Perform SQFI Aquaculture Inspection using eAuditor
Performing SQFI Aquaculture Inspection using eAuditor ensures a comprehensive evaluation of aquaculture operations, including fish and shellfish farms, against the Safe Quality Food (SQF) standards. The inspection focuses on food safety, water quality, biosecurity, animal health, environmental management, and operational traceability to maintain compliance and certification readiness. Using eAuditor enables structured digital audits, real-time evidence capture, and streamlined corrective action management.
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Definition and Purpose of SQFI Aquaculture Inspection
The SQFI Aquaculture Inspection is a formal assessment that evaluates aquaculture production systems, management practices, and operational procedures to ensure compliance with SQF Food Safety Codes for Primary Aquaculture. It helps producers:
- Ensure food safety from farm to harvest
- Maintain animal health and welfare standards
- Implement biosecurity and disease prevention measures
- Verify traceability and recall readiness
- Demonstrate compliance for SQF certification
Using eAuditor allows digital recording of compliance, automated scoring, and effective management of non-conformities and corrective actions.
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Inspection Scope
The inspection typically covers:
- Farm registration and regulatory compliance
- Water quality and management
- Feed sourcing, storage, and application
- Fish or shellfish health management
- Biosecurity and disease prevention
- Facility and equipment hygiene
- Harvesting and post-harvest handling
- Environmental protection and waste management
- Traceability and recall systems
- Documentation and record keeping
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Pre-Inspection Setup in eAuditor
3.1 Digital Checklist Configuration
Set up an SQFI Aquaculture Inspection Checklist in eAuditor including:
- Farm name, registration, and location
- Species cultured and production system (ponds, cages, RAS)
- Inspection date and auditor details
- Compliance rating fields (Compliant / Non-compliant / N/A)
Enable:
- Mandatory comments for non-conformities
- Photo and document uploads
- Risk classification
- Corrective action assignment with deadlines
- Digital signatures for verification
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Legal and Certification Compliance
Verify:
- Valid farm registration and licensing
- Compliance with local aquaculture and environmental regulations
- SQF certification status or application records
- Worker legal compliance (age, employment records)
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Water Quality and Management
Assess:
- Water source approval and protection
- Monitoring of pH, oxygen, temperature, and contaminants
- Regular water quality testing and records
- Water treatment and filtration systems
- Contingency plans for water contamination
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Feed Management
Inspect:
- Approved feed suppliers
- Proper storage (dry, clean, pest-free)
- Feed traceability and labeling
- Application records and feeding schedules
- Stock rotation and quality checks
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Animal Health Management
Evaluate:
- Disease prevention programs
- Veterinary care and treatment records
- Vaccination schedules
- Mortality monitoring and investigation
- Humane handling practices
- Isolation protocols for sick animals
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Biosecurity and Disease Prevention
Confirm:
- Controlled farm access points
- Visitor and staff hygiene requirements
- Equipment disinfection procedures
- Pest, rodent, and wildlife control
- Emergency disease response plans
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Facility and Equipment Hygiene
Check:
- Cleanliness of ponds, tanks, cages, and equipment
- Cleaning and sanitation schedules
- Proper maintenance and calibration of monitoring devices
- Safe storage of chemicals and medicines
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Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling
Assess:
- Hygienic harvesting procedures
- Clean and sanitized tools and containers
- Temperature control during storage
- Protection from contamination
- Accurate product labeling
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Environmental Protection and Waste Management
Review:
- Wastewater and sludge disposal
- Management of mortalities
- Chemical spill prevention
- Environmental monitoring and biodiversity protection
- Compliance with local environmental regulations
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Traceability and Recall Systems
Verify:
- Batch or lot identification system
- Records linking product to farm and harvest date
- Dispatch documentation
- Documented recall procedures
- Mock recall tests
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Documentation and Record Keeping
Review:
- Feed and water management logs
- Animal health records
- Biosecurity protocols
- Internal inspection reports
- Corrective action records
- SQF compliance documentation
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Non-Conformity and Corrective Action Management in eAuditor
14.1 Classification
- Critical – immediate food safety or animal welfare risk
- Major – serious compliance failure
- Minor – limited deviation
- Observation – improvement opportunity
14.2 Digital Workflow
- Record findings with photos and notes
- Assign responsible personnel
- Set deadlines and priorities
- Track progress in real time
- Verify closure
- Maintain full audit history
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Reporting and Continuous Improvement
15.1 Digital Reporting
Generate:
- Compliance scorecards
- Non-conformity summaries
- Risk distribution charts
- Corrective action status reports
- SQF certification readiness dashboards
15.2 Continuous Improvement
- Strengthen animal health programs
- Improve feed and water management
- Enhance biosecurity measures
- Upgrade facilities and equipment
- Optimize traceability systems
- Reduce environmental risks
Elaborative Summary
The SQFI Aquaculture Inspection using eAuditor provides a structured, digital, and auditable approach to evaluating food safety, animal welfare, biosecurity, and environmental compliance in aquaculture operations. It strengthens risk management, supports SQF certification readiness, improves operational transparency, and enables continuous improvement through real-time corrective action tracking and comprehensive digital records.