National Audit Systems and Internal Auditing - eLearning module

This eLearning course will improve participants’ knowledge on:

  • Necessary steps to ensure a risk-based planning of audit programmes.
  • Practical tools for the auditing of the effective implementation and suitability of official controls.
  • The importance of the implementation of an effective follow-up system for audit recommendations.
  • The requirements of a system of independent scrutiny and best practice.
  • The need for transparency of the audit process outside the auditing organisation and identify the requirements for compliance within this area.

Features

  • Average duration: 5 hours
Online
  • 6 Units
  • Self-Paced
  • Multimedia
Available in:

How to Register

  • This course is open for self-registration. Use the "Enrol me" button.
  • For any enquiries please send a message to HADEA-BTSF-ACADEMY-SUPPORT@ec.europa.eu and the BTSF ACADEMY Team will be glad to assist you.

National Audit Systems and Internal Auditing

The overall project objective is to assist in increasing awareness and providing Member States with effective tools to address the shortcomings on NAS and on internal audits, and to enhance the current systems, as well as the overall strategy of the BTSF initiative, the following objectives for this training course have been formulated:

  • To ensure the quality, suitability and improving the consistency and effectiveness of official controls.
  • To further reflect on risk-based planning of audit programs and transparency of the audit process outside the organization.
  • To help ensure that audit arrangements are optimized to provide credible, reliable results that have a positive impact on the effectiveness and consistency of official controls.
  • To highlight the need to have a strong management commitment to the follow-up of audit recommendations.
  • To address the legal requirements for independence scrutiny of the audit process
Content 

The course addresses the following topics:

  • Be able to review audit processes and organization of audit systems.
  • Understand and apply the concepts of measuring the effectiveness of official controls.
  • Understand evidence-based findings - audit evidence.
  • Be aware of root-cause analysis, methods of root-cause analysis, usefulness and applicability to audits.
  • Understand the drafting of conclusions and recommendations.
  • Understand audit reporting.
  • Know the audit techniques relating to, but not necessarily limited to, the above activities.
  • Understand audit resources, auditor competence & auditor characteristics.
Target audience

This training course has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.

  • Officials involved in audits of official controls, at national, regional, or local competent authorities.
  • Be nationals from EU Member States (MS), Candidate countries, Potential candidate countries, or from EFTA/EEA/countries with special agreements, selected Eastern Partnership and Southern Neighborhood signatory countries with the EU.
  • Be working in an audit of official controls unit.
  • Be technical expert seconded to an audit team to provide technical expertise to the audit team in the fields covered under the Official Control Regulation
  • Inspectors directly involved in the practical implementation of these topics.
Calendar and locations
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 06/10/2025 10/10/2025 Sofia Bulgaria
2 03/11/2025 07/11/2025 Trim Ireland
3 01/12/2025 05/12/2025 Athens Greece
4 26/01/2026 30/01/2026 Valetta Malta
5 23/02/2026 27/02/2026 Lisbon Portugal
6 23/03/2026 27/03/2026 Bratislava Slovakia
7 20/04/2026 24/04/2026 Krakow Poland
8 18/05/2026 22/05/2026 Trim Ireland
9 15/06/2026 25/06/2026 Zoom -

Audit - follow up of Dir F recommendations

BTSF online training on Audit - follow up of Dir F recommendations

This workshop is aimed at MS contact points responsible for the follow-up of DG SANTE Audit Recommendations. It will provide a better understanding of:

  • How follow-up fits within the audit process.
  • The different types of recommendations and consequently the different types of evidence needed to provide assurance that action has been taken.
  • The need for clarity in communicating actions to address recommendations.

It also aims to propose ways that follow-up can become more efficient and effective in future.

Audit system and basics for performing a detailed audit

The overall objectives of the BTSF training course on Setting-up and implementation of an audit system and basics for performing a detailed audit are: To disseminate best practices for auditing procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union. The training is aimed to assist in developing a consistent approach across the Member States and in providing assurances that the audit findings in different reports are of comparable value.

Extended Objectives are:

  • To provide for a common understanding of the current state of play of suitable tools and approaches to address outbreaks of priority pests in the EU territory;
  • To assess and identify generic (and specific) eradication and containment measures;
  • To give the opportunity to trainees to compare key elements of contingency plans and other preparedness elements elaborated by their respective Member States in order to identify and share best practices;
  • To share best practices of the structure of contingency plans and response to crisis situations in food safety and animal health sectors
Content 

The course addresses the following topics:

  • What is an Audit, auditing principles, audit types and auditing bodies
  • Audits at EU Level. Main findings and recommendations from DG SANTE audits of NAS in MS
  • EU Legal Framework, NAS Reference Documents and International Standards
  • Organization of internal audit systems
  • Fundamental Process of audit under ISO 19011/ 2011. Role of IIA
  • Setting up an Internal Audit Function - Organizational requirements - Nature of Audit Process
  • Risk Based Audit Programming
  • Implementation of Audit Process
  • Compliance with planned arrangements
  • Effective implementation, Suitability to achieve objectives
  • Audit Reporting and Follow-up; Audit Review and Dissemination of Best Practice
  • Audit Resources, Auditor Competence
  • Measuring the effectiveness of official controls
Target audience

This training course has been addressed to officials of the EU Member States, Candidate Countries, EEA/EFTA countries, Potential Candidate, Eastern neighbouring and Mediterranean basin countries, and selected non- EU countries who are directly involved in auditing of official controls

Calendar and locations
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 13/12/2021 17/12/2021 VC Zoom
2 14/02/2022 18/02/2022 VC Zoom
3 07/03/2022 11/03/2022 VC Zoom
6 30/05/2022 03/06/2022 Bologna Italy
8 10/10/2022 14/10/2022 Barcelona Spain
10 05/12/2022 09/12/2022 Rome Italy
12 27/03/203 31/03/2023 Riga Latvia

Audit system - Internal auditing (Advanced)

The overall objectives of the BTSF training course on Developing advanced skills to conduct a detailed audit to verify the effective and suitable implementation of official controls by the relevant control authorities are: To disseminate best practices for auditing procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union. The training is aimed to assist in developing a consistent approach across the Member States and in providing assurances that the audit findings in different reports are of comparable value.

Extended Objectives are:

  • Provide knowledge on the requirements of Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and practical solutions for consistent and effective implementation;
  • Provide in-depth insight of the current and future challenges experienced within the EU control systems in implementing Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and solutions to overcome these challenges;
  • Provide knowledge on how to ensure a minimum quality level for national audit systems (NAS);
  • Stress the difference between pure compliance audit and performance audit;
  • Spread good practices between MS in achieving an operational internal audit system which is capable of assessing the suitability and effectiveness of official controls carried out under Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Content

The course addresses the following topics:

  • Audits at EU Level. Main findings and recommendations from DG SANTE audits ofNAS in MS
  • EU Legal Framework, NAS Reference Documents and International Standards
  • Review of Audit Process and organization of the Audit System
  • Risk Based Audit Programming
  • Independence and Independent Scrutiny ofthe Audit Process
  • Measuring the effectiveness of official controls
  • Compliance with planned arrangements and suitability to achieve objectives
  • Evidence based Findings, Audit Evidence
  • Root-cause analysis, methods of root- cause analysis, usefulness and applicability to audit
  • Conclusions and recommendations
  • Audit Reporting & Dissemination
  • Audit Management and Review
  • PDCA benefitsto continuous improvement of the audit system
  • How can the NAS respond to crisis along the food chain
Target audience

This training course is addressed to staff of competent authorities of the EU Member States and Candidate Countries involved in official control activities under the NAS.

Calendar and locations
Session Start Date End Date City Country
4 04/04/2022 08/04/2022 VC Zoom
5 09/05/2022 13/05/2022 VC Zoom
7 12/09/2022 16/09/2022 Lisbon Portugal
9 7/11/2022 11/11/2022 Bratislava Slovakia
11 27/02/2023 03/03/2023 Rome Italy
13 01/05/2023 05/05/2023 Warsaw Poland