The TQF-FS Program and TQF-QM Program are voluntary, third-party certification programs for food safety and quality management. Developed and implemented by the Total Quality Food Association (TQFA), the programs are reviewed and deliberated by the TQF Technical Working Committee (TQFA-TWC) composed of domestic industry, academic, and research experts, and subsequently submitted to the joint meeting of the TQFA Board of Directors (TQFA-BOD) and Board of Supervisors (TQFA-BOS) for acknowledgment in accordance with their operational and governance responsibilities.
Based on a scientific approach to identifying and controlling hazards that threaten food safety and quality, TQFA utilizes the TQF-FS and TQF-QM Programs to encourage food factories to implement robust food safety and quality autonomous management, thereby assisting the food industry in ensuring food safety, elevating quality management, and strengthening consumer confidence.
In 2025, to coordinate with the regular review and improvement of the TQF Certification Program and to meet the requirements for Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) international recognition, a clear distinction has been made between the Level 1 food safety management system certification and the Level 2 product quality management certification. The food safety management components are now established as a standalone program called the TQF-FS Program, which incorporates the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, version 2024. Additionally, the annual surveillance frequency has been adjusted to once per year, alongside rationalized adjustments to product sampling and testing.
To meet the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the TQF-FS Program establishes its program management and certification criteria, providing food sanitation and safety specifications, operational requirements, and certification body management to ensure the integrity and safety of the food supplied by certified factories.
The TQF-QM Program, on the other hand, incorporates the Quality Management Plan (QMP), under which audits are conducted by TQFA-authorized Certification Bodies and factories are subject to on-site and post-market product sampling and testing. This ensures the quality commitment of products supplied by food factories while satisfying customer needs and expectations, thereby facilitating the robust development of the food industry and safeguarding consumer rights and interests.
The TQF-FS Program and TQF-QM Program both cover four(4) food processing categories within the GFSI scope(s) of recognition:
The TQF-FS and TQF-QM Program apply only to production lines for fully packaged processed food and processed food for commercial use. TQFA classifies these into twenty-seven (27) TQF-FS/TQF-QM Program certified production line categories based on raw material and process characteristics. The categories are listed as below:
