USDA’s Process for Auditing Equivalent Foreign Food Safety Systems

By Juan Francisco Rodriguez, EAS Consulting Group Independent Consultant

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is responsible for ensuring that imported meat, poultry, and processed egg products meet the same safety standards as those produced domestically. To achieve this, FSIS’s State and International Audit Staff (SIAS) regularly audits food safety inspection systems of foreign countries deemed equivalent to the United States (U.S.).

Each year, FSIS evaluates whether an onsite audit is necessary for countries currently recognized as having equivalent food safety systems that are active in exporting FSIS regulated products to the U.S. This decision is based on a risk-based approach outlined in FSIS official methodology for prioritizing audits. Once selected for an audit, the country’s Central Competent Authority (CCA) receives a formal notification letter from FSIS, specifying the audit’s scope and suggesting possible dates. After the CCA agrees to the timeline, the SIAS auditor prepares a detailed itinerary, which is sent at least 35 days before the audit begins.

The audit process starts with an entrance meeting between the SIAS auditor and CCA officials, where audit objectives, scope, and follow-up activities are discussed, and logistics for the exit meeting are arranged. During the audit, the team visits several locations, including the CCA’s headquarters, eligible foreign establishments, supporting laboratories, and regional offices. Establishment audits are thorough and involve reviewing documents only available onsite—such as daily sanitation records, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, and other operational records.

Auditors also inspect facilities, observe government and industry staff interactions, and evaluate procedures governing food safety, such as ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections and employee hygiene practices.

Throughout the audit, any findings or concerns are communicated daily to the CCA, and informal updates are provided to relevant FSIS program areas every three working days. This ensures ongoing transparency and facilitates immediate corrective action if needed.

After completing the onsite visits, the SIAS auditor holds a pre-exit meeting with FSIS offices to review and reach consensus on preliminary findings. The subsequent exit meeting with the CCA summarizes these key observations and initial results. Within 90 days of finishing the audit, the Draft Foreign Audit Report (DFAR) is shared with the CCA. The CCA then has 60 days to respond, detailing corrective actions planned or taken to address any issues identified.

FSIS subject matter experts thoroughly review these corrective actions to confirm they meet U.S. standards. If they are accepted, the DFAR is finalized and becomes the official Foreign Audit Report (FAR).

Finally, the FAR is published on the FSIS website to promote transparency and public awareness. This structured and collaborative audit process is crucial for ensuring that all meat, poultry, and egg products entering the U.S. from abroad provide the same level of public health protection as those produced domestically, reinforcing the USDA’s commitment to food safety and consumer protection.