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Introduction to BRC Packaging Certification:

The standard has been developed to specify the product safety, quality and operational criteria that must be in place within a packaging manufacturing organisation in order for it to fulfil its obligations with regard to legal compliance and protection of the consumer.

The Standard provides a robust framework for all types of packaging manufacturer to assist them in the production of safe packaging materials and to manage product quality to meet customers’ requirements, while maintaining legal compliance. Certification against the standard is recognized by many brand owners, retailers, food service companies and manufacturers around the world when assessing the capabilities of their suppliers.

Key features of the Standard:

• Meeting the needs of retailers and brand owners to reduce the audit burden
• Better recognition of the diversity of the packaging industry and its customers’ demands
• Encouraging greater transparency and traceability in the supply chain
• Encouraging adoption of the Standard as a means of improving product safety at small sites and facilities where processes are still in development

The focus of BRC Packaging Issue 6 has been on:

• Enhancing the processes used by quality management systems in printed packaging controls and through a hazard and risk analysis approach
• Continuing to ensure consistency of the audit process across the world
• The importance of a product safety and quality and quality culture in the drive to improve transparency and coherence across the supply chains of food and non-food products
• Simplifying the hygiene requirements based on risk
• Introducing a new fundamental clause, corrective and preventive actions, to address issues and minimize the risk of their occurring
• Based on risk, putting a microbiological environmental monitoring programme in place
• Simplifying the unannounced audit programme

Benefits of this Standard:

Adoption of the standard leads to a number of benefits for the manufacturers of packaging materials

• Internationally recognized, GFSI-benchmarked and provides a report and certification that cane be accepted by customers in place of their own audits, thereby reducing time and cost
• Provides single standard and protocol that governs an accredited audit by third party certification bodies. allowing a credible independent assessment of a company’s product safety and quality systems
• Enables certified companies to appear in the publicly available part of the BRCGS Directory, allowing recognition of their achievements and use of a globally recognized logo for marketing purposes
• Is comprehensive in scope, covering areas of quality, legality and product safety
• Addresses part of the legislative requirements of the packaging manufacturer/supplier, packer/filler and retailer. Packaging manufacturers may also use this Standard to ensure their suppliers are following good manufacturing practices and are fulfilling legal requirements
• Demonstrates a commitment to the prevention of loss of raw materials that may contaminate the environment
• Enables companies to ensure their suppliers are following good practice in product safety
• Provides a framework for the development of quality and hygiene management systems in companies, encouraging continual improvement, effective environmental monitoring, reduction in waste, and increased efficiency
• Provides two audit options, namely announced and unannounced audit programmes. These will not only satisfy customer demands, but also enable companies to demonstrate compliance through a process which best suits their operation and the maturity of their product safety and quality management systems
• Is part of a scheme offering an array of training, education and technical support

Issue 7 development is underway:

The BRCGS Packaging Materials Global Standard was first published in 2001 and is now used by almost 6000 sites in over 35 countries globally. It helps a site or operation to demonstrate they are providing products that are quality assured, legally compliant, and authentic. The first to be recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), BRCGS Packaging Materials is now in its 6th edition and has become the global industry benchmark. It is not only used by food packaging producers but also by producers of packaging for all applications, across the supply chain. A key reason for its success is that it specifies the product safety, quality and operational criteria required, so a site or operation can fulfil its obligations, from legal compliance through to protection of the consumer.

The revision and evolution of our Standards are at the heart of our work. By reviewing our standards, we can ensure that they incorporate latest industry trends and operations, practical experiences, and best practices from industry. The revision process enables us to take into account the changing expectations, regulatory requirements, and customer needs. It provides the opportunity to build on the value that our customers and stakeholders gain from the use of our Standards.

All BRC Related Guidance Documents, Standard, Audit checklist, Updates enclosed below. Download, Read and share…

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