Internal auditing
Internal auditing or first party audit is an essential part of any company's operation. It is a fundamental clause in the BRC Standard for Food Safety Issue 5 and is also a key requirement in most audit protocols including IFS as well as in animal feed and non food standards. For details of RQA Europe's internal auditor training, please click here.
The key requirements of internal auditing are:
1. A proper schedule of audits that covers all aspects of the company's operations especially related to product safety and quality management. This should be risk assessed so that the frequency of auditing reflects the risk of a particular aspect of the company's systems
2. Appropriately trained and independent auditors.
3. A balanced internal audit report stating compliance as well as non compliance.
4. Reporting structure for non compliances to be reported to the responsible person.
5. A system of ensuring corrective action is taken with timescales and verification of the effectiveness of the corrective action.
6. Suitably constructed and verified records.
Internal auditing is quite often regarded as of secondary importance in a number of companies i.e. something that has to be done to comply with requirements."I cannot see why we should do it - we all strive to comply with standards anyway as part of our day to day operation." This is often quoted at a 3rd party audit especially if the internal audit system is found to be lacking.
Internal auditing properly conducted is so much more than just compliance, it is an opportunity for the company to improve its systems and understand fully what is actually happening in the operational environment. It is a means of ensuring continuous improvement using personnel that fully understand the operational process.
Click here to read the full version of this article. Contact RQA for details of our Internal Auditor Training
Recall & Reputation Level II Training Course has been launched
RQA Europe has assisted several hundred companies during recall incidents in the past few years. The content of this course has been designed to include key points that have frequently arisen during those incidents.
Benefits to your organisation
• A detailed understanding of how product-related incidents occur in your company
• Your recall team should be better prepared for making the difficult decisions
• Exercises will highlight the application of risk assessment and communication issues
For more information about RQA Recall & Reputation Level II Training Course click here or contact RQA Europe
Kindle Wireless Reading Device - the latest prize for the quarterly draw for subscribers to our monthly recall newsletter
RQA introduced a quarterly prize draw for subscribers to our monthly recall newsletter in September 2009. The prize for the first draw, held in September, was the latest Nintendo Wii Console (Included Wii Sports) and the winner was an employee of Robert Wiseman Dairies. The prize for the second draw, held in December was the IPod Nano with 8GB and the winner was the employee of Plum Baby.
The prize draw for this quarterly competition, held on the 25th of March, is Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation). This new generation eBook reader is just over 1/3 of an inch thick, it is lighter than a typical paperback and you can get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required.
Please inform any of your colleagues who might be interested in the RQA recall newsletter and would like to be entered into the draw. Click here to sign up for our newsletter
RQA Europe Ltd will be exhibiting at the Foodex event
RQA Europe Ltd will be exhibiting at the Foodex event which takes place at Birmingham's NEC on 21-24 March 2010 on stand V091. Special rates for our Product Recall Plan Toolkit & Consumer Complaint Retrieval Service will be available for visitors to our stand.
Visit the link below for RQA free ticket invitation:
http://www.exporeg.co.uk/visit/sites/williamreed/fooddrink/10/vis_fdx/reg.asp?cn=RQA Europe%20Limited&st=V091
For more information about the event visit http://www.foodex.co.uk/
Case Studies
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Product Cheese Incident Listeria monocytogenes Country United States Date 11/02/2010 |
The product is being recalled from consumers in the USA due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by the official authorities. No illnesses in connection with this product have been reported to date. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website posted this recall notification. |
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Product Fruity custard Incident Foreign body Country United Kingdom Date 02/02/2010 |
Following the consumer's complaint, the product, imported from France is being recalled from consumers in the UK. The reason for the product recall is that plastic fragments were found in several products. Consumers were given a full refund and were advised not to consume the products. |
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Product Toy pens Incident Chemical Country Slovenia Date 11/02/2010 |
A Chinese manufacturer is voluntarily recalling its products from consumers in Slovenia. The product poses a chemical risk because it contains from 5 to 30.3 mg/kg of benzene. The product does not comply with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation. |
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Product Soft toy Incident Chemical Country France Date 05/02/2010 |
Following an official order by the authorities the product is being withdrawn from the market in France. The product poses a risk of choking and injuries because the hard plastic piece can be easily detached and a shell hole opened. The product does not comply with the Toys Directive and with the European standard EN 71. |