BRC Certification

The full form of BRC in BRC Certification is the British Retail Consortium. It is a British trade association launched by the UK food retail industry, during the merger of the British Retailers’ Association and the Retail Consortium, in January 1992. In the year of 1998, BRC produced its first edition of the food safety standard. The British Retail Consortium has proposed various standards and those standards need to be fulfilled by the suppliers of the world who are willing to supply food items to retailers based in Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America including Sainsbury, Tesco, and other states.

The British Retail Consortium represents retailers based in the United Kingdom and it has developed the global standards for global food safety. Among those standards, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is the most recognized one and it is necessary to be adopted and complied with by food suppliers from all around the world especially the suppliers who are engaged in supplying food products to the United Kingdom based retailers.

Standards and Protocols Provided by BRC

BRC provides standards and protocols for suppliers, the manner of packaging, and materials for packaging, for storage and distribution of food, agents, and brokers, and retail. Those standards are as follows.

1. BRC published the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety for the first time in 1998.
2. BRC provided the GFSI recognized BRC Global Standard for food safety in 2000.
3. BRC provided the BRC Global Standard for methods of packaging and materials for packaging in 2001.
4. BRC provided BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products Issue 4in 2003
5. BRC provided BRC Global Standard related to the Storage and Distribution Issue 3 in 2006.
6. BRC provided the BRC Global Standard for Agents and Brokers in 2014.
7. BRC provided the BRC Global Standard for Retail in 2016.

Benefits of Getting the BRC Certification

There are various benefits of getting the BRC Certification. Some of them are given below-

• One of the most important benefits of getting the BRC Certification is that it ensures that the final consumers will receive the products in safe and quality condition.
• It helps in maintaining communication with the chain of distribution parties through the BRC Directory.
• It brings credibility to the supplier and the retailer among the consumers.
• It makes the entry of the supplier to the international market easier.
• It ensures the safe and quality placing and distribution of food in the consumer market.
• It helps in making compliances related to food legislation.
• It ensures the traceability of the product.
• It also ensures the safety of food crops.

Various Standards Available for BRC Certification

The various standards and protocols regarding the BRC Certification are given below-

1.BRC Global Standard related to the Food Safety, Issue 7

BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 7 was published in the year 1998 for the first time. Before that, there was BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6, but food security was not standing still, for example, new challenges and risks related to legislation were emerging, hence we needed an updated version. Therefore Issue 7 is one of the leading food Safety standards.

2.BRC Global Standard related with the Storage and Distribution, Issue 3

This came in the year 2003 and its latest version came in August 2016. It is one of the most recognized standards provided by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This was given for maintaining standards by the suppliers for storing and distributing the food products.

3.BRC Global Standard for methods of packaging and materials for packaging Issue 5

It came in the year 2001. It is also provided by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This was made with the intent of providing good packaging for the products so that they can be delivered to the consumer in a good condition.

4.BRC Global Standard for Agents and Brokers

It came in the year 2014. In the packaging and the food industry, the BRC Global Standard for Agents and Brokers plays a vital role in managing product quality and safety. It also provides legal criteria for being the agent or broker in that particular field.

5. BRC Global Standard for Retail

It came in the year 2016. This is launched for the institutions that were involved in the process as the retailer.

6. BRC Global Standard for Consumer Issue 4

It also came in the year 2016. But it got revised after some time and now it categorizes consumer products standards in two ways.

• consumer products standards for the purpose of personal use, care, and household
• consumer products standards for the purpose of General Merchandise

7.BRC Global Standard with related to Food Safety Issue 8

BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 8 is the most famous BRC Certificate in the Indian market. This Certificate is given by the internationally recognized certifying body that has the license to provide a declaration for the BRC Global Standard for food safety Issue 8. This Certificate is provided for the duration of three years. This certificate focuses on the sanitation of the food inside the food association.

What are the Steps for Getting the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety?

Following are the steps for getting the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety-

• First thing that the company needs to do for getting the BRC Global Standard for food safety Issue 8 is to purchase or download the original standard copy from the website.
• Then, the applicant needs to analyse the gaps and do a deep survey of the on-going system
• The applicant needs to check the possible food safety risks and legal compliances involved.
• The applicant needs to conduct the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point process (HACCP) and make a report on it I.E. HACCP Report.
• The applicant needs to make a manual on food safety and quality.
• Define the scope, policy, and objective of the BRC Certification
• Provide training to all the engaged personnel in the procedures and make sure to implement them.
• Prepare the list of all the required documents
• Train the employed people about how to identify and control the involved food hazards and risks.
• Select the desired audit category and the duration for the same.
• Try to provide training to the internal audits
• Conduct the first internal audit and asses the system through it
• Do the needful corrections for the non-conformities
• Make the application for the BRC Certificate
• Conduct the first internal audit and asses the system through it
• Take the required action on the suggestions provided by the authority/ system.
• Then the final audit by the certifying body will take place
• If they suggest any changes, then do them within 28 calendar days from the last day of the audit.
• Then make sure to avail the certificate within 42 calendar days.
• Get the BRC Certificate registered with the achieved grade and make sure to get the name listed on the BRC directory.

What Standards are Considered While Giving the BRC Certification?

Standards that should be considered while giving BRC Certification are seven in number and are given below-

1. Senior Management Commitment

It includes both the senior management commitment and continual improvement. Basically, the members of the senior management must give their commitment to managing and improving the food safety process of the institute.

2. HACCP Plan

The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point manages food safety by doing the hazard analysis of the chemical, allergic, biological, and other risks and hazards from the very beginning of the raw material to the final product. It also involves various correction steps for the products that are not meeting the basic standards, documentation, verification of the documents and the procedures, monitoring of the involved institutions, and keeping a record of all the processes.

3. Food Safety and Quality Management System

The manufacturer shall make sure that it is making all the efforts in order to provide safe food and ensure meeting the expectations of the clients.

4.Site Standards for the Applicant

The site where the manufacturing of the food is going on, must meet all the requirements as made by the BRC Certification authorities. The food should be manufactured, kept, and cleaned as per the strict standards of the authorities.

5. Product Control

For getting a good grade and passing the auditing test the manufacturers shall make sure that it is managing the allergens and product testing.

6. Process Control

The holder or the applicant must abide by the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan from day one to every single day from the process of using raw material to making the final product. It includes the process of raw material management, cleaning, manufacturing, preparing, and packaging. This standard ensures that the manufacturer is producing quality and safe products.

7.Personnel

This standard is all about the control over the operations conducted by the personnel in the manufacturing unit. This standard includes the clothing manners, hygiene, and proper training of the employees working in the manufacturing unit. The applicant or the holder of the BRC Certificate shall make sure that the working professionals are equipped with all the necessary things instructed by the authorities during the manufacturing and packaging process.

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A manufacturer, retailer, and institute involved in importing and exporting who has BRC Certification will definitely get more credibility in the market among the customers over the other unregistered manufacturers mainly in the United Kingdom and other areas of the world. It will be easier for the firm to enter the market with a lot of opportunities. The British Retail Consortium represents retailers based in the United Kingdom and it has developed the global standards for global food safety. Among those standards, the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is the most recognized one.

BRC provides standards and protocols for suppliers, the manner of packaging, and materials for packaging, for storage and distribution of food, agents, and brokers, and retail. There are multiple BRC Certifications and standards, but BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 8 is the most famous BRC Certification in the Indian market. BRC Certification is given by the internationally recognized certifying body that has the license to provide a declaration for the BRC Global Standard for food safety Issue 8. Hence, it is recommended to get the BRC Certification and build your brand’s reputation and credibility in the markets. Getting BRC Certification is not that easy, but the professionals at Bizadvisors make it comparatively easier and simpler for you.