§ 384d. Accreditation of third-party auditors

(a) Definitions In this section:

(1) Audit agent

The term “audit agent” means an individual who is an employee or agent of an accredited third-party auditor and, although not individually accredited, is qualified to conduct food safety audits on behalf of an accredited third-party auditor.

(2) Accreditation body

The term “accreditation body” means an authority that performs accreditation of third-party auditors.

(3) Third-party auditor

The term “third-party auditor” means a foreign government, agency of a foreign government, foreign cooperative, or any other third party, as the Secretary determines appropriate in accordance with the model standards described in subsection (b)(2), that is eligible to be considered for accreditation to conduct food safety audits to certify that eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this section. A third-party auditor may be a single individual. A third-party auditor may employ or use audit agents to help conduct consultative and regulatory audits.

(4) Accredited third-party auditor

The term “accredited third-party auditor” means a third-party auditor accredited by an accreditation body to conduct audits of eligible entities to certify that such eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this section. An accredited third-party auditor may be an individual who conducts food safety audits to certify that eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this section.

(5) Consultative audit The term “consultative audit” means an audit of an eligible entity—

(A) to determine whether such entity is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with applicable industry standards and practices; and

(B) the results of which are for internal purposes only.

(6) Eligible entity

The term “eligible entity” means a foreign entity, including a foreign facility registered under section 350d of this title, in the food import supply chain that chooses to be audited by an accredited third-party auditor or the audit agent of such accredited third-party auditor.

(7) Regulatory audit The term “regulatory audit” means an audit of an eligible entity—

(A) to determine whether such entity is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter; and

(B) the results of which determine—

(i) whether an article of food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by such entity is eligible to receive a food certification under section 381(q) of this title; or

(ii) whether a facility is eligible to receive a facility certification under section 384b(a) of this title for purposes of participating in the program under section 384b of this title.

(b) Accreditation system

(1) Accreditation bodies

(A) Recognition of accreditation bodies

(i) In general

Not later than 2 years after January 4, 2011, the Secretary shall establish a system for the recognition of accreditation bodies that accredit third-party auditors to certify that eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this section.

(ii) Direct accreditation

If, by the date that is 2 years after the date of establishment of the system described in clause (i), the Secretary has not identified and recognized an accreditation body to meet the requirements of this section, the Secretary may directly accredit third-party auditors.

(B) Notification

Each accreditation body recognized by the Secretary shall submit to the Secretary a list of all accredited third-party auditors accredited by such body and the audit agents of such auditors.

(C) Revocation of recognition as an accreditation body

The Secretary shall promptly revoke the recognition of any accreditation body found not to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

(D) Reinstatement

The Secretary shall establish procedures to reinstate recognition of an accreditation body if the Secretary determines, based on evidence presented by such accreditation body, that revocation was inappropriate or that the body meets the requirements for recognition under this section.

(2) Model accreditation standards

Not later than 18 months after January 4, 2011, the Secretary shall develop model standards, including requirements for regulatory audit reports, and each recognized accreditation body shall ensure that third-party auditors and audit agents of such auditors meet such standards in order to qualify such third-party auditors as accredited third-party auditors under this section. In developing the model standards, the Secretary shall look to standards in place on January 4, 2011, for guidance, to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and costs.

(c) Third-party auditors

(1) Requirements for accreditation as a third-party auditor

(A) Foreign governments

Prior to accrediting a foreign government or an agency of a foreign government as an accredited third-party auditor, the accreditation body (or, in the case of direct accreditation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), the Secretary) shall perform such reviews and audits of food safety programs, systems, and standards of the government or agency of the government as the Secretary deems necessary, including requirements under the model standards developed under subsection (b)(2), to determine that the foreign government or agency of the foreign government is capable of adequately ensuring that eligible entities or foods certified by such government or agency meet the requirements of this chapter with respect to food manufactured, processed, packed, or held for import into the United States.

(B) Foreign cooperatives and other third parties

Prior to accrediting a foreign cooperative that aggregates the products of growers or processors, or any other third party to be an accredited third-party auditor, the accreditation body (or, in the case of direct accreditation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), the Secretary) shall perform such reviews and audits of the training and qualifications of audit agents used by that cooperative or party and conduct such reviews of internal systems and such other investigation of the cooperative or party as the Secretary deems necessary, including requirements under the model standards developed under subsection (b)(2), to determine that each eligible entity certified by the cooperative or party has systems and standards in use to ensure that such entity or food meets the requirements of this chapter.

(2) Requirement to issue certification of eligible entities or foods

(A) In general

An accreditation body (or, in the case of direct accreditation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), the Secretary) may not accredit a third-party auditor unless such third-party auditor agrees to issue a written and, as appropriate, electronic food certification, described in section 381(q) of this title, or facility certification under section 384b(a) of this title, as appropriate, to accompany each food shipment for import into the United States from an eligible entity, subject to requirements set forth by the Secretary. Such written or electronic certification may be included with other documentation regarding such food shipment. The Secretary shall consider certifications under section 381(q) of this title and participation in the voluntary qualified importer program described in section 384b of this title when targeting inspection resources under section 350j of this title.

(B) Purpose of certification The Secretary shall use certification provided by accredited third-party auditors to—

(i) determine, in conjunction with any other assurances the Secretary may require under section 381(q) of this title, whether a food satisfies the requirements of such section; and

(ii) determine whether a facility is eligible to be a facility from which food may be offered for import under the voluntary qualified importer program under section 384b of this title.

(C) Requirements for issuing certification

(i) In general

An accredited third-party auditor shall issue a food certification under section 381(q) of this title or a facility certification described under subparagraph (B) only after conducting a regulatory audit and such other activities that may be necessary to establish compliance with the requirements of such sections.

(ii) Provision of certification

Only an accredited third-party auditor or the Secretary may provide a facility certification under section 384b(a) of this title. Only those parties described in voluntary qualified importer program under section 384b of this title; or

(2) is required to provide to the Secretary a certification under section 381(q) of this title for any food from such entity.

(e) False statements Any statement or representation made—

(1) by an employee or agent of an eligible entity to an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent; or

(2) by an accredited third-party auditor to the Secretary,

shall be subject to section 1001 of title 18.

(f) Monitoring To ensure compliance with the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall—

(1) periodically, or at least once every 4 years, reevaluate the accreditation bodies described in subsection (b)(1);

(2) periodically, or at least once every 4 years, evaluate the performance of each accredited third-party auditor, through the review of regulatory audit reports by such auditors, the compliance history as available of eligible entities certified by such auditors, and any other measures deemed necessary by the Secretary;

(3) at any time, conduct an onsite audit of any eligible entity certified by an accredited third-party auditor, with or without the auditor present; and

(4) take any other measures deemed necessary by the Secretary.

(g) Publicly available registry

The Secretary shall establish a publicly available registry of accreditation bodies and of accredited third-party auditors, including the name of, contact information for, and other information deemed necessary by the Secretary about such bodies and auditors.

(h) Limitations

(1) No effect on section 374 inspections

The audits performed under this section shall not be considered inspections under section 374 of this title.

(2) No effect on inspection authority

Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Secretary to inspect any eligible entity pursuant to this chapter.

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 808, as added Pub. L. 111–353, title III, § 307, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3959.)

References In Text

References in Text

Section 381(q) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C)(ii), was in the original “301(g)”, and was translated as reading “801(q)”, meaning section 801(q) of act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, which is classified to section 381(q) of this title, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because section 381(q) of this title relates to food certification, whereas section 301(g) of act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, which is classified to section 331(g) of this title, does not relate to food certification.

Section 1622(h) of title 7, referred to in subsec. (c)(8), was in the original “section 203(h) of the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946”, and was translated as reading “section 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946”, meaning section 203(h) of act Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, which is classified to section 1622(h) of Title 7, Agriculture, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Miscellaneous

Construction

Nothing in this section to be construed to apply to certain alcohol-related facilities, to alter jurisdiction and authorities established under certain other Acts, or in a manner inconsistent with international agreements to which the United States is a party, see sections 2206, 2251, and 2252 of this title.