Internal audit vs. certification audit: what quality managers need to know
- karineboto
- May 15
- 3 min read
In the food industry, audits are central to the food safety management system and regulatory compliance . However, confusion often persists between Internal audit vs. certification audit.
For quality assurance managers, understanding the differences, objectives and strategic impacts of these two types of audit is essential to ensuring the performance of the SQF, HACCP, BRCGS or FSSC 22000 system.
Article summary
1. What is an internal food safety audit?
Internal audit is a planned evaluation carried out by the organization itself or by the independent external consultant Karine Boto .
Engaging an external consultant for an internal food safety audit provides a neutral, objective, and strategic perspective. Thanks to their multi-site expertise and knowledge of SQF, HACCP, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 standards, they can identify discrepancies that are often invisible internally. They simulate the conditions of a certification audit, reduce the risk of major non-conformities, and strengthen the food safety culture. For a quality manager, this is a lever for prevention and sustainable performance.
Its main objective is:
Verify compliance with regulatory requirements (SQF, HACCP, BRCGS, FSSC 22000)
Identify discrepancies before an external audit
Evaluate the actual effectiveness of the system
Detect operational risks
Promote continuous improvement
Internal auditing is preventive, strategic, and educational . It allows for corrections to be made before a certification auditor or regulatory inspector notices them.
2. What is a certification audit?
The certification audit is carried out by an accredited body recognized by the GFSI or a regulatory authority.
Its aim is to:
Confirm compliance with the chosen standard
Evaluate the system's effectiveness
Determine whether to maintain or obtain certification
Identify official non-conformities
Unlike internal auditing:
It can lead to major or critical non-conformities
It can affect certification
It directly influences commercial credibility
The certification audit is a validation audit , not an improvement audit.
3. Internal audit vs. certification audit: key differences
Internal Audit | Certification audit |
Prepared by the company or consultant | Conducted by an accredited organization |
Improvement objective | Compliance objective |
Without official sanction | May result in suspension or withdrawal |
Flexible in approach | Strict regulatory framework |
Strategic preparation | Final validation |
A high-performing quality manager views internal auditing as a strategic rehearsal for certification auditing.
4. The risks of a poorly structured internal audit
An ineffective internal audit can:
To give a false sense of conformity
Failing to detect critical discrepancies
Neglecting the validation of CCPs
Ignoring the food security culture
Misjudging CAPA
As a result, the certification audit becomes a stressful and risky exercise.
5. Why internal audit is a strategic lever
A rigorous internal audit allows for:
To anticipate major non-conformities
To strengthen the SQF culture
To improve the documentation
To validate traceability
To test the teams' responsiveness
It transforms compliance into a performance tool rather than a regulatory constraint.
For a quality assurance manager, it's a management tool.
6. Effectively integrate both into a quality program
An effective strategy includes:
An annual program of planned internal audits
A full internal audit 3 to 6 months before certification
A management review based on audit results
A structured follow-up of CAPAs
Active involvement from management
When internal audits are carried out rigorously, the certification audit becomes a simple validation of work already mastered.
Conclusion
Internal audits and certification audits are not interchangeable. They are complementary.
For quality managers in Canada and the United States, the key to success lies in:
A strategic vision
A continuous preparation
A culture of improvement
Strong involvement from management
A system that is well audited internally is a system ready for certification.
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