No. The code is still being finalized, and certification requirements have not yet been confirmed. However, preparing early will make the transition smoother and more cost effective.
June 01, 2026
For a long time, food safety certification has been primarily a manufacturer’s responsibility. Production sites are audited, systems are verified and relevant certificates are maintained. However, the agents and brokers operating between suppliers and manufacturers, who influence sourcing decisions every day, have historically operated without a formalized food safety framework. After years of knowing about this gap in the system, the industry has developed the SQF Agents and Brokers Code to resolve it. This new code specifically addresses businesses that influence the food supply chain without directly handling product. If your organization sources, approves or facilitates suppliers, you must be prepared for it.
A structured approach for sourcing decisions
Traditionally, food manufacturers have been heavily audited across their operations, including processes, records and nonconformance management. In contrast, brokers approving suppliers have not been subject to equivalent scrutiny and agents recommending suppliers have not been required to demonstrate formal risk assessments. This creates a disconnect in the supply chain. Decisions made upstream, which are often based on relationships, cost or convenience, can introduce risks that manufacturers ultimately inherit. By introducing a structured approach, the SQF Agents and Brokers Code ensures that sourcing decisions are documented, risk-based and verifiable.
What the code will require
The proposed code focuses on three key areas:
| Supplier approval and monitoring | Traceability and documentation | Risk-based decision making |
Businesses must have a documented process to:
| Organizations must be able to demonstrate:
This ensures transparency and accountability when issues arise. | Supplier and sourcing decisions must be driven by:
For organizations already operating mature systems, alignment may be straightforward. For others, this represents a significant operational shift. |
Who is in scope?
The code applies to businesses that influence the food supply chain, even if they do not physically handle products.
This includes organizations that:
- Source food or ingredients on behalf of buyers
- Approve or recommend suppliers
- Act as intermediaries in food trade
- Make procurement or sourcing decisions
The key point: physical handling is not required to be in scope.
What does this mean for your business?
For agents and brokers, the code introduces a new level of accountability.
- If your processes are already structured and documented, alignment should be manageable
- If decisions rely on informal systems, relationships or internal knowledge, further development will be required
There is also a clear commercial opportunity.
Manufacturers are increasingly scrutinizing their supply chains. Being able to demonstrate compliance with a recognized SQF-aligned framework will help you:
- Build trust with clients
- Strengthen supplier relationships
- Differentiate your business in a competitive market
For manufacturers, the benefit is equally clear: a consistent standard to assess intermediaries that goes beyond traditional questionnaires.
What’s next?
The SQF Agents and Brokers Code has been launched and is live on the SQFI website.
If your business is in scope, now is the time to act before requirements are finalized and timelines become tighter.
We can help you:
- Determine whether your business is in scope
- Conduct a gap assessment against expected code requirements
- Strengthen supplier approval and traceability systems
- Develop a clear roadmap toward compliance and certification
For further information or to understand how the SQF Agents and Brokers Code applies to your business, please contact:
Ashwini Anantharam
Business Development Manager - Inspection & Certification
Business Assurance
FAQs
Possibly. If your organization approves suppliers or influences sourcing decisions, the code is likely to apply.
Map your current supplier approval process as it actually operates. Identify gaps between current practices and expected requirements.
Preparation timelines vary, depending on the maturity of existing systems. Early assessment and planning will significantly reduce implementation time and effort.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).
Business Assurance
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