Documentation Requirements for Costco Wholesale’s

Foreign Supplier Verification Program

Costco Wholesale Food Safety will require the following documentation from Foreign Supplier facilities
when Costco Wholesale is the Importer of Record according to the definition as provided by the US Food
and Drug Administration’s Foreign Supplier Verification Program (Note: this definition is not the same as
the US Customs’ Importer of Record). ALL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PRESENTED IN ENGLISH.

1. GMP Food Safety Audit or GFSI Food Safety Certification Audit

Copy of Complete Current GMP Food Safety Audit or GFSI Food Safety Certification Audit. Costco
currently accepts SQF, BRC, FSSC22000, and IFS Certifications with the Costco Addendum)

Copy of all corrective actions for the above mentioned food safety audit.

2. Item Information

List of Ingredients

Country of Origin of Ingredients

Item Label

Item Packaging Specifications

Shelf life of item

Storage Conditions for Item

Microbiological Specification

Chemical Specification

3. Flowchart of Process
Receiving and Storage (raw materials/packaging) Processing Packaging
Storage/Warehousing Distribution/Transportation

4. Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Control Plan (HARPC) for each item imported

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List of HARPC Plan Team Members (Note: All persons responsible for HARPC Plan must have Food Safety
Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) approved PCQI Training.)

Copy of Pre-requisite Program(s)

- Areas covered in Pre-requisite program include but are not limited to:
o Chemical Storage
o Employee Training
o Employee Hygiene and Health Conditions
o Pest Control
o Facility Sanitation
o Product Storage and Handling
o Shipping / Transportation Practices (to include sanitation)
o Facility Temperature Monitoring

- Preventive Control plan must specifically address the following:

o Must address all SAHCODHA hazards (Serious Adverse Health Consequences or
Death to Humans and Animals)
o Allergen Management and Labelling
o Facility Sanitation and how it is used to control cross contamination
o Must address any radiological hazards
o Must address hazards related to intentional adulteration

5. Supplier Qualification Plan

Written plan documenting ingredient and packaging supplier qualification program. This document
should include any requirements made of ingredient and packaging suppliers.

6. Ingredient and Finished Product Testing Plan

Written plan documenting ingredient and finished product testing. This document should include:
- What testing requirements are in place
o Frequency
o Testing criteria
- What the corrective action is taken if these requirements are not met

7. Environmental Sampling/Monitoring Plan

Written plan documenting environmental sampling/monitoring. This document should include:

- What testing requirements are in place
o Frequency
o Testing criteria

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 - What the corrective action is taken if these requirements are not met

Please submit all requested documentation to FSMA International at costcofsvp@fsmainternational.com.

Once approved as a Supplier Costco Wholesale will require the following:

1. Costco Wholesale will conduct finished product testing on approved items at a frequency of not
less than annually based on risk. The testing will verify agreed upon food safety parameters.
Costco may take Vendor Certificates of Analysis (COA) with random verification in lieu of annual
testing. This will be decided on a case by case basis. All testing costs will be charged back to the
Supplier.

2. Costco will need copies of future annual GMP Food Safety Audit or GFSI Food Safety
Certification.

3. Anytime a change is made to any of the above listed programs the Supplier must furnish copies
of the changes to Costco Wholesale Food Safety.

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