Post-Audit Playbook: Understanding Your Certification Timeline

What This Webinar Covers:

This webinar walks through what happens after your audit ends and before your certificate arrives and the five-stage post-audit journey from audit report to certificate issuance. Presented by Evan Richman, PJRFSI’s Food Safety Program Coordinator, and Joel Verke, PJRFSI’s Commercial Business Manager, the session breaks down the behind-the-scenes process so clients know exactly what to expect and when.

What You’ll Learn:

• The five stages of the post-audit journey: audit report, non-conformity closure, certificate decision, package review, and certificate issuance
• Standard-by-standard timelines for NC closure and certification decisions (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC, GLOBALG.A.P.)
• How the clock is counted – calendar days from the last day of the on-site audit, not business days
• Where your audit report goes after approval (public and private database uploads by standard)
• What triggers package review delays, including outstanding balances, unsigned documents, and certificate sample corrections
• How ownership changes, site changes, and scope changes affect your certification and when they require an amendment, scope extension, or new audit
• The 30-day certificate sample approval window and why quick turnaround matters

Key Takeaways:

• Published timelines are outer limits set by scheme holders, not goals – PJRFSI works to beat them
• Open balances are one of the most common reasons certificates are delayed, so keeping your account current speeds up issuance
• Reviewing your certificate sample carefully and reporting errors immediately prevents downstream delays
• Proactively communicating changes in ownership, site details, or scope of certification – before your next audit – avoids surprises and rescheduling
• Providing more than one point of contact helps ensure certificate communications don’t get missed

Presented By:

Evan Richman
Food Safety Program Coordinator, PJRFSI

Joel Verke
Commercial Business Manager, PJRFSI