The Global Food Safety Initiative's (GFSI) governing principles of Once Certified, Accepted Everywhere emphasizes managing a single consistent benchmark for third party audits to increase thoroughness and efficiency and enable buyers to spend less time managing multiple different audits from suppliers. GFSI benefits include: maintaining a benchmarking process for food safety management schemes to work toward convergence of food safety standards; improving cost efficiency by common acceptance of GFSI standards; and providing a venue for networking, knowledge exchange, and sharing of best food safety practices and information.

The SQF Institute (SQFI) is a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), which has been established to manage the SQF Food Safety and Quality Certification Program. An FMI Advisory Board provides overall policy advice, guidance, and direction to SQFI. SQF audits are conducted according to two codes, SQF 1000 and SQF 2000. Within both codes are three levels of certification. Each level is designed to indicate the state of development of the producer's food safety and quality management system. The standard also allows every supplier, regardless of size, to be eligible for certification. The focus is on risk assessment and prevention of food safety incidents and recalls.

AIB International is an active licensed training center for SQF. Our Principles of Developing and Implementing SQF 2000 Systems seminar is designed to prepare SQF Practitioners with techniques to develop, implement, and manage an SQF 2000 food safety and quality system. The SQF 2000 Code will be covered in detail.

It is recommended that participants take the optional online exam to receive a certificate of attainment from SQFI. An additional $50 fee will be invoiced by SQFI. Instructions on taking this exam will be provided during the course.