GFSI Launches Pilot for New Auditor Benchmarking Requirements
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), a Coalition of Action of The Consumer Goods Forum, plans to streamline requirements for food safety auditors in an effort to increase recruitment. Although auditors are vital to global food safety, the number of auditors in the profession is decreasing. Coupled with a rising demand for food safety audits, the industry is in need of a solution.
In light of the staffing issue, GFSI is rethinking its qualification system for food safety auditors by establishing Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs) who are responsible for ensuring common competencies throughout GFSI-recognized certification programs. The change will assure Certification Program Owners (CPOs) and Certification Bodies (CBs) that auditors registered to a GFSI-recognized PRB are competent, and will eliminate the need for redundant auditor checks.