JFS-B Puls Audit and Conformity Assessment
Program Provision
Ver.1.0

Japan Food Safety Management AssociationMay 29, 20240Contents
1. PROGRAM OUTLINE ....................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Features of this Program .............................................................................................................. 2
1.3 Standard Documents and Applicable Sectors ............................................................................. 2
2． PROGRAM OWNERSHIP REGULATIONS ................................................................................. 3
3． REQUIREMENTS FOR AUDIT COMPANY ................................................................................ 3
4. AUDIT AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................. 35. Requirements for Personnel............................................................................................................... 3
5.1 Competence Requirements for Auditor or Reviewer ...................................................................... 3
5.2 Auditor or Reviewer Registration ................................................................................................ 3
5.3

Renewal and Suspension of Reviewer Registration ................................................................. 4

5.4 Withdrawal of Auditor / Reviewer Registration .......................................................................... 4
5.5

Cancellation of Registration of Auditors and Reviewers .......................................................... 45.6

Requirements for Competent Assessors .................................................................................... 4

Annex1 Determination of Audit man-hours of JFS-B Plus standard. ................................................ 5Annex 2 Audit and Conformity Assessment Flow and Procedure ...................................................... 5Annex 3 Standard Documents and Applicable Sectors ........................................................................ 5Annex 4

Scope of Conforming Assessment, Experience in Work Related to Food Safety(Requirements for Auditors and Reviewers)............................................................................................ 5Annex 5 Experience in working with food safety for auditors and reviewers .................................... 51

1. PROGRAM OUTLINE
1.1 Purpose
JFS-B Plus Audit and Conformity Assessment Program Provision (hereinafter referred to as the"Program provision") is a program established by the Japan Food Safety Management Association(hereinafter referred to as "JFSM") which verifies that food-related business operators are implementing
food safety management systems that conform to the requirements of JFS-B Plus Standards utilizing
third-party audits conducted by audit companies approved by JFSM. JFS-B Plus is a standard that adds
to the JFS-B standard the requirements for organizations in capacity building programs developed byinternational industry associations for food-related businesses.
This program provision provides for special exceptions to the latest JFS Audit and ConformityAssessment Program Document (hereinafter referred to as "conformity assessment program
document"), and any matters not provided for in these Rules shall be in accordance with the provisionsof the conformity assessment program document.
1.2 Features of this Program
The main features of this program are that the auditor conducting the audit can provide guidance andadvice to the organization in the audit, and consulting by the audit company. This ensures theindependence of the audit and consulting services and maintains the impartiality of the audit, thereby
ensuring its credibility as a third-party audit.
The program provision also aims to standardize food safety management systems throughout the
food chain, promote HACCP initiatives recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, further
improve food safety management levels, and optimize food safety-related costs through audits andconformity assessment. The letter of conformance can be used as proof of conformity to therequirements of the JFS standard for the organization's business partners, and the auditing company
issuing the letter of conformance is responsible for the adequacy and validity of the letter ofconformance.
1.3 Standard Documents and Applicable Sectors
The audit standard in this program is JFS-B Plus standard. The corresponding sectors and subsectors
are sector: CI~CIV/K.

2

2． PROGRAM OWNERSHIP REGULATIONSIn accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

3． REQUIREMENTS FOR AUDIT COMPANY
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

4. AUDIT AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

5. Requirements for Personnel
5.1 Competence Requirements for Auditor or Reviewer
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
5.2 Auditor or Reviewer Registration(1) Initial registration
The audit company evaluates whether the person has the competence stipulated in 5.1 by thefollowing method, and submits an application for registration of the auditor to JFSM along withdocuments supporting the evaluation.
If a person whose registration as an auditor/reviewer has been suspended due to the requirements
in 5.4 (1) (ii) or (3) or a person whose registration as an auditor/reviewer has been withdrew due tothe requirements in 5.5 (1) registers for the first time, the completion of correction of the nonconformitythat was the reason for suspension or revocation shall be confirmed and the record of such correction
shall be submitted to JFSM.
① Confirm that the prospective auditor has completed JFS-A/B audit training and the gap training(JFSM plan to co-develop the training contents of mutual recognition auditor/reviewer.)
conducted by a training organization approved by JFSM or designated by JFSM within the past
10 years. Or confirm that the candidate has been registered with another audit company as anauditor for the sector concerned under JFSM standards.
②～④ In accordance with 5.2（1）②～④ of the provisions of the conformity assessment program.
One person may be registered as an auditor and a reviewer at the same time. The audit company
shall maintain a record of these assessments and shall submit this record to JFSM if requested byJFSM.

(2) Maintaining registration（Requirements for auditors in the JFS-A/B standard）① To maintain audit competence, auditors must conduct at least one audit per year of the foodmanufacturing sector or the chemical manufacturing sector according to JFS standards (JFS3A/B or JFS-B plus). Auditors who have not performed at least one audit engagement per year
shall complete maintenance training.
②③ In accordance with 5.2（2）②③ of the provisions of the conformity assessment program(3) Competence assessment of auditors (Requirements for auditors in the JFS-A/B standard)
The audit company shall have a mechanism for a competence auditor, as defined in 5.6, toperiodically attend the auditor's audits (JFS-A/B or JFS-B plus) and evaluate the auditor's auditing
skills. This mechanism shall include one assessment within three years of initial registration and at
least once every five years thereafter. Include a mechanism for training or reassessment on a riskbased basis (for example, when competence is called into question during JFSM office audits,
complaints, reviews in judgments, internal audit reviews, etc.).
(4) Expansion of Sector or Subsector
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
5.3

Renewal and Suspension of Reviewer Registration(1) Initial registration
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
(2) Maintaining registration① To maintain competence in reviewing, reviewers must conduct at least one review per year
using JFS standards (JFS-A/B or JFS-B plus) in the food manufacturing sector or the chemical
product manufacturing sector. Reviewers who have not conducted at least one review per year
shall complete maintenance training.
②③ In accordance with 5.3（2）②③ of the provisions of the conformity assessment program
document.
(3) Assessment of the competence of reviewers
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
5.4 Withdrawal of Auditor / Reviewer Registration
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
5.5

Cancellation of Registration of Auditors and Reviewers

In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.
5.6

Requirements for Competent Assessors

In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

4Annex1 Determination of Audit man-hours of JFS-B Plus standard.
For initial, Surveillance, and renewal audits, at least 0.25 man-days shall be added to the audit man-days
specified in Annex 1 of the Conformity Certification Program Document for the total of preparation and onsite audits.
Other requirements are in accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program
document.

Annex 2 Audit and Conformity Assessment Flow and Procedure
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

Annex 3 Standard Documents and Applicable Sectors
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

Annex 4 Scope of Conforming Assessment, Experience in Work Related to Food Safety(Requirements for Auditors and Reviewers)
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

Annex 5 Experience in working with food safety for auditors and reviewers
In accordance with the provisions of the conformity assessment program document.

Disclaimer：This translated document is provided for information purposes only. In the event of a differenceof interpretation or a dispute, the original Japanese version of this document is binding.

5Supplementary provision
Revision history
Document Number

Revision Number

Revision Date

Details

PR_102_03_R00_en

R00

2024/05/29

First Edition6