Hey!
My first post on this forum. I greatly appreciate all the help from topics on here - lots of good insights!
I have a question regarding different clauses under 3.7.1 supplier approval and monitoring. My question is whether there is a minimum frequency for auditing of suppliers (or more specifically raw material suppliers)?
So the reason i am slightly confused about this is because i find some of the clauses slightly contradicting.
Clause 3.7.1 states in the interpretation guideline: The standard does not specify the required frequency of supplier assessment, but it should be based on risk, ensuring that the ongoing approval of those raw material suppliers who are most crucial to the safety and legality of the product are monitored on a more regular basis.
Clause 3.7.3 states in the interpretation guideline: The frequency of ongoing approval is also important, and this is left to the site to determine. However, where approval is based on supplier questionnaires, these must be reiussed at least every 3 years.
So that this point in the standard i understand it as: I can define the frequency of audit / ongoing approval of a supplier based on a risk assessment (of course if you approve by questionnaire it is minimum every third year)
However reading further into the standard i reach clause 3.7.5 where the interpretation says: The raw material supplier is audited by the site and the audit includes an assessment of the traceability systems. This would comply with the requirements as traceability has been assessed. The audit should be repeated at least every 3 years.
So to my interpretation that actually means you cannot define the frequency of ongoing approval of raw material supplier higher than 3 years? Since 3.7.5 says the audit of traceability should be repeated at least every 3 years.
Hope somebody can provide me with some clarification :)