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COVID-19, You/Any CB cancelled Audits ?

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WCOULOMBE

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Posted 30 March 2020 - 09:29 PM

I find it contradictive of GFSI-SQF-Food Safety Audits taking place.  The risk of an auditor traveling and contracting this virus seems incredibly high.  If the auditor contracts virus, the risk of spreading to my facility is high.  Most of management is working from home, employees take temperature daily, no visitors, UPS and FEDEX leave deliveries at the door.  Why would I want an auditor who has a great potential for being exposed come into my facility?

 

Has anyone cancelled or has any CB cancelled any audits?  



SQFconsultant

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Posted 30 March 2020 - 09:35 PM

After speaking with each of our clients about what Dr. F from the CDC has indicated in an article that he wrote for the New England Journal of Medicine it was determined that all are going forward with planned audits and several have already occured during the past several months - without any issues.


All the Best,

 

All Rights Reserved,

Without Prejudice,

Glenn Oster.

Glenn Oster Consulting, LLC -

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http://www.GCEMVI.XYZ

http://www.GlennOster.com

 


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WCOULOMBE

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Posted 30 March 2020 - 09:55 PM

I am not sure how they can prove that statement.


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jcruzborreros

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 12:49 AM

Latest update on the position of GFSI regarding Temporary Audit Measures During Covid-19 pandemic as of 30-03-2020

 

Link description:  https://mygfsi.com/n...vid-19-pandemic

 

Also attached, the amended position of GFSI. Click the link below for the IAF IDR:2011 "Management of Extraordinary Events or Circumstances Affecting AB's CB's and Certified Organization", which the GFSI advised to follow.

 

https://www.iaf.nu/u...rcumstances.pdf



Charles.C

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 01:07 AM

After speaking with each of our clients about what Dr. F from the CDC has indicated in an article that he wrote for the New England Journal of Medicine it was determined that all are going forward with planned audits and several have already occured during the past several months - without any issues.

 

Hi SQFC,

 

^^^ The above is rather cryptic. Can you clarify as to the meaning ?


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


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Posted 31 March 2020 - 01:21 AM

Hi SQFC,

 

^^^ The above is rather cryptic. Can you clarify as to the meaning ?

 

we chatted about what the "expect" from the CDC mentioned in an article he co-wrote with two other doctors on the subject of CV and a couple of other things related to the facts and truths about this not being a pandemic as they call it and bottom line all of our clients are having their audits as planned an scheduled.


All the Best,

 

All Rights Reserved,

Without Prejudice,

Glenn Oster.

Glenn Oster Consulting, LLC -

SQF System Development | Internal Auditor Training | eConsultant

Martha's Vineyard Island, MA - Restored Republic

http://www.GCEMVI.XYZ

http://www.GlennOster.com

 


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Charles.C

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 01:42 AM

we chatted about what the "expert" from the CDC mentioned in an article he co-wrote with two other doctors on the subject of CV and a couple of other things related to the facts and truths about this not being a pandemic as they call it and bottom line all of our clients are having their audits as planned an scheduled.

 

Hi SQFC,

 

Hmmmm. Thanks.


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


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Posted 31 March 2020 - 07:21 AM

I heard that BRC audit will be held "off-site", refer to documents audit and the result is only for 6 months.



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Posted 31 March 2020 - 08:52 AM

I heard that BRC audit will be held "off-site", refer to documents audit and the result is only for 6 months.

 

Not quite.  They were going to do a remote audit but the GFSI slapped their wrist.  Now it's a risk assessment and potential delay of up to 6 months.



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Posted 31 March 2020 - 09:10 AM

In place of our BRC Packaging Issue 6 audit we have now had a remote risk assessment undertaken by our CB.  Subject to completing a CA, our current Issue 5 certificate will be extended by 6 months. The RA  covered the basics: HARA, management review, complaints, internal audits etc. It also looked at our response to Covid-19, both internally and with our suppliers. Copy of the RA attached.

Attached Files



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pHruit

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 01:26 PM

Thanks for sharing, AndyDiff.

How did you find the (telephone interview?) review for your Covid controls/response plan?

Did your cert body tell you they weren't going to do the audit, or did you contact them to advise that you wouldn't allow them on site?

 



wtheriot

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 05:39 PM

SQF unannounced audit was schueduled to fall during this time. They have now rescheduled for possibly July or August and plan to do unannounced next year. Just contact your CB and Im sure they will gladly work with you. Most are pushing it out further so as not to interfere with state and city quarantines. 

 

Im not sure how some on here could dispute the claim "pandemic" regardless of their own belief. The fact is it has been declared such and the CB's are working with all of us until we have better travel situations.

 

Taken directly from CDC website dated March 26,2020

"CDC is responding to a pandemic of respiratory disease spreading from person-to-person caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The disease has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). This situation poses a serious public health risk. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this situation. COVID-19 can cause mild to severe illness; most severe illness occurs in older adults."



AndyDiff

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Posted 31 March 2020 - 06:13 PM

Thanks for sharing, AndyDiff.

How did you find the (telephone interview?) review for your Covid controls/response plan?

Did your cert body tell you they weren't going to do the audit, or did you contact them to advise that you wouldn't allow them on site?

 

Hi pHruit

 

How did you find the (telephone interview?) review for your Covid controls/response plan?  Our IT department sent a link to the auditor to enable them to connect to our video conferencing system. They seemed happy to audit from home! The process took about 4 hours and document review was undertaken either by email or by sharing my PC screen via the video link. We had one CA, which was to expand our Covid-19 risk assessment to include consideration of the risk to our internal audit schedule (auditors working from home) and the risk to our process (lack of maintenance engineers).

 

Did your cert body tell you they weren't going to do the audit, or did you contact them to advise that you wouldn't allow them on site?   We originally requested a delay to the audit due to the restrictions on access to our site arising from the Covid-19 situation. The CB first responded by saying we had to remote audit, before changing to a remote risk assessment and certificate extension.



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Ryan M.

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Posted 01 April 2020 - 03:55 AM

Our CB told us too many moving parts / schedules / audits at this point and to contact them again in April.  We have an unscheduled SQF audit that should occur mid-April to mid-June sometime. 



Ryan M.

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Posted 01 April 2020 - 04:07 AM

we chatted about what the "expect" from the CDC mentioned in an article he co-wrote with two other doctors on the subject of CV and a couple of other things related to the facts and truths about this not being a pandemic as they call it and bottom line all of our clients are having their audits as planned an scheduled.

 

Can you by chance share this article?  I'd be interested in looking at the information and sharing with our company execs.



GMO

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Posted 01 April 2020 - 01:36 PM

After speaking with each of our clients about what Dr. F from the CDC has indicated in an article that he wrote for the New England Journal of Medicine it was determined that all are going forward with planned audits and several have already occured during the past several months - without any issues.

 

Oops thanked the wrong one.  I don't think they can say that at all with any certainty.



Chippy

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Posted 01 April 2020 - 05:57 PM

My CB contacted me as my audit is unannounced during this time. He asked if we wanted to have it announced this year and unannounced next year, which I agreed to. Mine is scheduled in 2 weeks. There is no remote "book" audit available prior to the audit dates, it all has to be onsight.

I also am wondering how an audit is considered safe, as we had an employee travel out of state and was required to have a 14 day self quarantine before they could come back to work. Our offices are small and I am sure there is not going to be 6 feet between us. I am somewhat concerned about this.



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Posted 01 April 2020 - 07:23 PM

Just contact your CB and Im sure they will gladly work with you. Most are pushing it out further so as not to interfere with state and city quarantines. 
Im not sure how some on here could dispute the claim "pandemic" regardless of their own belief. The fact is it has been declared such and the CB's are working with all of us until we have better travel situations.


This has been our experience - our organization's surveillance audit was actually scheduled to begin today and conclude on the third.
Our company has already issued statements barring all non-essential visitors from entering the factory. We also had a heightened level of concern for our workers being exposed to an auditor who could potentially be traveling in from a much more high-risk geography.

Our CB conducted a remote risk assessment with us, then got back with us within 72 hours to let us know our audit would be postponed until June/July and not actually due until mid September of this year. This situation is sort of setting a new precedent in the market - our CB was very easy to work with and willing to make other arrangements.



pHruit

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Posted 01 April 2020 - 07:26 PM

I also am wondering how an audit is considered safe, as we had an employee travel out of state and was required to have a 14 day self quarantine before they could come back to work. Our offices are small and I am sure there is not going to be 6 feet between us. I am somewhat concerned about this.

Which audit scheme/certification is the audit for?
I'd struggle to imagine any cert body not respecting your right as the food business to take the position that denying access to your site is an entirely legitimate step right now. Document it as part of your business continuity / crisis management systems (since minimising workforce absence is currently so key to being able to continue producing food) and it makes it unequivocal that it is your considered position as a business.



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Posted 05 April 2020 - 12:03 PM

Hi pHruit

 

How did you find the (telephone interview?) review for your Covid controls/response plan?  Our IT department sent a link to the auditor to enable them to connect to our video conferencing system. They seemed happy to audit from home! The process took about 4 hours and document review was undertaken either by email or by sharing my PC screen via the video link. We had one CA, which was to expand our Covid-19 risk assessment to include consideration of the risk to our internal audit schedule (auditors working from home) and the risk to our process (lack of maintenance engineers).

 

Did your cert body tell you they weren't going to do the audit, or did you contact them to advise that you wouldn't allow them on site?   We originally requested a delay to the audit due to the restrictions on access to our site arising from the Covid-19 situation. The CB first responded by saying we had to remote audit, before changing to a remote risk assessment and certificate extension.

 

Hi pHruit,

 

Could you please advise regarding the measures taken in the company considering the risk of internal audit schedule (auditors working from home) and the risk to processes (lack of maintenance engineers)? 

 

Thank you,

 



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Posted 06 April 2020 - 02:15 PM

Our unannounced SQF audit was moved to an announced with a confirmed date.  However, the CB has told use the date is subject to change based on travel restrictions.



AndyDiff

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Posted 07 April 2020 - 10:41 AM

 

Hi pHruit,

 

Could you please advise regarding the measures taken in the company considering the risk of internal audit schedule (auditors working from home) and the risk to processes (lack of maintenance engineers)? 

 

Thank you,

 

 

 

Hi EStefana - I have attached the relevant page from our BRC response covering the internal audit schedule and risk to processes. These are additional actions to those we had already undertaken as part of our Covid-19 response, which were reviewed by the auditor during the remote risk assessment.

Attached Files



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Posted 07 April 2020 - 07:09 PM

We have moved our SQF audit out twice. Our CB has been less then understanding by our rescheduling. Today we filed an extension, as we will be outside of our audit window - which was also met with some resistance. I have been in contact with our auditor and have discussed the measures we are taking and requesting that she take as well prior to the audit.

 

Because of the CB's response - we will likely be looking to change CB's once we are through this contract. Very disappointed as they have been great up until this point.



WCOULOMBE

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 07:12 PM

We have been waiting to receive confirmation of postponement for SQF recertification audit.  We did risk assessment, provided all documentation requested, but no response.  CB is waiting on global SQF.  Our company has already issued statements barring all non-essential visitors from entering the factory. We also had a heightened level of concern for our workers being exposed to an auditor who could potentially be traveling in from a much more high-risk geography.  

 

The audit is schedule for 5/28-5/29.  





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