FOOD SAFETY TRAINING
What training does a food safety auditor need? Food safety auditors can contribute hugely to the effectiveness of a food safety management system (FSMS). Auditors must have the ability to (1) generate audit findings (that includes both conformities and non-conformities), (2) make reasoned judgements in all audit situations and (3) assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of the implemented corrective action.
L
To start with, a FSMS auditor must
eadership of an organisation relies on
audit criteria, but also of the correct auditor
results of internal and external audits
practices described in international
have a suitable academic qualification
to indicate improvement needs within
auditing standards.
and experience in the relevant food chain
the FSMS. Leadership would want to ensure
In South Africa, we have a formal
sector as listed in ISO/TS 22003. Auditor
that they spend money wisely to enhance
certification process for auditors that
certification schemes such as SAATCA
food safety and to benefit the business.
aims at enhancing auditor credibility
require a degree/diploma relevant to the
Auditors perform a key role in collecting
and competence. SAATCA (Southern
scheme (e.g. FSMS). In addition to the
information on the status of the FSMS
African Auditor Training and Certification
academic qualification, an auditor would
being audited, therefore it is important that
Authority) provides FSMS (ISO 22000)
need four years of work experience of
auditors are adequately trained. Not only
auditor certification in addition to
which two years of experience would have
should they have an in-depth understanding
certification in other disciplines (e.g., ISO
to be relevant to the scheme criteria, e.g.,
of the food safety standard that is used as
9001 and ISO 14001).
ISO 22000 for FSMS auditors. Hence, work
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October 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
