Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) for Food Safety

The BRC Global Food Standard is now being applied in Version 8 and is very widespread, with around 14,000 certificates in over 100 countries.

Certification to BRC involves application of the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Processes and technologies employed in the manufacture of products and/or packaging are analysed, as is compliance with statutory specifications concerning equipment and premises, product and performance and personnel qualifications. Risks are classified and the quality management system examined to ensure a uniform quality level and to document a high sense of responsibility – a sound basis for sustained image enhancement in the outside world and within the organisation.

The standard can be applied to all foodstuff processing stages. These can range from animal slaughter and packaging of fresh food through to all further processing stages. Special reference documents are applicable to some sectors.

This standard is relevant to you if you are a manufacturer of packaging materials for the food industry. Packaging also has to meet hygienic health requirements to exclude the possibility of a health hazard to the end consumer. The aim is to achieve this by means of regular hygiene checks, avoidance of contamination and prevention of contact with hazardous substances.

The packaging industry is divided into specific product groups. To provide you with the most useful auditing service, our auditors must also be qualified and registered according to these product groups. The relevant sectors are:

• glass
• paper and cardboard
• metals – cans and films
• plastic
• wood and other materials 

The standard recognises two levels of hygiene risk:

1. high risk classification involving direct contact between the packaging and the food
2. low risk classification for packaging which does not come into direct contact with the food