Appendix 6 - Audit terminology This table is designed to gather information on the various terminologies used by state/territory, Commonwealth and New Zealand regulators in relation to the audit process. Table 4: Differences in terminology used by regulators Approval System audit Compliance Follow-up audit Suggested term audit or inspection Audit focus This audit assesses Similar to This audit Where audit whether the Food Safety approval, this is a assesses that the findings identify Program has been periodic review of food safety an area of developed and the entire program as concern which implemented in system, and documented is requires review accordance with the reviews the being complied before the next system documented with; it may focus audit, a follow-up owners’ (read system to ensure on specific areas audit or inspection regulators’) requirements. The its adequacy, and review them may be documented system is completeness in depth. conducted. reviewed for adequacy and compliance as well as being with the system. assessed for satisfactory implementation. Some systems conduct a two- step review of desk (documentation) and compliance (on-site) audit. Jurisdiction/food regulators Suggested term Approval System audit Compliance audit Follow-up audit or inspection New South Wales Certification Verification Compliance Follow-up NSW Food Authority Queensland Accreditation Verification Compliance Non-conformance Safe Food audit Queensland Queensland Accreditation Validation Compliance Non-conformance Health audit (or inspection for enforcement action) Victoria No approval process Audit [No terminology Re-audit Department of used] Human Services Dairy Food Approval [No specific Compliance Close-out audit Safety Victoria terminology] Prime Safe Implementation Verification Verification Intensified Audit Frequency (IAF)
Appendix 6 - Audit terminology This table is designed to gather information on the various terminologies used by state/territory, Commonwealth and New Zealand regulators in relation to the audit process. Table 4: Differences in terminology used by regulators Suggested term Approval System audit Compliance audit Follow-up audit or inspection Audit focus This audit assesses whether the Food Safety Program has been developed and implemented in accordance with the system owners’ (read regulators’) requirements. The documented system is reviewed for adequacy as well as being assessed for satisfactory implementation. Some systems conduct a two- step review of desk (documentation) and compliance (on-site) audit. Similar to approval, this is a periodic review of the entire system, and reviews the documented system to ensure its adequacy, completeness and compliance with the system. This audit assesses that the food safety program as documented is being complied with; it may focus on specific areas and review them in depth. Where audit findings identify an area of concern which requires review before the next audit, a follow-up audit or inspection may be conducted. Jurisdiction/food regulators Suggested term Approval System audit Compliance audit Follow-up audit or inspection New South Wales NSW Food Authority Certification Verification Compliance Follow-up Queensland Safe Food Queensland Accreditation Verification Compliance Non-conformance audit Queensland Health Accreditation Validation Compliance Non-conformance audit (or inspection for enforcement action) Victoria Department of Human Services No approval process Audit [No terminology used] Re-audit Dairy Food Safety Victoria Approval [No specific terminology] Compliance Close-out audit Prime Safe Implementation Verification Verification Intensified Audit Frequency (IAF)