Which of the following is not a step IPP takes in response to establishment management refusing access to records impacting their food safety system?

• A. Notify District Office through supervisory chain
• B. IPP perform a withholding action and leave the premises
• C. DO contacts plant, possible enforcement action
• D. Document NR citing 417.5(f)

Answer: (D)

Response protocol when records access is refused. When establishment management denies access to records that affect the food safety system, the IPP should immediately escalate through the supervisory chain by notifying the District Office. If access is refused, the IPP may withhold further inspection actions on-site and depart from the premises to preserve safety and the integrity of the inspection. The District Office then takes the lead in contacting the plant and pursuing possible enforcement steps.

Documenting a noncompliance report citing a specific regulation is typically an enforcement action that falls to the District Office as part of formal action, not a standard on-site step the IPP performs in response to an access refusal. That’s why marking NR with a citation like 417.5(f) is not considered an IPP on-site step.