Third party refers to an independent and external organization or individual that conducts the audit.

Section 44 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides the power to Food Authority to recognize an organization or an agency for carrying out food safety audit and checking compliance with the Food Safety Management Systems; and Section 16(2)(c) of the Act, provides for a mechanism and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies for Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

Food Businesses classified by Food Authority for mandatory Food Safety Audits will be liable to get their businesses timely audited by recognised Auditing Agencies. Food Authority will declare the category/type of food businesses subject to mandatory audit based on risk classification and the frequency of audits. This classification will be based on factors like Food type, Intended Customer use, nature of activity of the business, Volume of the business & Method of processing/any other factors prescribed by Authority. Food businesses which are not subject to mandatory Food Safety auditing can also conform to auditing of their businesses on voluntary basis. This will encourage self compliance among them.

The Eligibility criteria for Auditing Agencies and its set of Auditors, willing to apply for selection as Food Safety Auditing Agency, for conducting food safety audits of Food Businesses are as prescribed under section 3, Part II of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018

Educational Specifications of Auditors prescribed in Section 3(c) of the FSS (FSA) Regulation, 2018 is as follows: Bachelor's degree in Food or Dairy or Fisheries or Oil Technology or Biotechnology or Agriculture or Veterinary Sciences or Bio-chemistry or Microbiology or Chemistry or Hotel management or Catering technology from a recognised university.

1. Selection of Audit Agency: FBO selects the audit agency and provides necessary details (scope,production lines, training details, etc.).
2. Audit Date and Fee: FBO finalizes the audit date and fee with the agency.
3. Audit Intake Form: Audit agency logs into the FSSAI portal and fills the Audit Intake.Form with audit details (date, auditor, man-days). Once submitted, the form is locked and visible to the Food Authority, the agency, and the FBO.
4. Communication of Audit Plan: Agency shares the Audit Plan with the FBO at least 8 days before the scheduled date.
5. Execution of Audit: Audit conducted as per inspection checklist on the scheduled date.Audit score and draft report shared with FBO before leaving the facility.Findings are agreed upon by the FBO, with the option to escalate disagreements to the Food Authority.
6. Major Non-Conformities: Reported to the Food Authority within 24 hours via portal, email, or phone.Notification sent to Director (RCD), CLA, and State/UT Commissioner of Food Safety.
7. Minor Non-Conformities: Audit agency ensures closure of findings within 15 days, including followup and rectification.If FBO delays, CLA or SLA is informed for necessary action.
8. Final Audit Report: Uploaded on the FSSAI portal within 15 days of the audit date.

The auditing agency shall submit the audit report in the format specified by Food Authority to the Food Business Operator immediately after completion of the audit and also to the Central or State Licensing authority within fifteen days. The audit report shall clearly bring out the finding or non conformities. The non-conformities of the audit may be classified into two categories, namely,-
(I) Major Non-Conformity- When there is a serious failure in the food safety management system of the Food Business Operator, which may result in adverse health consequence possibly even fatal, the auditor shall report such findings to the Central or State Licensing Authority within twenty four hrs. The Central or State Licensing Authority after ascertaining the seriousness of the situation shall take regulatory action against the concerned food business operator.
(II) Minor Non-Conformity- When there is a shortcoming in the food safety management system or regulatory contravention of the Food Business Operator, which may not cause any adverse health consequence, the auditor shall set up an appropriate timeframe for its rectification and follow up, so that the non-conformance could be rectified. Failure by food business operator to rectify the minor non conformity within the specified timeframe shall be referred to the Central or State Licensing Authorities, as the case may be.

Renewal of recognition The auditing agencies are granted recognition for three years. At the end of their three year recognition, they have to renew their recognition as per procedure laid down in Section 6 of the FSS (FSA) Regulations, 2018. If an agency does not renew its recognition prior to the expiry of validity of their date of recognition, their recognition will be cancelled and they will not be eligible to perform food safety audits on behalf of the Food Authority. The Food Authority before renewing the Certificate of Recognition will consider the following:
(a)  the auditing agency continues to meet the criteria specified in regulation 3;
(b)  the performance of the auditing agency during the previous validity period;
(c)  the complaints, if any, received during the period of validity.
(d)  the recommendation of the Screening Committee for evaluation.