Unannounced audits (food safety standards)

The organisation of unannounced audits requires your special attention in order to comply with the rules for this specific audit.

• For IFS Food, IFS Logistics, every third assessment must be an unannounced assessment from 2021.
• For IFS Global Markets Food: The unannounced assessment is a voluntary option reserved for companies assessed at intermediate level.
• For BRCGS Food, every third audit must be an unannounced audit from 2022.
• For FSSC 22000, at least one audit must be unannounced by the end of 2022 and then once every three years during a surveillance audit (as a rule).

The audit must be carried out by the auditor during the audit window, taking into account blackout days and Production interruptions. In the case of a combined audit, the shortest audit period provided for by the applicable standards applies. This may mean that the audit does not take place every year.

The audit must be performed by the auditor during this period. In the case of a combined audit, the shortest audit time window of the relevant standards is applied. This may mean that the audit does not take place every year.

The audit procedure is the same as for an announced audit, but with the following steps: Short, rapid opening meeting, followed by immediate inspection of the site and production facilities. The site inspection is expected to start within 30 minutes of the lead auditor's arrival, after which the audit continues.

The auditor must be informed of the issue at stake, concerning the non-availability of the various managers and the planning and organization of production.

First of all, you will be invited to make this entry by a portal message which will inform you of all the rules relating to this task.

The blackout days must be entered via the ProCert portal from the "Mandate" tab. The fields dedicated to this purpose must be completed: Blocked dates, Production stoppage dates and justification must be completed for each production stoppage and for the blocked dates.

You will have until 3 months before the start of the audit window to enter in detail your blocked dates (excluding weekends, 10 days maximum spread over 3 periods maximum for all standards: FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food, IFS Food and IFS Logistics) as well as the production stoppage dates under mandate. In the event of a combined audit, the most stringent rules of the standard apply

• BRCGS, IFS: The audit must be cancelled in this case. An announced audit may not be carried out. The certificate will expire.
• FSSC 22000: The certificate will be suspended. ProCert will withdraw the certificate if the unannounced audit is not carried out within six months from the date of rejection.