The Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF) Certification Program has introduced a new certification category for warehouse, storage and distribution facilities and released Version 8.0 of its core program, following a yearlong review.
Facilities can now pursue certification under the new Safe Feed/Safe Food Warehouse, Storage and Distribution (SF/SF WSD) program. More than 1,000 facilities already hold at least one SF/SF certification, and those facilities, along with new applicants, can now use Version 8.0 of the program.
The new SF/SF WSD category addresses facilities responsible for storing and moving animal food and ingredients between suppliers, manufacturers and customers, a segment the previous SF/SF certification did not specifically cover. Warehouse, storage and distribution facilities already participating in SF/SF may be reevaluated under the new SF/SF WSD requirements. Facilities that complete the certification process will receive a separate SF/SF WSD seal.
Version 8.0 is the program's first major revision in nearly a decade. Its core certification requirements are unchanged, but the program materials have been updated to reflect current industry practices and regulatory expectations, based on feedback from industry stakeholders. The revision streamlines guidance and removes redundancies.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), which manages the program, said the update comes as the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine and state feed control officials are operating inspection programs with fewer resources. AFIA said it will continue working with regulators to inform them how participation in SF/SF can factor into risk rankings and inspection planning.
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