Nominated Non-Audit Days

We are due to have an unannounced audit between January and May.  I want to nominate some non-audit days but need a justifiable reason.  It states that the reason cannot be due to a specific colleague being absent.  The fact is that I have ownership of the standard in our 'small' company and though i have a designated deputy in my absence, he is semi-retired and therefore not always here.  There is a day or two that I cannot be here due to medical appointments etc.. Any thoughts on how I can justify these days as non-audit days?  Thanks in advance.

If the main practitioner (you) isn't available, the auditing agency should be okay with the dates you won't be availiable for and will work around them.

I have been able to negotiate those days with SQF and NSF.

hi ;) 

for example 

- site customer visit 

- customer audit 

;) 

Ideally, you should schedule the alternate practitioner to be on-site during your absences.  This would be the purpose of training and naming them in your program.

As others have hinted, you can find acceptable reasons to blackout other dates.  I'm sure some customer told you they'd be visiting certain dates, or your plant might have some employee appreciation days scheduled that had to be rescinded due to the volume of orders...

January and May

That seems like a exceptionally large window. Is this a GFSI certification? Maybe if we could look up specifics for the audit, we could help more? 

Hi Norma,

Planned customer visit is given as an example in the standard, also note that you only need to give 4 weeks’ notice if that helps.

BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials Issue 6

3 Unannounced Audit Protocol:

3.1.4 Nominating non-audit days

The unannounced audit programme allows sites the opportunity to nominate 15 days when the site is not available for an audit.

The dates must be provided at least 4 weeks in advance and the reason must be provided (e.g. a planned customer visit).

Kind regards,

Tony

Thanks all,

@setanta, Its a BRCGS Packaging Standard Audit.

I will take all advice above gratefully.  I hadn't considered the 4 weeks notice so that helps.

Our main problem is that if they arrive before April 1st we will be audited to the current standard, however, it it is after April 1st, it will be to the new issue of the standard which launches on 28th of this month. 

Fun times ahead!

Thanks again,

Thanks all,

 

@setanta, Its a BRCGS Packaging Standard Audit.

 

I will take all advice above gratefully.  I hadn't considered the 4 weeks notice so that helps.

 

Our main problem is that if they arrive before April 1st we will be audited to the current standard, however, it it is after April 1st, it will be to the new issue of the standard which launches on 28th of this month. 

 

Fun times ahead!

 

Thanks again,

Hi Norma,

It will be Issue 7 from April 28^th onwards, not the 1^st.

From the BRCGS Website

There will be a six-month transition period for sites and auditors to review the standard, complete training and prepare before the first audits are performed. Therefore, Global Standards Packaging Materials Issue 7 audits will commence on 28 April 2025.

Kind regards,

Tony

@Tony-C  I hadn't spotted that.  That certainly helps. Thank you so much.

Hi Norma,

 

Planned customer visit is given as an example in the standard, also note that you only need to give 4 weeks’ notice if that helps.

 

BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials Issue 6

3 Unannounced Audit Protocol:

3.1.4 Nominating non-audit days

The unannounced audit programme allows sites the opportunity to nominate 15 days when the site is not available for an audit.

The dates must be provided at least 4 weeks in advance and the reason must be provided (e.g. a planned customer visit).

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Tony is completely correct in that you only need to provide 4 weeks notice to add additional blackout days, so that is something to use if you need too.

Certification bodies are also expected to operate with discretion in-case of emergencies, so may accept less if you can show it's outside of your control.

Just to correct one element though - you only are able to nominate 10 blackout days, not 15.

Given your window is January to May, and the Standard is not auditable until 28 April, it is overwhelmingly likely you're audit will be against issue 6.

Best of luck when it comes around!

Edit: Corrected some minor formatting issues.

Thank you for the correction Ishau.

The quote in my post was from the original BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials Issue 6 and I see that it was reduced to 10 days via a position statement in March last year: P618: Position Statements for Issue 6

Kind regards,

Tony