Food Safety Management System Certification Audits

Key requirements — selected themes

• Food safety leadership, communication and responsibilities
• Prerequisite programmes appropriate to operations
• Hazard analysis and selection of control measures
• Validation and monitoring of hazard controls
• Traceability, emergency preparedness and withdrawal/recall
• Verification, updating and continual improvement

High-level summary

An independent assessment of the food safety management system within the organisation’s defined food chain activities. Audits examine the link between hazard analysis, practical controls and evidence that those controls are maintained.

Certification supports confidence in a coordinated approach to food safety and communication. It concerns system conformity and does not certify every product batch, eliminate all food safety risk or substitute for regulatory approval.

Third-party certification pathway

References: [S04] · [G01] · [G02] · [G03]

• Application & scope. Identify food chain activities, products, processes, sites and the proposed certification scope.
• Review & audit planning. Confirm eligibility, impartiality, competence and applicable rules; agree scope, audit time and programme.
• Stage 1 — readiness. Review prerequisite programmes, hazard analysis, control plans and evidence of internal verification.
• Stage 2 — implementation. Evaluate production practices, hazard monitoring, traceability and implementation of the food safety system.
• Nonconformity resolution. Review corrections and corrective actions; verify closure or accept action plans as the applicable rules require.
• Independent certification decision. A competent function independent of the audit evaluates the evidence; certification is issued only when requirements are met.
• Surveillance. Review product and process changes, verification results, incidents and continued food safety control.
• Recertification. Reassess the system before certificate expiry and complete the required review and decision for a new cycle.