In today’s fast-paced industry, companies require multiple certifications to meet regulatory, safety, and market access requirements. A food manufacturer, for instance, would typically need the following essential certifications:
- FSSC 22000: A globally recognized food safety management certification.
- SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification: Ensures rigorous food safety and quality management.
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points): Identifies and controls food safety hazards.
Halal Certification: Ensures compliance with Islamic dietary laws.
These are just a few of the certification schemes manufacturers need to adhere to. Each certification scheme above requires managing separate audits, SOPs, and having separate points of contact. This is extremely time-consuming, costly, and at times, overwhelming.
This is where CGA’s integrated audits come in.
What really is an integrated audit?
An integrated audit allows businesses to streamline their certification process by combining multiple audits, such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, SQF, Halal, Non-GMO, and Gluten-Free, into a single, efficient assessment. This approach not only saves time and money but also minimizes audit fatigue for employees while ensuring full compliance across various standards.
This comprehensive guide breaks down how CGA’s integrated audits work and why they are the future of quality assurance.
What Is a CGA Integrated Audit?
A CGA Integrated Audit is a comprehensive and streamlined certification process designed to evaluate multiple compliance standards within a single audit. Instead of conducting separate assessments for food safety, quality assurance, halal compliance, and other industry-specific requirements, CGA auditors combine these evaluations into one efficient and thorough process.
This integrated approach eliminates redundancy, reduces the time spent on multiple audits, and ensures a cohesive compliance strategy across different regulatory frameworks. Companies operating in highly regulated industries, such as food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and cosmetics, can benefit from a single, well-structured audit that meets multiple certification needs at once.
Key Benefits of a CGA Integrated Audit
Here are key benefits of the CGA integrated audit approach:
Time Efficiency:
Instead of scheduling and preparing for multiple independent audits throughout the year, businesses can undergo one comprehensive audit that covers all required standards in a single assessment. This significantly reduces downtime, allowing teams to focus on operations and quality improvements rather than constant audit preparations.
Cost Savings:
Conducting separate audits for different certifications can be expensive. A CGA Integrated Audit reduces overall costs by consolidating efforts into a single engagement, cutting down on auditor travel expenses, administrative fees, and operational disruptions.
Audit Fatigue Reduction:
When employees face multiple audits within a short timeframe, it can lead to stress, reduced productivity, and inconsistencies in compliance preparation. An integrated audit minimizes disruptions, allowing employees to focus on their core responsibilities without the burden of repetitive assessments.
Stronger Risk Management:
Food safety, quality, and halal compliance often overlap in critical risk areas, such as supply chain integrity, contamination control, and production line management. A CGA Integrated Audit takes a holistic view of these risks, ensuring that all regulatory and certification requirements are aligned and effectively managed under a single, structured approach.
Simplified Compliance:
Instead of juggling multiple audit reports from various certification bodies, businesses receive one consolidated audit report that covers all required certifications. This makes it easier to review findings, implement corrective actions, and maintain compliance records for future regulatory checks and business partners.
CGA’s expert auditors have specialized knowledge in integrating food safety, quality, and halal compliance under one audit process. By choosing an integrated audit, businesses can achieve higher efficiency, stronger regulatory alignment, and smoother certification renewals, without any unnecessary complexity.
Examples of Certification Schemes That Can Be Integrated
Below are some of the most commonly integrated certification schemes, covering food safety, quality, and market-specific regulatory standards.
| Certification Scheme | Purpose | Key Compliance Areas | Market Importance |
| Halal + GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) | Ensures compliance with Islamic dietary laws while meeting manufacturing best practices for hygiene and quality control. | – Use of halal-compliant ingredients- Cross-contamination prevention- Facility hygiene and sanitation- Documentation and traceability requirements | Essential for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic manufacturers to ensure both halal integrity and manufacturing excellence. |
| Halal + SQF (Safe Quality Food) | Provides a comprehensive approach to both halal compliance and internationally recognized food safety management. | – HACCP-based risk assessment- Halal ingredient verification- Supply chain monitoring- Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) | Recognized by GFSI and required by global food retailers, manufacturers, and QSR brands to meet both halal and food safety requirements. |
| Halal + BRCGS | Ensures compliance with halal dietary laws while adhering to one of the most rigorous food safety and quality standards. | – Halal slaughtering and processing verification- Supplier traceability and risk assessment- Hygiene and allergen control- Food fraud prevention | Required by major global retailers like Tesco, Walmart, and Carrefour. Helps businesses expand into high-value global markets. |
| Halal + Non-GMO Certification | Verifies that products are both halal-certified and free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). | – Ingredient verification for both halal compliance and non-GMO status- Traceability across the supply chain- Cross-contamination prevention- Non-GMO labeling and compliance | Essential for brands targeting health-conscious consumers, organic food markets, and regulatory compliance in regions with GMO restrictions. |
| Halal + Gluten-Free Certification | Ensures that products are both halal-compliant and gluten-free, meeting the needs of diverse consumer groups. | – Sourcing of gluten-free, halal-certified ingredients– Prevention of cross-contamination in facilities- Routine gluten testing and validation- Compliance with both halal and gluten-free labeling requirements | Required for businesses targeting specialty health and wellness markets, including North America, Europe, and Australia. |
| Halal + IFS (International Featured Standards) Certification | Ensures compliance with halal and food safety standards while addressing logistics, packaging, and supply chain controls. | – Food defense and security measures- Risk management for allergens and halal integrity- Monitoring of production and logistics processes | Recognized by major European retailers such as Aldi, Lidl, and Metro. Important for suppliers of private-label and packaged food products. |
| Halal + ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System) | Establishes a globally recognized framework integrating halal certification with international food safety management protocols. | – Halal hazard identification and risk assessment- Supplier compliance and procurement control- Continuous improvement strategies for food safety and halal assurance | Globally recognized by regulatory bodies, multinational food manufacturers, and international retailers, ensuring long-term compliance and market access. |
The Detailed Step-by-Step Process of an Integrated Audit
The integrated audit, while being cost-effective and resource friendly, is still a sophisticated approach that combines multiple certification requirements into a single, cohesive assessment.
CGA follows a structured workflow to ensure the integrated audit is thorough and well-coordinated. Below is a step-by-step guide through the integrated audit process, from preparation to certification and beyond:
- Pre-Audit Preparation:
The journey to a successful integrated audit begins long before the auditors arrive on site. Preparation is critical. Companies start by reviewing the requirements of all the standards in scope (for example, SQF, halal, and any other applicable schemes) and making sure their Integrated Management System is fully implemented to meet those requirements.
Internal audits are a key part of preparation – the company should perform rigorous internal audits or mock audits that cover all standards, ideally simulating the integrated approach that the external audit will use.
This helps identify gaps or non-conformities in advance. Management should also ensure that all documentation is up-to-date and organized. A common saying is “audit ready all year,” but at minimum, in the weeks leading up to the audit, teams will double-check that procedures, manuals, and records are complete. It’s wise to get all documents in order before the audit takes place to avoid last-minute scrambling, which can cause stress and make the company appear disorganized
- Defining Audit Scope and Objectives:
Early in the process, there is a step to clearly define the scope and objectives of the integrated audit, in collaboration with the certification body. This happens during audit planning and again at the opening meeting once auditors are on-site. For an integrated audit, scope definition is crucial because it must encompass multiple certification criteria at once.
The audit team will outline which standards are being audited (e.g., “This will be a combined audit of SQF (food safety) and halal certification (quality) across all production lines and warehouses at the XYZ facility”). Any exclusions or scope limitations are noted (for instance, if a certain product line is out of scope). The objectives are aligned with fulfilling all those standards’ requirements and verifying the effectiveness of the integrated management system. Essentially, the auditors and the company need a mutual understanding that “we are conducting one audit that will evaluate X, Y, and Z standards together.”
A mapping exercise is sometimes done ahead of time, identifying overlapping requirements and unique requirements – so that the audit can be structured efficiently. Aligning on scope also involves ensuring the audit team has the right expertise (e.g. a lead auditor who is qualified in all the relevant standards, or a team of subject specialists). A properly defined scope prevents confusion; everyone knows that, for example, the facility tour will cover food safety and safety compliance at once, or that document review will include quality manuals alongside HACCP plans. Setting these expectations is part of the audit objective: to confirm the integrated management system meets each standard fully. .
- On-Site Audit Execution:
This is the core of the process, where auditors are on the factory floor and in conference rooms assessing the company’s compliance. An integrated audit is executed in a way that maximizes efficiency and minimizes duplication.
Typically, the audit kicks off with an opening meeting with management, during which the lead auditor reiterates the scope and schedule, introduces the audit team, and confirms that resources (like guides, documents, and interviewees) are available.
Then the on-site examination begins. CGA’s auditors will often take a process-based approach, following the product or process flow through the facility and evaluating relevant controls as they go. Because this is an integrated audit, the auditor might carry a combined checklist that covers requirements from multiple standards.
- Data Collection and Analysis:
As the audit proceeds, a large amount of data and evidence is collected. This includes documents reviewed (like procedures, records, test results), observations made during the facility walkthrough, and interviews summarized. In an integrated audit, data collection is organized so that evidence can be cross-referenced to multiple standards when applicable.
For instance, a training record might satisfy a requirement in the food safety standard (ensuring competent personnel for CCP monitoring) and in the quality standard (competence for quality inspections). Auditors will mark that record as evidence for both. After the active auditing (site tours, interviews) is done, the audit team sets aside time to analyze and consolidate their findings.
They discuss any potential nonconformities: Was a particular issue a breach of one standard, or multiple? Often, an issue might relate to the integrated system itself. For example, suppose cleaning schedules were found not followed – this could be recorded as a non-conformance against food safety procedures and also indicates a lapse in the internal audit program (a management system issue).
The CGA audit team evaluates severity and scope of each finding, sometimes using a risk-based lens (critical food safety issues are flagged with high priority, for example). They also ensure they have collected enough evidence for positive compliance in each area – noting strong conformity as well as weaknesses.
The result of this analysis is a clear list of audit findings categorized by standard and significance. The team cross-checks that all audit objectives were met – i.e., did we cover everything we set out to? This step is about turning raw observations into a coherent picture of performance. By the end, the auditors have a solid understanding of how well the company’s integrated system is working and where the compliance gaps (if any) lie. Then they prepare to feed this back to the company.
- Reporting and Findings:
After analyzing the evidence, the audit team compiles the audit report. For integrated audits, CGA provides a consolidated audit report that encompasses all standards in the scope. Instead of issuing separate reports (one for each certification), there is typically one comprehensive report, however, it will clearly segregate findings by standard or specify which standard each finding pertains to, to maintain clarity.
The report will include an executive summary describing the overall effectiveness of the integrated management system and whether the audit objectives were met. It will list any non-conformities or observations, referencing the applicable clause of each standard.
For CGA, this integrated reporting approach also reflects their commitment to audit efficiency – one audit event, one report. (Do note that even with one report, a company that passes will still receive separate certificates for each standard achieved, as required – the integrated audit simply made it possible to earn them all at once.
- Certification Issuance and Ongoing Compliance:
After a successful integrated audit and closure of any findings, CGA will proceed to issue certifications for each standard that was included in the audit. Essentially, the company achieves multiple certifications at once. For example, they might receive an SQF certificate and a halal certificate, each stating the scope of certification. Even though the audit was integrated, each certificate is maintained separately in line with accreditation rules
Achieving these certifications is a significant milestone as it reflects the organization’s commitment to a high level of compliance and quality. However, certification is not the end of the process; it’s the beginning of a continuous cycle. The company now enters the certification maintenance phase, which includes surveillance audits (typically annually or semi-annually) and eventual re-certification audits (e.g., every three years for ISO standards).
Often, these follow-up audits are also conducted in an integrated manner to ensure ongoing synergy. To maintain compliance, the company should continue with its internal audit program, covering all parts of the integrated system regularly. Management reviews should be held to evaluate performance across quality, food safety, and other areas together.
Who Should Consider Integrated Audits?
Integrated audits aren’t just for large multinationals. They’re for any organization juggling multiple certifications while aiming to reduce complexity, improve compliance, and gain a strategic edge.
1. Companies with Multiple Certifications
If your company is certified (or planning to be certified) under two or more schemes—like SQF, GMP, Halal, ISO 9001, Gluten-free, Vegan, or Non-GMO—then an integrated audit is a no-brainer. Managing separate audits wastes time, duplicates work, and increases audit fatigue. An integrated audit streamlines all of it.
2. Export-Driven Manufacturers
Exporters need to meet a wide range of global regulatory and market-access standards. A single facility might need Halal certification for Southeast Asia and Gluten-Free for North America. Integrated audits allow these businesses to consolidate efforts into one streamlined event, reducing delays in market entry and simplifying global compliance.
3. High-Risk or Highly Regulated Industries
Industries like food processing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and packaging are under constant scrutiny. For these sectors, overlapping audits are common—and risky. An integrated audit not only reduces regulatory burden but also offers a more complete risk management picture by aligning food safety, quality, and religious or ethical compliance into a unified strategy.
4. Companies with Mature Management Systems
If your organization already has a strong internal audit program, document control, and management reviews in place, an integrated audit builds on that foundation. You already manage multiple systems, why not certify them together? The return on efficiency is significant.
5. Businesses Seeking Operational Efficiency
Integrated audits are ideal for companies undergoing Lean transformations, cost-cutting, or digital transformation initiatives. Why? Because they reveal system-wide inefficiencies and redundancies that traditional, siloed audits miss. For forward-looking companies, integrated audits aren’t just a compliance tool—they’re a performance accelerator.
6. Companies Preparing for Re-Certification or Expansion
If your business is about to undergo re-certification or planning to add new standards to its portfolio (e.g., Halal + FSSC or Non-GMO + Gluten-Free), it’s the perfect time to switch to an integrated model. This approach avoids audit fatigue, ensures that all new and existing certifications are aligned, and minimizes operational disruption.
Real-World Case Studies
Integrated auditing isn’t just a theoretical idea; many companies have already realized tangible benefits from this approach:
Case 1 of 3 – 15% increase in throughput with an integrated food safety auditOne noteworthy example is a large poultry processing company in New Zealand that underwent a comprehensive, integrated food safety audit of its operations. By implementing the audit’s recommendations across the board (from better protective equipment policies to improved training), the company was able to increase its processing throughput by 15% – effectively processing more birds per day with the same resources. This efficiency gain was a direct result of viewing their processes holistically and eliminating inefficiencies identified during the integrated audit. The same changes not only sped up production but also improved safety and compliance, showing the multi-faceted impact of the audit findings.
Case 2 of 3 – Significant cost savings with integrated auditsThe cost impact of integrated improvements can be substantial. In the poultry processor’s case, the audit-driven changes (such as proper fit of gloves and smocks, which reduced injuries and fatigue) led to a sharp drop in worker injuries and absenteeism, saving the company over $400,000 annually in reduced worker turnover and health costs. These savings far outweigh the investment in the audit and improvements. Moreover, because an integrated audit replaces multiple separate audits, companies also save on audit fees and staff time. As one certification body notes, an integrated audit can lower overall certification costs for a business by cutting out redundant audit days and efforts. Fewer days of external auditors on-site and less preparation for multiple audits means direct financial savings.
Case 3 of 3 – Compliance enhancements with an integrated audit
A global beverage company (Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc.) found that integrating its food safety certification (FSSC 22000) with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), and ISO 45001 (safety) into a single management system improved its overall compliance and risk management. In collaboration with certification experts, the company observed that having a truly integrated framework drives better quality and efficiency and helps reduce both current and future risks. Essentially, meeting multiple standards in one system created a stronger, more unified compliance program. Many organizations report that after an integrated audit, they have fewer repeat findings and improved audit outcomes in subsequent years. For example, the poultry processor mentioned above also updated its food safety programs and instituted routine annual audits and training to maintain those high standards, leading to sustained compliance and brand protection.
Traditional Audit vs CGA Integrated Audit Table
| Aspect | Traditional Audit | CGA Integrated (Combined) Audit |
| Audit Frequency | Multiple audits scheduled throughout the year for each standard (e.g., SQF, GMP, Gluten-free, Halal, etc ). | One audit scheduled annually or biannually covering all certifications in scope. |
| Audit Duration | Longer total duration when all audits are summed individually. | Shorter total duration by eliminating redundant checks and overlapping assessments. |
| Audit Teams | Different auditors for each standard, sometimes from different certification bodies. | One unified audit team qualified across multiple schemes (e.g., food safety, halal, quality). |
| Audit Preparation | Separate preparation efforts for each audit—more SOPs, more documentation. | Streamlined preparation with a single integrated management system and documentation set. |
| Employee Impact | Increased disruption; staff repeatedly pulled into audits, causing fatigue. | Reduced disruption; fewer audit days and more efficient interviews and walkthroughs. |
| Audit Scope | Narrow scope per audit—each certification reviewed in isolation. | Broad, holistic scope covering multiple compliance areas at once. |
| Document Review | Repetitive—many documents reviewed more than once in separate audits. | Efficient—shared documentation reviewed once, mapped across all relevant standards. |
| On-Site Activities | Multiple facility tours, repeated interviews, duplicate checks. | Streamlined site tour and process-based evaluation covering all standards. |
| Audit Report | Multiple reports, each from a different body, with potential inconsistencies. | Consolidated report with findings clearly marked per standard—simpler to review and act upon. |
| Corrective Actions | Separate CAPAs per audit—slower to implement and harder to track. | Unified CAPA strategy—easier to manage, track, and implement improvements across systems. |
| Certification Costs | Higher—pay for each audit separately, including auditor travel and admin fees. | Lower—single audit visit, shared overhead, and reduced operational downtime. |
| Risk Management | Fragmented view—risks assessed separately, missing interrelated issues. | Holistic view—risks across food safety, halal, and quality systems assessed in an integrated framework. |
| System Improvement | Disjointed—improvements tend to be standard-specific and slower to implement. | Cohesive—improvements span multiple systems, leading to greater operational gains. |
| Compliance Synergy | Low—overlapping requirements handled redundantly. | High—overlaps handled once, boosting overall compliance and performance. |
| Audit Fatigue | High—frequent audits cause stress and reduce team efficiency. | Low—fewer audit disruptions, better focus on operations and compliance. |
| Certification Timeline | Longer—multiple audits may delay obtaining all necessary certifications. | Faster—certifications issued together upon successful completion of the integrated audit. |
| Ideal For | Companies with multiple certifications and a strong need for efficiency, synergy, and resource savings. |
The CGA Solution
CGA’s integrated audit services are designed for companies that refuse to settle for fragmented compliance. CGA brings together best-in-class expertise across SQF, Halal, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan, IFS, and more, all under one coordinated framework.
To obtain a quotation, request more information, or get started — contact CGA and discover how integrated audits can reduce costs and simplify certification for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. CGA’s integrated audits are flexible. You can begin with two standards—such as Halal and SQF—and add more (e.g., Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan) in future audit cycles as your operations evolve.
Absolutely. While the audit process is integrated, CGA issues separate certificates for each standard in compliance with accreditation requirements. This ensures full recognition by retailers, regulators, and international buyers.
Each standard is evaluated independently within the integrated audit. If non-conformities are found in one area (e.g., SQF), that part may require corrective action before certification is granted. However, it won’t necessarily affect certifications for other schemes unless there’s systemic overlap.
Yes, it’s recommended to implement an Integrated Management System (IMS) that aligns the requirements of all your certification schemes. CGA can support you in designing or adapting an IMS tailored to your scope and scale.
Yes. Integrated audits are increasingly preferred by multinational retailers, governments, and regulatory bodies—as long as the certification body is properly accredited, like CGA is. They demonstrate operational maturity and reduce audit fatigue on both sides.
Preparation time varies based on how aligned your current systems are. On average, companies transitioning from traditional audits may need 6–12 weeks of preparation, including internal gap assessments and documentation harmonization. CGA offers pre-audit consultations to speed up this process.
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