[Important update for BRCGS audits affected by coronavirus]
High expectations are placed on food industries today.
As food industry manufacturers and suppliers aspire to take an industry-leading approach to the quality of the processes, more companies opt to obtain and maintain recognized global food safety certifications, like the British Retail Consortium (BRC) certificate.
While preparing for your BRC Audit, be sure not to overlook the following details, especially when it comes to industrial cleaning.
What is BRC?
BRC Global Standards, previously known as BRC Food Safety Certification, is one of the most widely used international Food Safety Management Systems standards and the first Standard to be recognized by GFSI.
BRC stands for British Retail Consortium (BRC). British Retail Consortium is the organization that developed the certificate back in 1998 to be used for organizations of any size and geographical location.
BRC originated in the United Kingdom to help the food industry establish a unified safety standard and reduce audit duplication. Today, its official name is the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety, or BRCGS for short. It is widely recognized in food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing and packing industry.
Why is BRC Important?
As a Global Standards for Food Safety certificate, the BRC standard focuses on quality, food safety, and legality, and provides clear requirements on how to achieve them.
Having a BRC certificate opens doors to more contract opportunities for food processing suppliers. The opposite is true as well. Missing this certificate may significantly limit your options and detract potential partners.
As more manufacturers and retailers require their suppliers to certify and maintain a GFSI-recognized food safety certification, over 28,000 facilities in 130 countries have already passed an audit and obtained BRC certification. Your business can also become BRC certified with the help of high-quality industrial cleaning.
Benefits of BRC Certification
BRC certification allows manufacturers, retailers, and their suppliers to adhere to best practices for food safety management. As a result, this certificate reassures consumers about product safety and brand reputation.
According to the BRCGS organization, they have the most rigorous schemes and the highest trained auditors to assure customers that your products are safe, legal, and of high quality.
BRCGS certificate provides these benefits:
- Protecting brand reputation
- Protecting and reassuring consumers on product safety, legality, and compliance
- Setting clear benchmarks for quality and safety
- Investing in your product integrity
- Access to markets where BRC standard is required
- International recognition in food security
- Meeting distributors obligations
How to Achieve 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. High-quality industrial services can help you in achieving it.
Core issue areas covered by BRCGS:
- Food Safety
- Packaging & Packaging Materials
- Storage & Distribution
- Agents & Brokers
- Consumer Products
- Retail
- Gluten Free
If you want to pass the BRCGS audit, you will need to pass all requirements for adequate management of product safety, integrity, legality, and quality. BRC audit checks the total food system: from food harvesting and production to sale and consumption.
Review select BRC audit checks:
- Senior management commitment to be fully aware of requirements and provide sufficient resources for compliance
- Hazard and risk management system to check for biological, chemical, and physical hazards
- Product safety and quality management system that details policies needed to achieve the standard
- Prerequisite programs regarding the basic environmental and operational conditions
- Site standards and facility management for good manufacturing and good hygiene practicesfor safe production environment and generic hazards control, including building and equipment maintenance, cleaning, pest control, and waste management
List of BRC Standard requirements
- Management Commitment Prerequisite programs
- HACCP
- Food Safety and Quality Manual
- Document Control
- Records
- Internal Audits
- Supplier Approval
- Specifications
- Corrective Actions
- Control of Nonconforming Product
- Traceability
- Complaint Handling
- Management of Incidents
- Site Standards
- Product Design and Development
- Management of Allergens
- Provenance, Assured Status and Identity Preserved
- Materials Packaging
- Product Inspection and Testing
- Product Release
- Control of Operations
- Calibration and Control of Measuring and Monitoring Devices
- Training
- Personal Hygiene
- Medical Screening
- Protective Clothing
What are the BRC Grades?
BRC Grading System
| Announced | Unannounced | Non-Conformances |
| AA | AA+ | 5 or fewer minors |
| A | A+ | 5 – 10 minors |
| B | B+ | 11 – 16 minors 1 major and 10 or fewer minor |
| C | C+ | 17 – 24 minor 1 major and 11 – 16 minor 2 major and 10 or fewer minor |
| D | D+ | 25 – 30 minor 1 major and 17 – 24 minor 2 major and 11 – 16 minor |
| Uncertified | Uncertified | 1 or more critical 31 or more minor 1 major and 25 or more minor 2 major and 17 or more minor 3 or more major |
Need Help to Pass BRC Audit?
Kelly Industrial Services (KIS) has years of specialized knowledge and experience in helping industrial companies meet the rigorous requirements of BRC Global Standards and other GFSI-recognized certificates.
KIS provides high-quality industrial cleaning services in an effective way and knows what auditors are looking for during the certification audit.
Contact Kelly Industrial Services for a free quote today!
