What is BRC and how is it useful?

"In a short space of time, this Standard became ... the benchmark for best practice in the food industry."

Article compiled by Ian Hannah
Director of Programmes, SQMC Ltd.

The BRC Global Standards

In 1998 the British Retail Consortium (BRC), responding to industry needs, developed and introduced the BRC Food Technical Standard to be used to evaluate manufacturers of retailers own brand food products. It is designed to be used as a pillar to help retailers and brand owners with their 'due diligence' defence, should they be subject to a prosecution by the enforcement authorities. Under EU food Law, retailers and brand owners have a legal responsibility for their brands.

In a short space of time, this Standard became invaluable to other organisations across the sector. It was and still is regarded as the benchmark for best practice in the food industry. This and its use outside the UK has seen it evolve into a Global Standard used not just to assess retailer suppliers, but as a framework upon which many companies have based their supplier assessment programmes and manufacture of some branded products.

The majority of UK, and many European and Global retailers, and brand owners will only consider business with suppliers who have gained certification to the appropriate BRC Global Standard.

Following the success and widespread acceptance of the Global Standard – Food, the BRC published the first issue of the Packaging Standard in 2002, followed by Consumer Products Standard in August 2003, and finally by the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution in August 2006 . Each of these Standards is regularly reviewed and each standard is fully revised and updated at least every 3 years after extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.

NEW EDITIONS

New editions of the Food and Packaging Standard have recently come into effect, respectively titled Global Standard for Food Safety and Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials. Both the Standards are differentiated by a number of innovations which have been developed in the course of extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. These include:

• Clearer and more detailed requirements.
• Greater focus on analysis of potential hazards.
• New specially-designed training courses.
• Increased emphasis on senior management demonstrating their commitment to the aim of achieving a satisfactory quality management system.

The Standards are all available in easy reference publications.
Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 5
The new edition of the Standard, the Global Standard for Food Safety, was published on 4th January 2008. Incorporating a thorough review of all clauses to provide greater guidance for food businesses and clarity to auditors, the Standard has been extensively revised from issue 4.

All of the changes within the revised edition have been based on wide and extensive consultation with international stakeholders.

Auditor Qualifications

Details on the requirements for auditors are now included within the Standard to ensure transparency and allow companies to verify auditor qualifications. SQMC’s two-day BRC (Food) Internal Auditor’s course is based on “Issue 5” and IRCA 2180 requirements.

IRCA is the International Register of Certified Auditors. IRCA provides international recognition of competence for 14,750 auditors in 150 countries and a global benchmark for auditor training trusted by over 50,000 students each year.

SQMC are ideally placed to help you achieve your ISO goals in a no nonsense straightforward way. Ask our customers!

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