BTSF online training on Audit - follow up of Dir F recommendations

This workshop is aimed at MS contact points responsible for the follow-up of DG SANTE Audit Recommendations. It will provide a better understanding of:

  • How follow-up fits within the audit process.
  • The different types of recommendations and consequently the different types of evidence needed to provide assurance that action has been taken.
  • The need for clarity in communicating actions to address recommendations.

It also aims to propose ways that follow-up can become more efficient and effective in future.

Audit - follow up of Dir F recommendations

The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on Setting-up and implementation of an audit system and basics for performing a detailed audit is:

To disseminate best practices for auditing procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union. The training is aimed to assist in developing a consistent approach across the Member States and in providing assurances that the audit findings in different reports are of comparable value.

Extended Objectives are: 

  • To provide for a common understanding of the current state of play of suitable tools and approaches to address outbreaks of priority pests in the EU territory;
  • To assess and identify generic (and specific) eradication and containment measures;
  • To give the opportunity to trainees to compare key elements of contingency plans and other preparedness elements elaborated by their respective Member States in order to identify and share best practices;
  • To share best practices of the structure of contingency plans and response to crisis situations in food safety and animal health sectors

The course addresses the following topics:

  • What is an Audit, auditing principles, audit types and auditing bodies
  • Audits at EU Level. Main findings and recommendations from DG SANTE audits of NAS in MS
  • EU Legal Framework, NAS Reference Documents and International Standards
  • Organization of internal audit systems
  • Fundamental Process of audit under ISO 19011/ 2011. Role of IIA
  • Setting up an Internal Audit Function - Organizational requirements - Nature of Audit Process
  • Risk Based Audit Programming
  • Implementation of Audit Process
  • Compliance with planned arrangements
  • Effective implementation, Suitability to achieve objectives
  • Audit Reporting and Follow-up; Audit Review and Dissemination of Best Practice
  •  Audit Resources, Auditor Competence
  • Measuring the effectiveness of official controls

This Training Programme has been addressed to officials of the EU Member States, Candidate Countries, EEA/EFTA countries, Potential Candidate, Eastern neighbouring and Mediterranean basin countries, and selected non- EU countries who are directly involved in auditing of official controls

Session Title Start Date End Date City Country
1 13/12/2021 17/12/2021 VC Zoom
2 14/02/2022 18/02/2022 VC Zoom
3 07/03/2022 11/03/2022 VC Zoom
6 30/05/2022 03/06/2022 Bologna Italy
8 10/10/2022 14/10/2022 Barcelona Spain
10 05/12/2022 09/12/2022 Rome Italy
12 27/03/203 31/03/2023 Riga Latvia
Audit system and basics for performing a detailed audit

The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on Developing advanced skills to conduct a detailed audit to verify the effective and suitable implementation of official controls by the relevant control authorities is:

To disseminate best practices for auditing procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union. The training is aimed to assist in developing a consistent approach across the Member States and in providing assurances that the audit findings in different reports are of comparable value.

Extended Objectives are:

  • Provide knowledge on the requirements of Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and practical solutions for consistent and effective implementation;
  • Provide in-depth insight of the current and future challenges experienced within the EU control systems in implementing Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and solutions to overcome these challenges;
  • Provide knowledge on how to ensure a minimum quality level for national audit systems (NAS);
  • Stress the difference between pure compliance audit and performance audit;
  • Spread good practices between MS in achieving an operational internal audit system which is capable of assessing the suitability and effectiveness of official controls carried out under Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

The course addresses the following topics:

  • Audits at EU Level. Main findings and recommendations from DG SANTE audits ofNAS in MS
  • EU Legal Framework, NAS Reference Documents and International Standards
  • Review of Audit Process and organization of the Audit System
  • Risk Based Audit Programming
  • Independence and Independent Scrutiny ofthe Audit Process
  • Measuring the effectiveness of official controls
  • Compliance with planned arrangements and suitability to achieve objectives
  • Evidence based Findings, Audit Evidence
  • Root-cause analysis, methods of root- cause analysis, usefulness and applicability to audit
  • Conclusions and recommendations
  • Audit Reporting & Dissemination
  • Audit Management and Review
  • PDCA benefitsto continuous improvement of the audit system 
  • How can the NAS respond to crisis along the food chain

This Training Programme is addressed to staff of competent authorities of the EU Member States and Candidate Countries involved in official control activities under the NAS.

Session Start Date End Date City Country
4 04/04/2022 08/04/2022 VC Zoom
5 09/05/2022 13/05/2022 VC Zoom
7 12/09/2022 16/09/2022 Lisbon Portugal
9 7/11/2022 11/11/2022 Bratislava Slovakia
11 27/02/2023 03/03/2023 Rome Italy
13  01/05/2023  05/05/2023 Warsaw  Poland
Audit system - Internal auditing (Advanced)