BRC Food Certification is a globally recognized standard designed to ensure food safety and quality in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of food products. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) developed this certification to provide a framework that helps food businesses maintain high safety and quality standards. It encompasses various aspects of food production, including hygiene, product safety, and traceability.
About 23,000 companies follow the BRC global standard for food safety because it is the international model for food safety management systems. This certification ensures that all quality, operational criteria, and safety meet the same high standards for retail service production. It ensures product safety and consistency across the global supply chain and provides a framework for businesses to implement robust quality processes and meet international standards. For the food industry, BRCGS certification signifies a commitment to maintaining high product safety and quality standards.
BRC 9 aims to promote best practice and ensure that organisations are working to strong, consistent standards. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) first published its Global Standard for Food Safety in 1998. This requires ongoing training and investment in equipment and processes, which can be daunting for some organizations. This system includes documentation of procedures, staff training records, and regular reviews to ensure compliance with safety standards. This can be the most challenging aspect of a BRC audit since it requires that your team demonstrate complete control over your production process, from accepting raw materials to shipping finished products.
Digital platforms such as SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) can streamline this process for you. It also contains features that help you spot trends and areas of concern and proactively solve them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started on the certification process.
It’s used by food manufacturers, retailers and service providers around the world to assess their food safety management systems. By doing so, they’re able to demonstrate that they have an effective management system in place that ensures the safety of their products from source to shelf. Additionally, Issue 9 emphasizes the importance of supplier management, allergen management, and product authenticity, empowering businesses to enhance transparency, traceability, and consumer trust. BRCGS has extended its reach beyond food safety to encompass diverse industries. Its standards now cover packaging, storage, distribution, and consumer hitbtc crypto exchange review products, reflecting a comprehensive approach to quality assurance across global supply chains. The BRC Food Safety standard is used by food manufacturers, retailers and service providers around the world to assess their food safety management systems.
Conduct Internal Audit
- Briefly, you will need to read the standard relevant to your business, and you may need to attend a BRCGS Product Safety Management training course.
- When referring to the BRCGS, it recognizes the brand that companies follow for standard food safety and quality.
- During this assessment, the auditor will evaluate documentation, observe operations, and interview staff to determine whether the company adheres to BRC requirements.
- The Global Standard for Storage and Distribution deals with the transport and logistics side of the supply chain.
- They will give your employees the knowledge needed to operate at the highest standard in your workplace.
- This assessment helps identify areas of improvement before undergoing the official certification audit.
- Remember that the BRCGS food safety standard for a business in the packaging industry will always vary from those for the retail industry.
It has released a series of Global Standards, known as BRCGS, to assist producers. This BRC standard ensures company policies meet customer expectations and trains staff to continue consistent production. With BRCGS certification you gain an entire program worth of solutions and benefits that can make your food safety program and your product one that we can count on. Once you are ready for your audit, it’s time to reach out to a BRCGS registered Certification Body. This organization will work with you to assign an auditor, schedule the audit, create a report, and conclude any corrective actions after the audit.
BRCGS Standards: Final Points
BRC certification typically lasts for a period of one year, after which companies must undergo a re-certification audit to maintain their certified status. During this re-certification process, an auditor will assess whether the company continues to meet the BRC standards and if any improvements have been made since the last certification. The certification also assures consumers that the products they purchase are safe and of high quality. Moreover, adhering to these standards can enhance the retailer’s brand image, fostering customer loyalty. Compliance with the BRC standard also facilitates smoother operations and better supplier relationships.
BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Assessment Template
BRC is at the epicenter of this dynamic environment, propelling businesses toward a future of nourishment and assurance. It is an investment in the health of not just individuals but of nations and communities. Obtaining a BRCGS certification involves several steps leading to a strong food safety system. Becoming BRC-certified refers to a company or facility that has successfully undergone an audit and assessment according to the standards set by Capital markets definition the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Product Control
If you’re in the food industry, chances are that you’ve heard about BRC certification. The expectations for the building/construction, production environment, layout, and maintenance must be suitable to assure hygienic conditions throughout the food production and handling areas. As a trusted worldwide brand, FOSS IQX provides innovative SaaS-based analytical solutions to the Food Industry, transforming operations through data-driven insights. For your products to be considered safe, you need to demonstrate that you properly manage things such as allergens, provenance, and product testing. Internal Audits are vital in ensuring the health and effectiveness of an organization. Typically, during the traceability portion of the audit, the auditor will select a finished product and perform a label review.
If you want your company BRC-certified https://www.forex-world.net/ an independent party will carry out a BRC audit. More than 300 points are checked at your company both on paper and physically on the shop floor. You can be awarded the BRC certificate based on the number of points for which you score sufficient to good.
- Using this BRC standard involves integrating its requirements into every aspect of your operations to ensure compliance consistently over time.
- With a BRC certificate, a company can demonstrate that its day-to-day operation lives up to the standard levels of safety and quality.
- In the event of a non-conformity, your team must submit corrective actions for each one prior to submission of the overall report to BRC to receive certification.
- Supermarket chains apply the BRC standard to ensure that their supply chain, particularly for fresh produce, adheres to high safety and quality standards.
- This reflects how the BRCGS has evolved over the years and how it seeks to help manufacturers, brand owners and retailers maintain faith in their products.
In the global marketplace, where food safety and quality are of prime importance, British Retail Consortium (BRC) standards have stood as a gold standard framework for food and consumer products. Whether you operate in the food industry, consumer goods supply chain, or are a retailer, a deep understanding of BRC is essential for maintaining not just quality, but also credibility with your stakeholders. BRC is the leading Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) scheme, and the most widely accepted by specifiers, brands and retailers. They are well recognised and respected in the world’s food and beverage industry. BRC has developed a set of global standards which are seen as a benchmark for food safety, product quality and operational criteria. BRC certification makes it easier and safer to move food goods between countries.
Benefits of BRC Food Certification
The BRCGS Food Safety requires the development of a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) program. You need to ensure that all personnel are equipped with everything they need to carry out their duties in a safe manner. You must implement your HACCP plan from day to day and have effective procedures in place for ensuring you manufacture your products to the correct quality.