Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10: Food Conversion
For current SQF Practitioners. This 5-hour conversion SQF course provides an overview of significant updates in SQF Edition 10 and a comparison of requirements from Edition 9 to 10. Instructors teach it live and virtually, so you can join from anywhere.
About this SQF Edition 10 conversion course
This instructor-led, live virtual course helps current SQF Practitioners who already completed Edition 9 or earlier training and need a clear comparison with SQFI Edition 10. Specifically, it covers significant updates in the SQF Food Safety Code Edition 10, and how those requirements differ from Edition 9.
SQFI published Edition 10 in March 2026. In addition, it sharpens focus on measurable food safety culture, change management, risk-based environmental monitoring, and risk-weighted audit scoring. Therefore, this 5-hour format is a fit for current SQF Practitioners who need to update their system, rather than learn SQF from the start.
However, if you are a new practitioner, or you need the full Food Manufacturing Code in depth, take BQUALI’s two-day Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10 training instead. The full live virtual schedule also lists BQUALI’s other food-safety classes.
Friday, December 11, 2026
Five hours, live virtual and instructor-led, so you can join from anywhere. Time: 9 AM–2 PM EST (New York). More dates are also available on request, or book a private session for your team.
Course fee: $400 US.
SQF Edition 10 conversion course dates
All classes are live virtual, so you can attend from anywhere. The course fee is $400 US. Every class runs 9 AM–2 PM EST (New York). More dates are also available on request.
More dates are also available on request. Email info@bquali.com or use the Contact page to ask for another public date or a private session.
Who this conversion course is for
This is therefore a conversion overview for current SQF Practitioners, not a first introduction to SQF. It also helps practitioners who already completed Edition 9 or earlier training and need to see what changes in Edition 10.
Who should attend
- Current SQF Practitioners trained on Edition 9 or earlier
- Current substitute SQF Practitioners who already hold that designation after Edition 9 or earlier training
Who should take the two-day course instead
- New practitioners who do not yet hold that designation, or who still need the full Food Manufacturing Code, prerequisite programs, and the food safety plan
- People implementing an SQF system for the first time, because they still need the complete Code
- Anyone who needs the complete two-day Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10 training
What’s covered: key Edition 10 changes versus Edition 9
The topics below follow what SQFI has published about Edition 10, including the main Code changes. SQFI issued the Code in March 2026 as a digital-first Code, so a Code Selector can identify the right Code for a site’s scope. A printer-friendly PDF is still available.
Food safety culture
For example, SQFI added a food safety culture assessment plan as a new requirement in all Edition 10 Food Safety Codes. Under Edition 10, sites therefore need to show how they measure, reinforce, and improve food safety culture, with clear leadership involvement and employee accountability. Auditors look for evidence that food safety is part of daily work, not only a policy document. SQFI also publishes a free Food Safety Culture Assessment Plan guidance document on sqfi.com.
Change management
Edition 10 raises expectations for change management. For example, operational changes such as new equipment, suppliers, formulations, staffing shifts, or process changes can introduce risk if you do not evaluate them. Edition 10 formalizes the expectation that organizations assess and document food safety impacts when significant operational changes occur, before those changes happen. SQFI also publishes change-management guidance on sqfi.com.
Risk-based environmental monitoring
Edition 10 places greater emphasis on facility-specific risk assessment, rather than a generic monitoring approach. Specifically, Edition 10 requires a site-specific hazard analysis for pathogen monitoring. In addition, environmental monitoring programs should align with actual operational risks, product exposure, and processing conditions at each site. Edition 10 also identifies environmental monitoring as a Core Clause in the Food Manufacturing Code.
Risk-weighted audit scoring
Edition 10 keeps the familiar 100-minus-deductions model. However, it adds Core Clauses with a higher scoring impact, so findings in foundational, high-risk system elements count more. Core Clauses are unique to each Code, so SQFI identifies them in the relevant clauses. For example, SQFI lists management commitment, approved supplier program, food safety plan, environmental monitoring, corrective and preventative action, product identification, allergen management, sanitation, and foreign material control.
| Finding | Edition 9 deduction | Edition 10 deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Minor non-conformance | 1 point | 1 point (2 points if a Core Clause) |
| Major non-conformance | 5 points | 5 points (7 points if a Core Clause) |
| Critical non-conformance | 50 points | 50 points |
Course topics and the scoring table are based on SQFI’s public guidance, including Which Code Edition Should I Use, the Edition 10 FAQ, and SQFI’s Edition 10 technical blogs. Confirm any site-specific questions with your certification body or SQFI.
Edition 10 transition timeline
This conversion course therefore covers the Edition 10 changes. The timeline below, however, is audit context only. SQFI anticipates Edition 10 audits from January 2, 2027, although that date is pending GFSI benchmarking. Until then, sites audited before that date remain on Edition 9.
Edition 10 published
The Edition 10 Food Safety and Quality Codes are available, including digital tools on sqfi.com. SQFI also posts its digital Code Selector, guidance, checklists and change documents on sqfi.com.
Edition 9 audits continue
If your audit takes place before the Edition 10 implementation date, your certification body will audit you to Edition 9. Until GFSI recognizes Edition 10, Edition 9 remains the only GFSI-recognized SQF program. This is therefore the window for a gap assessment, culture plan work, and scoring preparation.
Edition 10 audits expected to begin
Finally, SQFI anticipates Edition 10 audits will begin on January 2, 2027. That date depends on GFSI benchmarking and may move later. However, audits to Edition 10 will not commence any earlier than January 2, 2027. As a result, SQFI expects audits on or after the implementation date to follow Edition 10, with one exception: an Edition 9 surveillance audit that falls after that date stays on Edition 9. In addition, certification bodies will not mix the two editions in one audit.
This timeline follows SQFI’s Edition 10 FAQ and Which Code Edition Should I Use, including the published start date. Check sqfi.com for any date changes.
Format, price, and how to book
5 hours, live virtual
Instructors lead the course live online, so participants can join from anywhere, without travel. Additionally, every class runs 9 AM–2 PM EST (New York).
$400 US
The public course fee is $400 US per participant, so the rate is the same for every public date. Register for December 11 with the button on this page, or email BQUALI to request another date.
Friday, December 11, 2026
The next public session is Friday, December 11, 2026, from 9 AM to 2 PM EST. More dates are also available on request, or book a private session for your team with a date that fits your audit cycle.
Training a whole team?
You can also run a private SQF Edition 9 to 10 Conversion training session for your team. You get a flexible date, a focused 5-hour agenda, and examples tailored to your products and processes. The session is live virtual from anywhere, or on-site.
Frequently asked questions
Questions? Email info@bquali.com.
Course details
Who should take this course?
This course is for current SQF Practitioners who already completed Edition 9 or earlier training. New practitioners should instead take the two-day Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10 training.
How long is the course and how is it delivered?
Five hours, live virtual and instructor-led, so you can join from anywhere. Additionally, all classes run 9 AM–2 PM EST (New York).
How does this differ from the full two-day Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10 course?
This 5-hour conversion course is therefore an overview of significant Edition 10 updates and a comparison of requirements from Edition 9 to Edition 10. It is also for people who already work in an Edition 9 system. The full two-day Implementing SQF Systems Edition 10 training covers how to implement or update a Food Manufacturing SQF system to Edition 10, including prerequisite programs and the food safety plan. Choose that course if you are new to SQF, or you need the complete Implementing SQF Systems training.
Is this the official SQFI self-paced conversion course?
No. Instead, BQUALI teaches this as a live virtual, instructor-led course. SQFI also publishes its own self-paced Edition 10 Conversion Course and free guidance on sqfi.com.
Edition 10 audits
When do Edition 10 audits start?
SQFI anticipates that audits to Edition 10 will begin on January 2, 2027. That date depends on the GFSI benchmarking application and may move later. However, audits to Edition 10 will not commence any earlier than January 2, 2027. Until GFSI recognizes Edition 10, Edition 9 remains the only GFSI-recognized SQF program.
Which edition will my site be audited against?
If your audit takes place before the Edition 10 implementation date, your certification body will audit you to Edition 9. Once GFSI benchmarking is complete, SQFI expects audits scheduled on or after that date to follow Edition 10. If an Edition 9 audit triggered a surveillance audit that falls after the implementation date, that surveillance audit stays on Edition 9. In addition, certification bodies will not mix requirements from both editions in a single audit. Finally, confirm your cycle with your certification body.
Dates, price, and certification
When is the next class?
The next public session is Friday, December 11, 2026, live virtual, 5 hours, 9 AM–2 PM EST (New York). More dates are also available on request. You can also email info@bquali.com, or request a private session for your team.
What is the course fee?
The public course fee is $400 US per participant.
Will this course certify my site to SQF?
No. Instead, this course trains your people. SQF certification therefore comes only from an audit by an SQFI-licensed certification body.