Plans shared on new common industry audit platform for pork
The idea of the common audit was first introduced at the 2013 National Pork Industry Forum, where it was proposed that the pork board convene a coalition of packers and pork producers to devise a workable solution.
According to the Pork Checkoff, the overarching goal of the common audit process is "to provide consumers greater assurance of the care taken by farmers and pork processors to improve animal care and food safety".
It also seeks to provide clarity to producers with regards to audit standards and expectations, minimise duplication and prevent over-sampling.
The program will use the existing Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) program as its foundation. Its framework has several components, including a new audit tool, requirements for auditor training and biosecurity and a platform that will allow audit results to be shared to prevent duplicative audits.
Chris Novak, chief executive, National Pork Board, said: "As an industry, we know that our consumers are demanding a higher level of integrity from the pork industry’s quality assurance processes and procedures. We are encouraged by the broad support we have received from all our industry’s partners to develop the framework for this process."
He added: "What’s exciting about this common audit framework is that it has truly been the industry coming together to better serve the needs of farmers, customers and consumers."
The Industry Audit Task Force includes producers and veterinarians representing the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, as well as packer representatives from Cargill, Farmland/Smithfield, Hatfield, Hormel, JBS, Seaboard, Triumph and Tyson.
