Certification bodies and auditors

Certification bodies and their auditors play a major role in ensuring the proper functioning and credibility of the QS scheme. Their efforts underpin consumer confidence in safe food products.

The job of the independent certification bodies and their auditors is to carry out regular inspections in the companies and businesses participating in the QS scheme and to verify the correct implementation of the QS requirements. They subject all client oriented production and marketing processes as well as the associated documentation to a close inspection. The results of the inspection are then recorded in an audit report. As qualified experts, they thus identify potential for improvement in in-house quality assurance, which can be used by the scheme participants to initiate further quality assurance measures.

Certification bodies who want to monitor compliance with QS requirements in the participating businesses must be approved by QS. One of the preconditions for this is accreditation in accordance with EN ISO/IEC 17065.

If you would like to obtain approval in the QS scheme for your certification body, feel free to contact us. You can also find more information in the Guideline Certification.

Becoming an auditor in the QS scheme

Auditors also require a special approval for their work in the QS scheme. The basis for this is an agricultural or food-related education as well as two years of industry-specific professional experience according to the desired stage of approval.  If you would like to be approved as auditor in the QS scheme, please contact a certification body approved by QS. You can discuss the further proceedings with them. Further information on the requirements for QS auditors can also be found in the Guideline Certification.

For approved auditors 

We have set up a password-protected section on our website for the approved auditors. This section contains a wide range of exclusive information on and about the QS scheme.