Important News from SALSA

As you may already be aware, to support the national effort to control the spread of COVID-19, SALSA suspended on-site auditing from April 1st 2020. This suspension period has now been extended until 30th June 2020, however it is likely that restrictions in some form or another, will persist for the foreseeable future.

Due to these restrictions to on-site auditing, we are currently providing Certificate extension for members who need their SALSA Approval to continue.  

We have also been developing the ability to conduct some of the elements of a SALSA audit, by Remote Assessment. We are pleased to advise that this option will be available from early June, and would like to share more of the detail with you now to help you understand the process and plan. 

 

3 Stage Audit Process – including Remote Assessment

Please note this process allows us to provide continued certification against the SALSA Standard (where all requirements are met) and your anniversary date therefore remains the same. 

 

 

Stage 1: Certificate Extension Review 

Certificate Extension Review - Completed by the SALSA Certification Team, you will be asked to provide some initial evidence of compliance against the SALSA Standard.  Providing this is satisfactory, you will be granted a Certificate Extension of 16 weeks post anniversary date. You will also need to have agreed a provisional date, with your SALSA Auditor, for your Remote Assessment (Stage 2).  If on-site audits are available on the date you’ve booked, the audit process continues as in previous years but if on-site audits remain suspended Stages 2 & 3 are put in place. 

 

 

Stage 2: Remote Assessment 

This will be conducted by your SALSA Auditor at a pre-arranged date and time.  You’ll be asked to complete a short questionnaire and submit some documents in advance which your Auditor and the SALSA Certification Team will review. The auditor will then call to discuss what they’ve seen so far and to ask for some records to show how the SALSA Standard is being applied in production. Some requirements are left to Stage 3. You’ll get an audit recommendation (and possibly an action plan) as usual and any actions should be closed out by submitting evidence by email to SALSA. After this, a new Remote Assessment Certificate is issued. 

 

 

Stage 3: Physical On-site Visit 

This will take place once it is considered safe. A SALSA auditor will visit your site, within 16 weeks of the Remote Assessment, with social distancing or other measures if required. As with stage 2, you’ll receive an audit recommendation and may need to close out further evidence. Once approved you’ll get a new full certificate and a report. 

 

 

What do you need to do?  

  • Please take a moment to check your certificate for your audit window and expiry date. This can be found by visiting the SALSA Supplier Directory, and entering your business name https://www.salsafood.co.uk/directory/search2.php 
  • If your certificate expires in the next 8 weeks, then please contact us and we will guide you through the above process.  
  • If you audit is due later this year, then please look out for your audit reminders, contact us at this point and we will guide you through the process 
  • If you are not currently in operation, and do not want to renew your membership yet, then please also let us know so that we update our records. When you are ready, you can easily pick back up with us 

If you have any questions or concerns about the above, please contact the office on either certification@salsafood.co.uk or call 01295 477570.