4 replies to this topic

[Jill Clark]

Hello all!

 

How necessary is it to do on-site supplier audits?  The products we manufacture are very low risk, as are the raw ingredients we use.  We've never done an on-site audit for any of our vendors, so curious if this is something we should plan.  We have always done desk audits.  Previous auditors have mentioned it, but it hasn't been an issue and the code doesn't specifically call for on-site audits.   

 

Thanks!

 

Jill

[GMO]

It would depend for me on the risk of the ingredient (which you've said is low) and whether they have a GFSI standard.  If neither then I would audit.  Even if it's low risk. 

[Jill Clark]

It would depend for me on the risk of the ingredient (which you've said is low) and whether they have a GFSI standard.  If neither then I would audit.  Even if it's low risk. 

Thank you!  We have a few that aren't audited to the GFSI standard and those are the vendors I think we should be doing on-site audits.

[GMO]

I think with many GFSI standards you can get away without a site audit for very low risk suppliers without GFSI but personally I don't see how any ingredient isn't a risk to your business and while GFSI isn't perfect, it does give you some level of assurance that at least the systems are in place.  

 

While it's food safety which is the main concern, there is a concept in UK law of "due diligence" which is drummed into food safety practitioners from day one.  The idea being that things do and will go wrong but under law if you can prove you've done what's reasonable, then you're not likely to be prosecuted.  A supplier without an independent audit on their food ingredient is making me think I'd not be duly diligent if I'd not audited or arranged an independent one.  Same with primary, food contact packaging. 

[Tony-C]

Hi Jill,

 

Site audits aren’t always necessary or the best use of our time.

 

I think for low-risk suppliers, it is possible that a supplier questionnaire that contains relevant information for you to make an informed decision on whether to approve the supplier is sufficient.

 

My confidence in doing this would include supplier history and the amount of checks/monitoring being done on the incoming material.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony