Internal Audits
Food Standards Code require businesses conduct a review of their food safety programs. Businesses requiring HACCP certification must conduct an internal audit of their Food Safety Program at least annually. Internal auditing for food safety has the ability to “add robustness and rigour to the base requirements of food safety principles and provide added confidence and further verification of processes.” With food safety being of the utmost importance in keeping consumers healthy and safe, it is risky not to conduct internal audits to continually ensure all compliance measures required to keep food safe are met on a consistent basis and food regulation, Food Act and food safety standards .They also help a company determine if they are likely to pass an external audit.
The internal audit process requires the following
- The organization must develop an audit schedule and scope for the year that includes all requirements from management system standard used.
- The audit schedule must include all known food safety legal requirements for the facility so the internal audit team reviews how the organization is assuring compliance at all times.
- Audits will verify paperwork is being completed, as required by law.
- Audits must review how the organization remains aware of and implements new food safety requirements as they become regulation or law.
- By using independent internal auditors, the organization will find deficiencies prior to an outside assessment.
- Management is aware of non-conformance and signs off on any rectification. This allows management to determine what other steps are required to assure compliance at all times and look for methods to improve in other areas not part of initial audit scope.
This service can include verification activities that are required by your Food Safety Program including:
- Internal audit
- Management review
- Calibration
- Verification and filing of completed records
- Refresher or induction training
- HACCP program reviews
- Corrective actions
The Benefits of Internal Auditing for Food Safety
There are several benefits to conducting internal audits. Quality management system (QMS) depends on internal audits to help find and correct any issues well before an external audit occurs. An internal audit also verifies the continuous improvement and compliance with food safety standards. Quality managers have an opportunity to demonstrate this improvement by taking action in correcting any issues that are found.
Some internal auditing best practices include:
- Focusing on an internal audit as an opportunity to improve, rather than a chore or punishment
- Try to make internal audits as fun and simple as possible so employees will not dread them
- Promote positive morale during audits amongst staff
- Avoid shame or blame management when issues are found
- Make the internal audits more intense than the external audits
- Make your audit an extensive, all-encompassing review of every process
- Report thoroughly on all findings
- Be sure to follow through in correcting all issues