Food Safety Command Center 13 items
Third-Party Certification Audit Prep Checklist
Prepare a facility for a GFSI-benchmarked third-party certification audit, covering documentation, readiness, and open-item closure.
GFSISQFBRCGS Food
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Scope and Scheduling
- Is the audit scope, standard version, and product categories confirmed with the certification body? *
- Is the audit date scheduled and key personnel (including the SQF/food safety practitioner) available? *
- Has the applicable standard version been reviewed for any new or changed requirements?
Document Readiness
- Is the food safety plan (HACCP/HARPC) current, validated, and reanalyzed within the required period? *
- Are prerequisite program records (sanitation, pest, calibration, training) complete and up to date? *
- Are management review, internal audit, and supplier approval records available? *
- Are policies and procedures at the current approved revision?
Internal Verification
- Has an internal audit against the full standard been completed before the certification audit? *
- Are corrective actions from the previous audit and internal audits closed and verified? *
- Has a mock recall/traceability exercise been completed and documented?
Site Readiness
- Has a pre-audit facility walk-through been conducted to identify GMP and maintenance gaps? *
- Are staff aware of the audit and prepared to answer questions about their roles and food safety duties? *
- Are records organized and readily retrievable within audit time expectations?
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