On top of that, even the smallest food-related incident can harm your consumers and strike a blow to your brand. BRCGS (formerly known as BRC) first published its Global Standard for Food Safety in 1998. Once you have the BRC certificate for your foodstuffs you are still not exempt from audits and controls. If you want to keep the BRC certificate for a longer time, your company will be subjected to this annual audit. Hence account must be taken of laws and regulations, and developments in the food industry market.
HC/XL hygiene station
The heart of the BRC certification is its set of standards, which have been shaped by industry experts, stakeholders, and regulators over several decades. These guidelines, currently available in 15 languages, cover a vast array of critical focus areas, including hygiene, food safety, and quality management systems. They are a structured roadmap to ensuring that each entity along the food supply chain – from farm to fork – adopts the highest degree of diligence and integrity in its practices. To gain and retain a BRC certification companies are expected to implement robust traceability systems. This ensures the ability to track and trace products throughout the supply chain, enhancing transparency and accountability helping in identifying and addressing issues such as product withdrawal or recall correctly.
Conduct Site Audit
Now in its ninth issue, the standard gives organisations working in the food industry a framework for managing the safety, integrity and quality of their products and services. This includes retailers, manufacturers, importers, caterers and ingredient suppliers. Many retailers across the UK, the US and Europe will only do business with suppliers who have passed an audit and been accredited by a BRC certification body. These self-assessments help companies identify and address any gaps in their food safety systems.
BRCGS certification establishes a comprehensive quality management system that promotes consistency in production processes. It requires organizations to document procedures, train staff, and maintain records of quality control activities. BRCGS Food Safety standards are crucial in safeguarding consumers and upholding brand reputation. These standards establish rigorous criteria for food production, packaging, and distribution. With over 30 years of experience in the food industry, QIMA/WQS offers BRCGS certification for all members of the supply chain.
This is intended for product design and development, operations such as allergen management, product and ingredient provenance, product packaging and product inspection and testing. The certification also donchian channel metatrader 4 opens doors to new markets and customers, particularly those with strict supplier requirements. The auditor and your team will discuss the scope of the audit and agree on an agenda. It’s also the ideal opportunity for the auditor to meet anyone on your team who will be involved with the audit.
Meeting this requirement might involve providing training on vulnerability assessment methods. With a better understanding of vulnerability assessments, organizations can take proactive measures to safeguard their products from counterfeit or fraudulent activities. Intertek is the industry leader, with employees in 1,000 locations in over 100 countries. Whether your business is local or global, we can help to ensure that your products meet quality, health, environmental, safety, and social accountability standards for virtually any market around the world. Enabling you to identify and mitigate the intrinsic risk in your operations, supply chains and quality management systems.
Our wealth of resources, created and shared by our global network of experts, can help ensure that you and your organisation have access to up-to-date knowledge, best practises and education. One great thing about BRCGS is there are many ways you can learn about certification including in person and online options. If the online route is more your speed, you can find a full list of all online classes on the BRCGS website. By Jay Alappat, PhD, Chief Science Officer – Chemistry, Certified Group As the pet food industry gathers at Petfood Forum 2025 in Kansas City…
BRC Certification Grades
- Food businesses like yours must deal with a slew of safety hazards each day, including cleaning chemicals, debris, bacteria, viruses, toxins, and other contaminants.
- They focus on areas such as food safety, quality, legality, and operational criteria.
- Keeping up with building and equipment maintenance, cleaning, pest control and waste management.
- The BRCGS (formerly BRC) Food Safety standard is the leading Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) scheme, and the most widely accepted by specifiers, brands and retailers.
It takes company-wide commitment to achieve BRC certification, but many of the top retailers require it before you can do business with them. If your facility successfully completes the audit, addresses any non-conformities (if needed), and achieves the required grade, you will be awarded BRC certification, and your company Forex harmonics will be added to the BRC directory. Perform a self assessment against the requirements of the Standard to determine if your organization is ready for a formal BRC audit.
d Party Audit is required
Following the self-assessment, an external auditing body will conduct an on-site audit to evaluate compliance with BRC standards. Companies must also undergo regular re-certification audits to ensure ongoing compliance, making it an essential part of maintaining high standards in the food industry. Investing in BRC certification is not only about compliance; it’s about establishing a culture of food safety and quality that resonates with consumers and stakeholders alike. As the food industry evolves, having BRC certification will serve as a beacon of trust and excellence in the ever-demanding global marketplace. Created to address the need for internationally recognized benchmarks, BRCGS provides a framework for companies across the globe to demonstrate their commitment to safety, quality, and compliance.
Looking ahead, the trajectory of BRC standards is marked by innovation, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to global food safety. Emerging trends, such as blockchain technology for traceability and advanced analytics for predictive maintenance, are likely to be integrated into future BRC criteria, enhancing their efficacy and relevance. BRC certification applies to a wide range of businesses and operations, each with its unique requirements and specifications. From large-scale manufacturers to small-scale farmers, and from local retailers to global distributors, BRC offers standards that cater to the size, scale, and specialization of diverse entities within the food industry. This trust in safety and quality provided by BRC certification benefits brands by enhancing their access to retail markets globally, the faith of their customers, and, consequently, their bottom line. One such enhancement is the introduction of a requirement for individuals or teams responsible for vulnerability assessments to possess knowledge of the underlying principles.
Grow Your Business
This not only safeguards consumers but also reduces legal risks for the manufacturers. It is recommended that certified companies update their training and knowledge annually to stay aligned with any updates or changes in BRC standards. Regular internal audits, training updates, and staying abreast of evolving BRC criteria are critical elements of post-certification compliance. BRC 9 aims to promote best practice and ensure that organisations are working to strong, consistent standards.
- Businesses that attain BRC certification find that their commitment to safety and quality is more than a legal obligation; it’s a strategic asset.
- The process of earning a food safety certificate and getting the benefits of BRCGS certification is a straightforward one.
- The BRC Global Standards cover various sectors such as food safety, packaging, storage, distribution, and consumer products.
- A certificate testifies that product safety, integrity, legality and quality are present in the production and handling processes.
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. BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is a leading global brand and consumer protection organization that sets standards for food safety, packaging, storage, and distribution. BRCGS certification helps food manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate their commitment to producing safe and high-quality products.
Obtaining a BRCGS certification involves several steps leading to a strong food safety system. If the auditor finds critical non-conformance in your operations, you may be awarded a lower grade. Despite this, you will be given enough time to apply corrective actions for major non-conformance. The BRCGS logos visually represent a company’s certification status and commitment to meeting the tough requirements set by the BRCGS. The BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) certification is a widely recognised accreditation in the food supply chain. The key changes to the BRCGS version 9 lie in the new requirements that further ensure the applicability of the standards on a global level.
The BRC Global Standards cover various sectors such as food safety, packaging, storage, distribution, and consumer products. Compliance with BRC standards assures customers of your commitment to food safety and continuous operations improvement. The BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is the leading food safety certification programme.
As a trusted name in food safety sanitation, Sanitation Specialists can help you easily navigate the certification process, ensuring your facility remains audit-ready daily. This might involve updating processes, training staff, and ensuring all safety protocols are in place. Furthermore, sections of the Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 8 require evidence of staff training. For example, for the HACCP food safety team the BRC auditor will request to see documented evidence of the training oanda review staff receive to give them the required knowledge. Our HACCP training courses will provide this, and it would be beneficial to download and keep a record of the training content. Many of our customers work towards BRC standards and they often ask us about industry guidance.