Time window for unannounced audits
Hi
I was curious about unannounced audits, is the time window determined by the certifier? I have been told it can be an 8 month window, which seems to be a very large one.
Also, it was my understanding that it cannot be an unannounced audit during a re-certification year. Our original certification was 2016 and after our audit in April to version 4.1 our new certificate indicates an expiry of May 2019. That to me means that it will be a re-certification audit in 2019 and should not be allowed to be un-announced. The FSSC rules mention that it cannot be unannounced on a re-certification audit (pasted below)
ANNEX FSSC 22000 version 4.1, Part 4, Section 7, Unannounced audits 7.3 Unannounced audits 7.3.1 Frequency 1) The CB shall ensure that for each certified organization at least one unannounced audit is undertaken after the initial certification audit and within each 3-year period thereafter. 2) The certified organization can voluntary choose to replace all surveillance audits by unannounced annual surveillance audits. 3) Neither the initial certification audit (stage 1 and stage 2) nor the recertification audit can be replaced by an unannounced audit
Am I misinterpreting this?
I think you are, year 2019 would be year 3 so within the 3 year period since 2016 (you only have 2017, 2018 and 2019 available for unannounced) and 2020 will be your "re-certification" date; the last line is red is confusing....I don't know why they are calling it a recert audit? Isn't that what they are every year??
Double check the standard on the window......SQF is +- 30 days from certificate date (i'm arriving at work everyday waiting for the unannounced as I type) So our date is August 30, so window is July 30 to September 30
I found this
http://www.fssc22000...ts_20171205.pdf
After the (re-)certification decision the organization should be informed by the CB that one of the two scheduled surveillance audits will be replaced by an unannounced audit. The organization is advised to inform the CB about the blackout days within 2 weeks after the CB communication. Blackout days are time periods when the audited organization is not operating for legitimate business reasons. These are to be agreed between the CB and the certified organization to avoid periods of extreme inconvenience during which the certified organization would find it difficult to participate fully and/or there is no production. The CB is advised to require the FSSC 22000 certified organization to provide evidence that the identified blackout period was justified. There is no minimum or maximum number of blackout days that can be claimed by the audited organization and black-out days can also include both seasonal production and possible secondary sites that are covered by the scope of certification. It is advised that the unannounced audit will be conducted within a timeframe of 4 to 12 months after: •
1)The (re-) certification decision and/or
2)• The last day of the previous announced surveillance audit
The way I understood it when we started was that the certification was in 2016, then 2 years of surveillance (2017, 2018) and then a full "re-certification" audit in 2019. FSSC certificates give you a 3 year date on the expiry on them. When we were audited last year, they told me that next year would be a longer recertification audit. This is why I am confused. I have written to them and am waiting now.
Very confusing to be sure
1. Unannounced audit program An unannounced audit program is part of the 3 year certification cycle. Participation in the unannounced audit program is mandatory. The program shall ensure that for each certified organization at least one unannounced audit is undertaken after the initial certification audit and within each 3-year period thereafter. (which reads like a 4 year cycle where year 1 is the initial certification)The certified organization can voluntary choose to replace all surveillance audits by unannounced annual surveillance audits. Neither the initial certification audit (stage 1 and stage 2) nor the (re-)certification audit can be replaced by an unannounced audit.
Plus there is this to make it even more confusing
3 Audit type The audit to replace an existing FSSC 22000 Scheme certificate by a new FSSC 22000 Scheme version 4.1 certificate shall be called an upgrade audit which shall always be an announced audit.
qualityfishgirl11, you are right in your first post. The first audit (2016) is year one. Surveillance audits occur in years 2 (2017) and 3 (2018) and one of them may be unannounced. After that, your recertification audit (2019) may not be unannounced.
If you look at your certificate, it expires at the end of a full year 3 (some time in 2019). They have to do the recertification audit and provide an updated certificate before your current one expires in 2019.
You are correct. Keep pushing them on it.
-John