BRC Global Standards

Joanna Griffiths

Technical Packaging Manager

BRC Global Standards

Heritage of the BRC Global Standards

Issue 1 Global Standard for Food

Packaging published

Before 1996 1998 2000 2008 2011

Brand owners inspect their own

suppliers

Issue 4 published in February 2011

Brand owners join to create a

common Standard for Food

Issue 3 incorporates non-food packaging

Managing the Standards

All governed by agreed terms of reference

Governance & Strategy Committee International users

Define policy & oversee progress

Technical Advisory Committees

One for each Standard

• Retailers and other stakeholders• Production & review of Standards• Interpretation issues• Review training materials

Certification Body Co-operation groups

Discussion between CB’s on technical issues & progressing

implementation

Global Standards Team

User Feedback

BRC Global Standards

Food PackagingStorage and Distribution

www.brcbookshop.com

Consumer Products

Storage & Distribution

Packaging

Key features of the BRC Global Standards programme• Third party accredited programme• Retailer led• International stakeholder consultation• Rapid response to issues/developments• Suite of training programmes targeted to all

stakeholders• Centrally controlled compliance program• Central database of audited manufacturers

BRC certificates by Standard(November 2010)

Food14035 - 85.3%

Packaging1696 - 10.3%

Consumer Products, 385 - 2.3%

Storage & Distribution, 342 - 2.1%

Submitted by > 100 Certification Bodies

Packaging certificated sites by country(top ten, April 2011)

United Kingdom

Germany

Netherlands

Italy

France

Switzerland

Poland

TurkeySpain

Belgium

Issue 4

• Published Feb 2011

• Implemented – 1st Aug 2011

Issue 4 - Features

• Food and non-food packaging• Includes packaging materials

– Primary, secondary and tertiary packaging

• Focus on: – Hygiene/cleanliness– Quality *NEW*

Categories• High Hygiene Risk“Packaging that comes into direct contact with

food products (or other hygiene sensitive products). Primary packaging used for food

or other hygiene sensitive products where no absolute barrier is in place.”

• Low Hygiene Risk“Packaging for consumer products and the

secondary and tertiary packaging for all uses.”

Packaging Standard Structure

1. Senior Management Commitment and Continual Improvement

2. Hazard and Risk Management System3. Product Safety and Quality Management

System4. Site Standards5. Product and Process Control 6. Personnel

Issue 4 – new features

• “Fundamental” clauses *NEW*

• Grading system *NEW*

• Preparation and planning section *NEW*

• Printed packaging material controls

• Response to recent issues

Certification Process

BRC Directory

Private - password protected

• Access allocated to certificated sites • Full audit reports available for download• Comprehensive reporting suite• Access to consenting manufacturers details only

BRC DirectoryPublic - accessible to all

• Details of all certificated manufacturers - searchable by country, Standard, category, scope keyword• Updated daily ensuring accuracy• Visibility • Only officially recognised resource of certification information “Shop front” • Retailer use for sourcing suppliers www.brcdirectory.com

Relevance of the Standards• A recent survey by the BRC shows:

– 103 – the number of countries with sites– Italy is the largest market outside of UK in EU– 91% of sites see value in BRC certification– 67% find that certification brings new

customers, and use this in marketing– Sites see the Directory as a valuable way to

secure new customers

Global Standard for Packaging

“maintain the user friendliness of the BRC Standard, is practical in use”

“Continuous improvement of the Standard. Maintain

the integrity of the Standard.”

“The Standard has evolved well, with a better application to

packaging materials and not specifically food manufacturers”

Reflecting realistic requirements for the

industry

• Standard of Choice• Most appropriate to market requirements

• Content• Simple certification process

• User friendly – prompt communication and issue resolution

• Trusted• Management of Certification Bodies and auditors

• GFSI benchmarking• Opening up new global markets committed to the use of

GFSI Standards

Future Objectives

THANK YOU

For Information please visit: www.brcglobalstandards.com