Lesson 1: Introduction to Inspection
Topic 3: Authority to Inspect
In this topic, we will discuss who has the authority to inspect and the qualifications every inspector needs.
Objectives:
- Participants will recognize who has the responsibility and the authority to inspect.
Now that you know a little more about the goals of inspection, it is time to discuss who has the authority to perform inspections and use the results to make decisions about the fate of consignments.
According to ISPM 23 section 1.3, each country’s NPPO has the sole responsibility and authority to carry out the inspections of consignments. This means that either the NPPO itself must perform the inspections or a qualified group authorized by the NPPO must perform the inspections. Why do the inspectors need authority from the NPPO in order for inspections to be valid? Could not any plant expert perform an inspection? The answer is no, because to be a successful trading partner, every country must maintain a consistent, trustworthy inspection program that other trading partners can rely on. It is the responsibility of the NPPO to provide training and oversight to ensure that every inspector is doing his or her job correctly and in alignment with government policies.
In this topic, we discussed who has the authority to inspect and the qualifications every inspector needs. It is important for each country’s NPPO to carefully oversee and train their inspectors so that inspections are consistent and accurate. This involves continuing education and keeping the NPPO guidelines as current as possible in order to maintain a trustworthy inspection program.
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