Meeting the Approved Supplier Programme Standards
Approved Supplier Programme Certification is reassurance for retailers and branded manufacturers of the standards met by you as a supplier and AsureQuality, as an approved Certification Body for the Approved Supplier Programme, can help you achieve this.
What is the Approved Supplier Programme and why do I need it?
The AsureQuality Approved Supplier Programme aims at meeting the minimum requirements for quality assurance and food safety required by most retail chains and service organisations.
Suppliers who supply products and/or services to retail and service organisations are assessed against the Approved Supplier Standard on an annual basis, and granted approval as appropriate.
Please note that Approved Supplier certification does not guarantee supply to food businesses as other considerations are also important to these organisations. The supplier company bears the cost of the assessment.
AsureQuality capability
AsureQuality manages and certifies all audits within the AdvantageTM Approved Supplier Programme which is accepted by the major retail and food service chains in NZ.
Note: Approval of supply for some product ranges to retailers and food service organisations may require a minimum of an approved MPI Food Safety Programme.
The Approved Supplier Programme covers:
Three categories:
- Manufacturing
- Warehouse and Distribution
- Brokers
We conduct a Food Safety Assessment against a Good Manufacturing Practice standard designed to emphasize food safety, quality and purity. The assessment covers food safety and labelling. It is an excellent entry level to the development and implementation of a Food Safety Programme.
Steps to becoming an Approved Supplier:
Our Food Auditors conduct an assessment onsite of your manufacturing and/or distribution premises (desktop for brokers). This consists of an initial visit, preparation of a formal written report, and (if necessary) a follow up visit. A certificate is awarded to the supplier on receiving Approved Supplier status.
Suppliers are assessed annually, and the certificate is renewed where appropriate.
Note - if a supplier company changes ownership, or site address, a new assessment is required.
Approved Supplier status may be removed by AsureQuality if it is established that a company is not fulfilling the requirements of the assessment standard.
