6 replies to this topic

[Abradolf]

Hello everyone, 

 

Hope you are all doing well. I am currently preparing for the annual FSSC 22000 audit (new QA manager, joined august 2023) and came across the requirements for internal auditor. As I am new to ISO/ FSSC (I have experience with SQF / BRC), I kindly ask for your help, in understanding the below requirements. 

Under Part 2 - Requirements for organizations to be audited

2.5.15 - Requirements for organizations with multi-site certification (Food chain category A, E, FI, & G)

2.5.15.2 - Internal Audit Requirements

c) Internal auditors shall meet at least the following requirements, and this shall be assessed by the CB annually as part of the audit: 

Training: i) For FSSC 22000 internal audits, the lead auditor shall have successfully completed a FSMS, QMS, OR FSSC 22000 Lead auditor course of 40 hours.

 

I would like to know, as the quality manager auditing various areas of the organization, should I take part in a FSSC lead auditor 5-day course to satisfy this requirement? or would my experience suffice? (5 years' experience in food quality, HACCP certified, certified SQF practitioner, MS in food science). 

 

I am confused, as the previous quality manager was not certified as an internal auditor and there were no non-conformances raised against this.

 

thanks in advance for your help. 

[Tony-C]

Hi monisha,

 

Those requirements are for multi-site. Are you responsible for a single site or multiple sites?

 

An Audit Team Leader for multi-sites is required to have:

 

Work experience: 2 years’ full-time work experience in the food industry including at least 1 year in the organization.

Education: completion of a higher education course or in the absence of a formal course, have at least 5 years work experience in the food production or manufacturing, transport, and storage, retailing, inspection, or enforcement areas.

Training:

i. For FSSC 22000 internal audits, the lead auditor shall have successfully completed a FSMS, QMS or FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor Course of 40 hours.

ii. Other auditors in the internal audit team shall have successfully completed an internal auditor course of 16 hours covering audit principles, practices, and techniques. The training may be provided by the qualified internal Lead Auditor or through an external training provider.

iii. FSSC Scheme training covering at least ISO 22000, the relevant prerequisite programs based on the technical specification for the sector (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS-xyz) and the FSSC additional requirements – minimum 8 hours.

 

FSMS Lead Auditor FSSC 22000 V5.1 - CQI & IRCA Certified Training offered by LRQA is an example of a suitable Team Leader Training course. It is 5 days for the face-to-face classroom course or 7 days for the virtual classroom course.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Abradolf]

Hi monisha,

 

Those requirements are for multi-site. Are you responsible for a single site or multiple sites?

 

An Audit Team Leader for multi-sites is required to have:

 

Work experience: 2 years’ full-time work experience in the food industry including at least 1 year in the organization.

Education: completion of a higher education course or in the absence of a formal course, have at least 5 years work experience in the food production or manufacturing, transport, and storage, retailing, inspection, or enforcement areas.

Training:

i. For FSSC 22000 internal audits, the lead auditor shall have successfully completed a FSMS, QMS or FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor Course of 40 hours.

ii. Other auditors in the internal audit team shall have successfully completed an internal auditor course of 16 hours covering audit principles, practices, and techniques. The training may be provided by the qualified internal Lead Auditor or through an external training provider.

iii. FSSC Scheme training covering at least ISO 22000, the relevant prerequisite programs based on the technical specification for the sector (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS-xyz) and the FSSC additional requirements – minimum 8 hours.

 

FSMS Lead Auditor FSSC 22000 V5.1 - CQI & IRCA Certified Training offered by LRQA is an example of a suitable Team Leader Training course. It is 5 days for the face-to-face classroom course or 7 days for the virtual classroom course.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Hi Tony, 

thank you very much for clarifying. I am only responsible for a single site - do I still need to undergo any sort of training for internal auditing? 

[Tony-C]

Hi monisha,

 

For single sites the requirements are as per ISO 22000 which requires competent auditors. IMO some training would be useful in addition to experience of carrying out internal audits.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

 

[Abradolf]

Hi monisha,

 

For single sites the requirements are as per ISO 22000 which requires competent auditors. IMO some training would be useful in addition to experience of carrying out internal audits.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Thanks again Tony, this is really helpful. 

[dcesarz99]

Hi Tony,

 

I can't find anything in the standards that lists anything you have below. Could you share where this came from? The only thing I could find was the statement requiring a competent audit team. 

 

Warm Regards

 

Hi monisha,

 

Those requirements are for multi-site. Are you responsible for a single site or multiple sites?

 

An Audit Team Leader for multi-sites is required to have:

 

Work experience: 2 years’ full-time work experience in the food industry including at least 1 year in the organization.

Education: completion of a higher education course or in the absence of a formal course, have at least 5 years work experience in the food production or manufacturing, transport, and storage, retailing, inspection, or enforcement areas.

Training:

i. For FSSC 22000 internal audits, the lead auditor shall have successfully completed a FSMS, QMS or FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor Course of 40 hours.

ii. Other auditors in the internal audit team shall have successfully completed an internal auditor course of 16 hours covering audit principles, practices, and techniques. The training may be provided by the qualified internal Lead Auditor or through an external training provider.

iii. FSSC Scheme training covering at least ISO 22000, the relevant prerequisite programs based on the technical specification for the sector (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS-xyz) and the FSSC additional requirements – minimum 8 hours.

 

FSMS Lead Auditor FSSC 22000 V5.1 - CQI & IRCA Certified Training offered by LRQA is an example of a suitable Team Leader Training course. It is 5 days for the face-to-face classroom course or 7 days for the virtual classroom course.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Tony-C]

Hi Tony,

 

I can't find anything in the standards that lists anything you have below. Could you share where this came from? The only thing I could find was the statement requiring a competent audit team. 

 

Warm Regards

 

Hi dcesarz99

 

 

Welcome to the IFSQN forums.

 

Those requirements are stipulated in FSSC 22000 Version 6.0 | April 2023:

2.5 FSSC 22000 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

2.5.18 REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZATION WITH MULTI-SITE CERTIFICATION (FOOD CHAIN CATEGORIES A, E, F & G)

2.5.18.2 INTERNAL AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Edited by Tony-C, 09 January 2025 - 03:04 AM.