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SQF Food Safety Edition 9 — Gap Analysis

Safe Quality Food Code — Food Safety Manufacturing — Edition 9
SQF Ed.9 2020 Edition All Gaps only
Compliant
Partial
Non-compliant
Not assessed

About SQF Food Safety Edition 9

The SQF Code Edition 9 (2020) is a GFSI-benchmarked food safety scheme owned by SQF Institute (FMI). It is widely used in North American food manufacturing as a contractual supplier requirement by major retailers and food-service operators. The Code is modular — Food Safety Manufacturing (this tool), plus separate modules for primary production, food packaging, transport & storage, and retail/wholesale.

Issuing Body

SQF Institute (a division of FMI — Food Marketing Institute)

Edition

2020

Coverage

SQF Food Safety Code (Manufacturing) — GFSI-recognised standard covering food safety management system, GMP/PRPs, food fraud, food defence.

Typical Users

Food manufacturers especially in North America — required by major retailers (Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Loblaws, Sysco).

How to use this tool

1. Work through each clause. For each requirement, choose Compliant, Partial, Non-compliant, or leave as Not assessed.

2. Add notes against any requirement to record evidence, gaps, or corrective actions.

3. Click Save progress — data is stored locally in your browser, never uploaded.

4. Export the report as TXT, CSV, JSON or print to PDF for your audit file.

Note: This tool is a guided self-assessment. It does not replace a third-party audit and the authoritative version of the standard must be obtained from the issuing body.

ISO Xpert — Get in touch

UK-based consultancy specialising in management-system gap analysis, training and certification preparation across ISO, API, Halal, GFSI, ESG, cybersecurity, engineering and industry-specific standards.

Phone / WhatsApp

+44 7853 109840

Office

71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ, UK

Common Questions

SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety — Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about the SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis tool, data privacy, audit preparation, and ISO Xpert consulting.

What is the SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis tool and how does it work?
The SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis tool is a free browser-based checklist that compares your current management system against the clauses of SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety. You answer clause-by-clause questions and rate each requirement as Compliant, Partial or Non-compliant. The tool calculates a live compliance score, highlights gaps on a heat-map, captures evidence and corrective-action notes, and exports the full assessment as JSON, CSV, TXT or print-ready PDF for management review and Stage 1 / Stage 2 audit preparation.
Is the SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis tool really free to use?
Yes — the SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety tool is 100% free with no sign-up, no email capture, no credit card, no watermarks, and no usage limits. It runs entirely in your browser; nothing is transmitted to ISO Xpert servers. You can clear or export your data at any time.
Where is my SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety assessment data stored?
All SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety assessment data is stored locally in your browser’s storage. Nothing is uploaded to our servers. This makes the tool GDPR-friendly and suitable for confidential audit data classified up to Restricted. Export anytime as JSON (re-importable), CSV (Excel-pivotable), TXT (executive summary) or PDF (audit-trail evidence).
Can I use this tool to prepare for SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety certification or surveillance audits?
Yes. The SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis is designed to support preparation for certification by UKAS-, IAS- or ANAB-accredited bodies. Use the exported report as evidence of internal audit, feed it into management review, and prioritise high-severity non-conformities ahead of Stage 1 / Stage 2 visits. ISO Xpert consultants can assist with documented information, internal audits and full implementation if required.
How long does a SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis typically take?
Most users complete an initial SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis in 60 to 120 minutes for a single site, depending on system maturity and clause depth. The tool auto-saves continuously, so you can pause, switch devices via JSON export/import, and resume at any time. Re-assessments after corrective action usually take 20 to 40 minutes.
Does ISO Xpert offer SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety consulting or training?
Yes. ISO Xpert Ltd (London, UK) provides SQF Food Safety Edition 9 Food Safety gap analysis consulting, internal audits, Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification preparation, lead auditor / internal auditor training, and full management-system implementation. Contact info@iso-xpert.com or WhatsApp +44 7853 109840.

More questions? Contact ISO Xpert or browse other food-gap-analysis tools.