification, that provides the assurance that those requirements are being met. But if the testing body isn’t up to standards, the whole system falls apart. Which is where accreditation comes in, ensuring that those conducting the assessments are competent, impartial and deliver the expected results.
The value of SCC Accreditation
SCC is a respected national leader in accreditation. We have built our reputation on making it our job to ensure conformity assessment bodies and standards development organizations demonstrate technical competence, reliability and integrity against nationally and internationally recognized standards.
Accreditation helps to underpin the credibility, safety and performance of goods and services. Our high-quality accreditation services create market confidence at home and internationally by helping conformity assessment bodies conform to national and international standards. Learn how to get accredited.
Responding to industry needs, SCC has developed strong collaboration and programs with Canadian leaders in food safety including the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) and Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI)
SCC has also collaborated with Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) in offering Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code accreditation. SQF Code certification plays a vital role in ensuring a safe food system. It addresses food safety and quality requirements and provides the solution for businesses supplying local and global food markets.
Quotes
“SCC accreditation helps the Bureau de normalisation du Québec build client confidence in its work methods.” Jean Rousseau, P.Eng., D.A., Senior Director, BNQ
« The quality of our food is something most of us take for granted. Every time we buy a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread, or a litre of milk, we assume it’s safe. We can make this assumption because of accreditation. » Elias Rafoul, Vice-President, SCC’s Accreditation Services Branch.
About World Accreditation Day
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have designated June 9 as World Accreditation Day. Celebrated annually, this event is intended to raise awareness around the globe of the importance of accreditation-related activities. This year’s theme focuses on how accreditation improves food safety, supporting the confidence of consumers, suppliers, purchasers, regulators and specifiers in the quality and safety of food.