3 replies to this topic

[packman156]

I manufacturer plastic straws.  For raw material approval, I need to get an Food Safety Audit on the manufacturer.  I have contacted many of these giant PP manufacturers and none will supply or do an FSA audit for their facilities.  Can you steer me to a FSA Certified PP manufacturer or is there a way around this requirement?  They have tons of FDA sheets and testing of their product and quality certs.

 

Thanks,

Packman 156

[Evans X.]

Hello,

 

Why you need to perform an audit? Is it required by law or your certification standard? If it is written in your quality procedure, then you can modify the procedure to be a little more flexible. Audits directly from client companies to provider companies are usually performed when there is no backup documentation (MSDS, material testing/analysis reports, certifications etc).

Companies (especially giant ones) will not readily give a tour or let be inspected unless it is a certification audit or a really big deal is involved (it is what it is) or state authorities.

 

Regards!

[packman156]

Thanks for the response.  It's part of a third party audit criteria that we need to fulfill.  "food safety audits performed at the ingredient supplier's facility".  I've contacted a lot of manufacturers and typically get no response no matter how many times I email.  I get tons of PRODUCT certification letters, but not facility certification letters from the distributors.  

[Evans X.]

Get a QA manager from the suppliers on the phone and explain that you need their facility certification (ISO, BRC, IFS, anything they have), I can hardly believe that big manufacturing companies don't have at least one. Also the phrase you quoted in almost all standards is interpreted as that the food safety audit needs to be performed if the facility doesn't have any documentation/certification to prove compliance with a standard, so if you get a certificate from your suppliers then the audit on your part to them is not necessary anymore.

Seems you are in a loop, in my opinion try getting the facility certifications from your suppliers first, going as far to the top as needed, and then go for other options.