Leveraging Local Auditing Expertise in Mexico for Seamless Compliance and Cost Efficiency
With diverse geographies and expansive growing seasons, Mexico stands as one of the leading agricultural exporters in the world, topping the 2023 international market with more than 10.25 billion tons of fresh fruits and vegetables exported, namely tomatoes, berries, avocados, and peppers. During that same calendar year, Mexico became the largest exporter of fresh produce to the United States, with Canada and European nations closely following. Wide-ranging regulatory requirements in food safety that come with sourcing products abroad mean that foreign companies with suppliers or growers in Mexico must meet increasingly stringent demands to physically visit and facilitate audits — work that may cause considerable logistical challenges and come with substantial costs. Plus, with such a critical role to play in global food economies, foreign companies with facilities in Mexico are looking for cost-effective, safe, and trustworthy options for improving their auditing experiences abroad.
For nearly 26 years, SCS Global Services has served as a reliable, boots-on-the-ground presence throughout Mexico’s agricultural industry. With offices in Queretaro and expert auditors already present all around Mexico, SCS offers third-party food safety audits and second-party audit services for American, Canadian, and European companies with suppliers or growers in Mexico. In this blog, we explore our auditing presence and work in Mexico along with some of the many benefits available to companies seeking to out-source their auditing in Mexico to SCS.
Hiring Local Auditors in Mexico: The Basics
Local SCS auditors in Mexico have been practicing their profession for decades — and with that experience comes significant benefits for companies in North America and Europe looking to streamline their auditing operations abroad.
By engaging external auditors, such as those already present in Mexico with SCS, organizations benefit from impartial, expert evaluations. This independent perspective not only ensures greater objectivity, but also helps identify gaps or risks that may be missed by internal company auditors sent abroad, ultimately strengthening compliance and enhancing overall operational integrity.
Overcome Resource Constraints
Conducting comprehensive audits in facilities and on farms abroad can place strain on internal teams and resources. Engaging a third-party audit partner empowers your organization to maintain operational focus while ensuring audit excellence. For smaller organizations lacking dedicated auditing staff, experienced external auditors offer invaluable expertise and reliability, conducting thorough assessments that uphold compliance standards and bolster confidence in your supply chain oversight.
Reduce Internal Auditors’ Stress and Frustration with SCS Second Party Audits
Internal auditors being asked to travel abroad to unfamiliar locations, facilities, and farms may experience increased frustration and stress, especially when language barriers and jet lag are unavoidable. Professional second-party auditors on the ground in Mexico specialize in fostering a positive audit environment that supports collaboration with existing audit expectations outlined in internal corporate standards and certifications and — given their proximity to growers and suppliers — they’re ready to step into facilities that might be thousands of miles away from companies requiring audits.
Follow-Up and Implementation
Developing effective action plans from audit findings is essential yet often complex. By leveraging third-party auditors accustomed to living and working in Mexico, organizations benefit from expertly crafted recommendations and structured implementation strategies that have already been communicated in native languages, with a complete understanding not only of cultural norms, but also of all certification and standard requirements. Continuous follow-up is vital to ensuring that corrective actions are properly executed and lasting improvements are achieved. This systematic approach supports ongoing compliance, strengthens supply chain integrity, and helps organizations meet the highest standards in food safety and social responsibility.
Unlock Financial Value with Local Auditors
While the above sections highlight just a few of the myriad benefits resulting from choosing local auditors in Mexico, cost saving tends to be the most widely celebrated benefit. When compared to physically sending internal auditors to Mexico from the US, Canada, or Europe, using SCS auditors already established in and knowledgeable of Mexico, its culture, and the languages can reduce auditing costs by an impressive 40-60%.
| Cost Category | Internal Auditor from North America (e.g., USA, Canada) | Internal Auditor from Europe (e.g., Germany/Netherlands) | Local Third-Party Auditor (Mexico-based) |
|
Round-trip Airfare |
$600–$1,200 | $1,000–$1,600 | $0 (Local travel only) |
| Accommodation (5 nights) | $500–$800 | $500–$800 | $150–$300 |
| Per Diem (Meals/Incidentals) | $250–$400 | $250–$400 | $100–$150 |
| Local Transport | $100–$200 | $100–$200 | $50–$100 |
| Daily Rate (Auditor labor) | Internal cost (salary allocation): $400–$800/day | Internal cost: $400–$900/day | $300–$600/day |
| Admin/Coordination Fees | Often internal (hidden overhead) | Internal (hidden overhead) | $100–$300 (contractual) |
| Total (Estimated for 5-day audit) | $3,350–$6,200 | $3,750–$6,900 | $1,300–$2,800 |
Bespoke Local Audits Made Simple
Our teams in Mexico specialize in providing three types of on-site, third- and second-party audits primarily for food safety across Mexico’s diverse agricultural sector. Our local expert auditors conduct visits to growers and food processing suppliers on behalf of American, Canadian, and European companies, offering tailored audits that utilize client-supplied checklists, customized templates crafted by SCS, or the checklist from each scheme when we conduct a third-party audit. We dig into the details of these options below.
Client-Supplied Checklists
Some companies with suppliers and growers in Mexico must adhere to specific regulations or certifications, meaning that strict compliance with certain frameworks is mandatory and must be verifiable. In these cases, on-site auditors use client-supplied checklists, ensuring each audit directly reflects the client’s priorities and the standards with which their operations must comply. These checklists are crucial because they allow clients to specify exactly what they need assessed, which in turn allows the client to maintain control and oversight of the process even when internal company employees cannot be present on-site. SCS’s local auditors then execute these tailored audits, providing thorough reports that address the precise requirements defined by the client.
Customized Templates Crafted by SCS
SCS Global Services works directly with clients who have growers or suppliers in Mexico to design and implement custom audit templates tailored to their unique needs. For clients without existing checklists, SCS creates or verifies a template — such as for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) evaluation — incorporating client-specific questions. This approach enables thorough, on-site audits by local experts, ensuring comprehensive oversight, clear reporting, and alignment with each client’s needs and requirements.
Third-Party Audits
SCS is fully accredited and ready to perform a range of audits on the ground in Mexico. These are audits conducted by SCS under our accreditations as an approved certification body for GLOBALG.A.P., PRIMUS GFS, Safe Quality Food Certification (SQF), Certified Organic, BRCGS, HACCP and GMP, GAP, among other internationally recognized schemes.
Social Responsibility Audits
Global retailers increasingly require high ethical standards and third-party social compliance audits in supply chains. For companies sourcing from Mexican growers and suppliers, managing compliance with social responsibility frameworks remotely can be expensive and challenging.
In addition to food safety, SCS conducts social responsibility audits tailored for those seeking reliable oversight without the complexities of sending internal teams abroad. We also provide Sustainability Report Assurance services, which verify ESG disclosures in alignment with frameworks such as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB; now incorporated with ISSB) to enhance transparency for stakeholders.
Our audit processes support mandatory certification and reporting requirements, including Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits (SMETA), which streamlines assessments for ethical trade, aligning with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code and International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions. Audits include standardized reports, unified corrective action plans, and environmental reviews.
Common non-compliance issues found include unsafe working conditions, low wages, excessive hours, and documentation gaps. SCS helps address these findings by implementing corrective actions alongside local auditors.
Maximizing Assurance and Efficiency with Local, On-the-Ground Auditors
For over a quarter century, we’ve been providing expert, on-the-ground food safety and social responsibility audits throughout Mexico. With experienced, APSCA-certified auditors and tailored audit solutions, our team brings deep expertise supporting compliance with global standards for American, Canadian, and European clients.
Do you have more questions about second- and third-party audit support in Mexico that we didn’t cover here? Feel free to contact Oscar Morales, General Manager, SCS Mexico to explore how local expertise can streamline your auditing process and ensure your supply chain meets the highest quality and ethical benchmarks.
