BRC/IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials

BRC and GMPJoanna Griffiths

Packaging Technical Manager BRC Global Standards

BRC Global Standards

Consumer Products

Storage & Distribution

PackagingFood

Origin of the BRC Standards

1996 •Brand owners inspect their own suppliers

1998 •Brand owners join to create a common standard for food

2000 •Issue 1, Food Technical Standard published•GFSI launched by the Consumer Goods Forum

2001 •Issue 1 of the Food Packaging Technical Standard published

2008 •Issue 3 incorporates non-Food packaging

2011 •Issue 4 of the Global Standard for Packaging published•Interpretation Guidelines available for packaging for the first time

BRC certificates by Standard(Sept 2012)

Food15683 - 84.3%

Packaging 2030 - 10.9 %

Consumer Products, 418 – 2.2 %

Storage & Distribution478 - 2.6 %

Submitted by > 100 Certification Bodies

Packaging certificated sites by country(top ten – May 2012)

United Kingdom

GermanyItaly

Netherlands

France

Switzerland

Turkey

Spain

PolandBelgium

Why BRC Certification?

Risk Mitigation

Quality Assurance

Global Recognition

Aiding Legislative Compliance

Customer Mandate

Benefits of the Standard• Standalone Standard• Technical expertise• Developed for Packaging, by Packaging• Quality as well as safety and hygiene (print, process

control)• Mature and well established – 2000 sites, consistent

growth, retained renewal• Third party accreditation locally worldwide• Independent, third-party audited• Global network of approx 100 CBs• Crossover with ISO standards

• Fundamental clauses

• Grading system • Preparation and

planning section

Issue 4

• Fundamental clauses

• Grading system • Preparation and

planning section

Issue 4• Printed

packaging material controls

• Response to recent issues

Principles of the StandardSenior Management Commitment

Risk based system

Quality management systems

BRC and legal complianceRelevant Clauses• Awareness of legislative requirements in

country of manufacture and use• Compliance with legal requirements• HARM system includes legal requirements

Legislative ComplianceGood Manufacturing Practice 2023/2006• Not specific, a system should be in place

to demonstrate good manufacturing practice

– Quality assurance system– Quality control system– Documentation

Summary• Compliance with GMP requirements

depends on knowledge of industry• Compliance with the BRC/IOP Global

Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials can aid and demonstrate compliance

• Legislation is designed to minimise risk of current and future food safety issues arising from packaging

GMP and the StandardQuality Management systems Site Standards

Product and Process Control Personnel controls

GMP – Quality Management Systems

Quality manual

Customer focus

Internal auditing

Supplier approval

Documentation control

Specifications

Record keeping

GMP – Site Standards

External standards

Building fabric

Utilities

Security

Layout and product flow

Equipment and Maintenance

Housekeeping and cleaning

GMP – Product & Process Control

Product design and development

Packaging Print Control

In-line testing and measuring equipment

Calibration

Foreign body contamination control

GMP – Personnel controls

Training and competence

Access and movement of personnel

Personal hygiene

Medical screening

Protective clothing

Typical Non-conformities• Site Standards

– Temporary repairs– Pest-proofing– Cleaning schedules– General conditions

• Hazard and Risk Management System– Process flow diagram – Identifying hazards

Typical Non-conformities• Foreign Body Control

– Glass and brittle plastic control – Chemical controls

• Specifications– Declaration of compliance

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

Supply chain security

Key features of the BRC Global Standards programme• Third party accredited programme• Retailer led – Expert influenced• International stakeholder consultation• Suite of training programmes targeted to all

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

Global Standards

“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

BRC Directory - public

BRC Directory - private

• Standard of Choice• User friendly – prompt communication and issue

resolution• Most appropriate to market requirements

• Content• Simple certification process

• Trusted• Management of Certification Bodies and auditors

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

Standards

Future Objectives

Thank YouFor further Information please visit: www.brcglobalstandards.com

Contact: enquiries@brcglobalstandards.com