SQFI published Edition 10 of the SQF Food Safety Code in 2026. Its effective date will not be earlier than January 1, 2027, and Edition 9 stays in use until then. As of September 2026, SQFI was still completing GFSI benchmarking for the new edition, so watch for final dates and any transition guidance.
A five-step transition plan
1. Get the code and the change list
Download Edition 10 for your module from SQFI along with any published summary of changes. Confirm which modules apply to your site.
2. Gap it against your system, clause by clause
Build a cross-reference of each Edition 10 requirement to your current procedure, record and responsible person. Mark each as unchanged, reworded or new. This becomes your transition record and your audit-day map.
3. Update procedures and records
Revise documents, update clause references in your manual and forms, and make sure records generated from January 2027 show the new requirements are being met.
4. Train the people auditors will interview
Supervisors and operators are interviewed on the floor. Brief them on what changed for their role, and keep the training record.
5. Verify before the auditor does
Run an internal audit against Edition 10, or a mock audit six to ten weeks before your certification audit, and close findings before the real one.
Timing your audit
If your recertification audit falls early in 2027, start the gap work now. Confirm with your certification body which edition your audit will use, since that depends on the final effective date.
Follow the dates on our Regulatory Watch, or take the free Audit Readiness Scorecard to see where you stand.
Sources: SQFI, Which Code Edition Should I Use? · ASC Food Safety scheme version summary