QS. Quality scheme for food.
Systematic quality assurance from farm to shop
The QS inspection system ensures thorough and reliable quality assurance based on clearly defined and coordinated requirements from farm to shop.
Independent auditors monitor whether and how the requirements are fulfilled. The front-to-end inspections form the basis for the consistent process control and traceability in the QS scheme.
The QS certification mark: a symbol for food you can trust
Fruit, vegetables and potatoes may only be labelled with the QS certification mark if their production and marketing from farm to shop have been thoroughly audited. The clear labelling of products from controlled production and marketing with the QS certification mark underlines the commitment of all involved parties to safe food products.
We have compiled the requirements for use of the QS certification mark for you in a style guide.
QS residue monitoring: focus on maximum residue levels and limit values
Businesses that deliver fruit, vegetables and potatoes into the QS scheme actively participate in the residue monitoring. The requirements for producers, wholesalers and food retailers are defined in a risk-oriented control plan. Laboratories who would like to conduct analyses within the residue monitoring need an approval for the QS scheme.
Coordinators - key source of assistance in the QS scheme
Agricultural and horticultural businesses participate in the QS scheme via coordinators. These coordinators are the link in the chain between the businesses and QS. They are responsible for ensuring that the independent inspections (audits) are carried out in the businesses and that the businesses take part in the residue monitoring. Coordinators also organise scheme participation for logistics service providers.
We have compiled the approved coordinators in the QS scheme for you in the adjacent lists.
The following lists contain the coordinators who organise scheme participation for you:
Actively manage incidents and crises
Systematic quality assurance is the best crisis prevention: by providing clearly defined requirements and functioning control mechanisms, QS helps to ensure that crises do not occur in the first place. Despite these efforts, unforeseeable incidents can still occur in production and marketing. QS has built up a comprehensive incident and crisis management system for such cases.
Experienced crisis managers support the scheme participants both on the operational front and in the area of crisis communication. Please use the adjacent form to report an incident.
