Safe Quality Food (SQF) Certified Practice Exam

In what timeframe must the site address non-conformities raised during a desk audit?

1. Before the next scheduled audit

2. Any time before proceeding with the site audit

3. Within 7 days of the identified non-conformity

4. Within one month of the audit

The correct answer is: Any time before proceeding with the site audit

The requirement to address non-conformities raised during a desk audit is crucial for maintaining compliance and ensuring proper functioning of the food safety management system. These non-conformities can highlight areas that need improvement or corrective action and should ideally be addressed before the next audit is scheduled to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement. Addressing the non-conformities any time before the site audit supports the notion that time is allowed for implementation of necessary changes based on the identified issues. It ensures that the site has time to make realistic adjustments to systems, processes, or documentation based on the auditor's findings. This flexibility helps in fostering a proactive approach to food safety management, allowing for the effectiveness of the corrective measures to be assessed before the next evaluation. Other timeframes like within 7 days or one month impose strict deadlines that could be unrealistic for significant changes, potentially leading to rushed responses or ineffective solutions. Delegating responsibility until just before the next scheduled audit may leave too little time for assessment and would not promote a continuous quality assurance process.