NVWA: strong compliance with rules may mean fewer inspections

Companies that demonstrate compliance with the rules may receive fewer on-site NVWA inspections. An effective quality management system can make a difference. But what exactly does a company need to have in place? State Secretary Silvio Erkens explains the conditions in his answers to parliamentary questions. The options depend in part on the sector.

Compliance assurance determines oversight

Under systems-based supervision, companies take demonstrable responsibility for complying with the rules. The NVWA uses various tools for this, including audits and inspections.

An independent party can, for example, assess business processes or the management system. The NVWA must first have assessed and accepted the control system used. Adjusted oversight may apply to the areas where that party assures compliance.

The options also depend on how well a sector is organized. Knowledge, sector support and safeguards for meeting applicable standards also play a role. According to Erkens, sectors differ too much for a single, measurable compliance standard.

Requirements for private control systems

The NVWA already works with private quality assurance and control systems. Before accepting them, the regulator sets criteria for their use. These depend on the type of system and the industry.

The control system must be independent and able to demonstrate participating companies’ performance. Requirements also cover transparent sanctions and unannounced audits. The system must also monitor the quality of audits and certification bodies. Procedures for self-correction and information sharing with the NVWA are required as well.

On-site inspections help verify performance in practice. What if the information shared indicates that a company or industry is falling short? The NVWA can then step up its oversight again.

Sector-specific implementation

The NVWA already applies a form of systems-based supervision to businesses operating under a shared chain or franchise model. This mainly concerns food safety and product safety. Oversight of export assurance systems is another example. These quality management systems allow companies to maintain their own checks on compliance with export requirements.

The NVWA is assessing which other sectors are suitable for systems-based supervision. Erkens is developing the ‘high trust, high penalty’ principle for each regulatory area. He will explain the approach and the associated criteria in forthcoming letters to Parliament.

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