USDA Auditor Training

Most fresh foods auditors are required to have USDA training.

Training for USDA auditors is conducted at the Fresh Products Branch National Training and Development Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia, about 50 miles south of Washington, D.C. The facility offers introductory and refresher courses for USDA auditors.

Features

Among the courses taught at the training center is basic auditing, a one- to three-day class in which participants learn the principles of external auditing. The auditor training program is based on federal guidelines for auditing and implementing quality systems, and acquiring the skills to quickly and efficiently audit.

History

The guidelines for training USDA auditors are contained within a document called ISO 19011: 2002. This document can be ordered from the International Organization for Standardization's website. ISO 19011: 2002 provides for uniform auditor qualifications. Prior to its implementation in 2002, the competence of auditors varied according to the nature, scope and complexity of the audit. The guidelines provide a framework for organizations to set their own competency requirements and auditor evaluation processes.

Significance

Many states have implemented food safety audit programs under the licensing guidelines and authority of the USDA Fresh Products Branch. Qualifications vary from state to state, but generally the auditors must be state department of agriculture employees and USDA-licensed.

References

• U. S. Department of Agriculture: The General Class Information
• International Produce Training: USDA Food Safety Audit Programs
• International Organization for Standardization: ISO 19011:2002
• International Organization for Standardization: Joint auditing standard for quality and environmental management systems now available