The BRC Standard: Explain The Important Elements to Understand the Standard

The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety was created by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), a trade organization for UK retailers. The British Retailers' Association and the Retail Consortium amalgamated to become the British Retail Consortium in January 1992. The BRC Food Technical Standard and Protocol for food providers was originally published in 1998 by BRC. This standard has been extensively embraced not just in the UK but also across the rest of the world. Additionally, it is acknowledged as a food safety system to meet GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) benchmarks.

The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, one of the most widely used certification standards, has been embraced by food producers all over the world, particularly by businesses that serve British retailers. A due diligence defense is provided by third-party certification to the standard, which enables manufacturers in demonstrating compliance with customer, regulatory, and statutory obligations.

Issue 9 of the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, the most recent revision, was released in August 2022. The prescriptive requirement specifies the safety, quality, and operational requirements that food production enterprises must meet to comply. The BRC standard, which is recognized by the Global Standards for Food Safety, emphasizes quality, food safety, and legality and lays out specific guidelines for achieving each of these goals.

Having a BRC Food issue 9 certification offers up more business opportunities for food processing manufacturers. The converse is also true. Missing this certification may severely limit your possibilities and turn off potential partners. As more manufacturers and retailers demand that their suppliers achieve and maintain a GFSI-recognized food safety certification, more than 28,000 facilities in 130 countries have previously completed an audit and gained BRC certification.

What Advantages Come with BRC Certification?

BRC certification enables manufacturers, retailers, and their suppliers to follow the best food safety management practices. As a result, this certificate provides customers with assurances regarding product safety and brand repute. According to the BRCGS organization, they have the most restrictive procedures in place and the best-trained auditors to ensure that the products are safe, legal, and of excellent quality.

The BRCGS certificate gives the following advantages:

Keeping the brand's reputation safe
Providing customers with assurances about product safety, legality, and compliance.
Establishing defined quality and safety standards
Investing in the quality of the product
Gaining access to markets where the BRC standard is necessary
Global recognition of food security
Fulfilling manufacturer requirements

How Do You Get a BRC Certificate?

To certify to the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety, manufacturers and processors must follow its requirements and pass a rigorous BRC audit. A BRC consultant may also assist you with the certification process and accomplishment. However, before the BRC audit, the following aspects must be reviewed:

Senior management commitment to being fully informed of requirements and providing adequate resources for compliance
A hazard and risk management system is in place to detect biological, chemical, and physical dangers.
A product safety and quality management system that specifies the rules required to meet the standard.
Prerequisite programs for the fundamental environmental and operational conditions.
Site standards and facility management for excellent manufacturing and good hygiene practices for a safe manufacturing environment, as well as general hazards control, such as building and equipment maintenance, cleaning, pest control, and waste management.

Core issue ranges covered by BRCGS:

Food Safety
Packaging & Packaging Materials
Storage & Distribution
Agents & Brokers
Retail
Consumer Products
Gluten Free

To pass the BRCGS audit, organizations must meet all requirements for sufficient product safety, integrity, legality, and quality management. The BRC audit examines the entire food system, from harvesting and production to sale and consumption.

List of BRC standard requirements