BSI’s priority Food safety audits | COVID-19 procedures

Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) procedures

While keeping our clients and team members safe will always be BSI’s priority, as a certification body, we also want to help support our clients who are working tirelessly across the food supply chain to keep food safe, sustainable and socially responsible. COVID-19 is impacting everyone’s activity around the world with local situations changing on a regular basis. BSI offices are operational, and our team is available to help.

The challenges of keeping the food supply chain safe when travel is restricted have been reduced by the owners of food safety programmes (e.g. FSSC, SQF, etc) as they’re offering flexibility around how we deliver some food safety audits.

Please note: if there are no policies or measures preventing travel or interaction where you are located, your on-site audit will take place as scheduled according to normal practice.

This content is will change as and when the programme owners and/or BSI adjust their policies in response to the pandemic.

Will my company be charged for risk assestments and/or remote audits?

We understand that the current financial climate is more challenging than ever, but like all certification bodies BSI will be charging for our auditors’ time to conduct these activities. The time requirements will vary depending on a number of factors, so for specific costs please get in touch with your local BSI team. While this is an extra cost to your business, in some cases it also extends your certificate date allowing your organization to defer the costs of a full audit when travel bans are lifted.

Are we expected to provide the auditor with any additional equipment or accomodation during onsite audits?

BSI auditors will not require any additional equipment beyond what you offer to anyone visiting various parts of your operations.

Our business has extra health and safety protocols in place to help ensure that staff and visitos are in good health when they access our site. Will the BSI auditor comply with these protocols?

Provided there is no risk to our auditor and these tests are conducted in accordance with medical practice, BSI auditors will comply with your additional site protocols. If there is a test or process that might you are particularly concerned about, please contact your local BSI team to discuss it ahead of time so as not to delay the start of your audit.

What protocols are in place to assure us that our BSI auditor is in good health?

BSI has implemented several measures to protect the health of our auditors and all our team members. All BSI staff have been told to self-isolate as soon as they experience known COVID-19 symptoms to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We have to temporarily close our business, what should we do about our upcoming BSI audit?

With exception of Costco Supplier Audits (see specific guidance above), in accordance with our responsibilities as a certification body, if for whatever reason your site or business closes and we can’t conduct an onsite or remote audit and no postponement are offered by the food safety programme owner, we will have to begin the process of suspending and/or withdrawing your certificate. Please contact your local BSI team to see if there are any opportunities for us to help.

Do you have a question we haven't answered?

BSI is here to help your organization; your local office is available to answer any questions you might have.