Glossary - Edition 10

Is non-fulfillment of a requirement (ISO/IEC 19011). The levels and definitions of non- conformance within the SQF Food Safety Codes are:

• A minor non-conformance is evidence of a random or infrequent failure to maintain compliance to a requirement, but which does not indicate a breakdown in the food safety management system or that food safety is compromised. It is evidence of an incomplete or inappropriate implementation of SQF requirements which, if not corrected, could lead to system element breakdown
• A core clause minor is a minor non-conformance issued to a requirement identified within an identified core clause.
• A major non-conformance is a failure of a system element, a systemic breakdown in the food safety management system which could be multiple minor non-conformities creating a pattern against related elements, a serious deviation from the requirements, and/or absence of evidence demonstrating compliance to an applicable system element. It does not indicate the likelihood to cause a significant public health risk. It is evidence of a food safety risk to products included in the scope of certification.
• A core clause major is a major non-conformance issued to a requirement identified within an identified core clause.
• A critical non-conformance is a breakdown of control (s) at a critical control point, a pre-requisite program, or other process step and judged likely to cause a significant public health risk and/ or where product is contaminated. A critical non-conformance is also raised if the certification body deems that there is systemic falsification of records relating to food safety controls and the SQF System.