Division 4 General Guidance

Where a combination of audit systems is introduced in a Member State, mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that the audit systems cover all control activities under Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, including animal health and animal welfare and at all stages of the feed and food-production chain, and including the activities of all agencies or control bodies involved.

In particular, where control tasks are delegated to a control body, and the competent authority has chosen to audit rather than to inspect the control body, then the contractual obligations of that delegated body should include the acceptance of auditing requirements and the conditions thereof.

In addition to the specific guidance set out in this document, ISO 19011:2002 should be referred to for general guidance.