BRC/IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging
Materials
BRC and GMP
Joanna Griffiths
Packaging Technical Manager
BRC Global Standards
BRC Global Standards
Food
Packaging
Consumer
Products
Storage &
Distribution
Origin of the BRC Standards
1996
1998
• Brand owners inspect their own suppliers
• Brand owners join to create a common standard for food
• Issue 1, Food Technical Standard published
2000 • GFSI launched by the Consumer Goods Forum
2001
2008
• Issue 1 of the Food Packaging Technical Standard published
• Issue 3 incorporates non-Food packaging
• Issue 4 of the Global Standard for Packaging published
2011 • Interpretation Guidelines available for packaging for the first time
BRC certificates by Standard
(Sept 2012)
Consumer
Products,
418 – 2.2 %
Storage &
Distribution
478 - 2.6 %
Packaging
2030 - 10.9 %
Submitted by
> 100
Certification
Bodies
Food
15683 - 84.3%
Packaging certificated sites by country
(top ten – May 2012)
Belgium
Poland
Spain
Turkey
Switzerland
United Kingdom
France
Netherlands
Italy
Germany
Why BRC Certification?
Customer Mandate
Global Recognition
Risk Mitigation
Quality Assurance
Aiding Legislative
Compliance
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
Issue 4
• Fundamental
clauses
• Grading system
• Preparation and
planning section
Issue 4
• Fundamental
clauses
• Grading system
• Preparation and
planning section
• Printed
packaging
material controls
• Response to
recent issues
Principles of the Standard
Senior Management
Commitment
Risk based system
Quality management
systems
BRC and legal compliance
Relevant Clauses
• Awareness of legislative requirements in
country of manufacture and use
• Compliance with legal requirements
• HARM system includes legal requirements
Legislative Compliance
Good 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 Standard
Quality 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
“The Standard has evolved well,
with a better application to
packaging materials and not
specifically food manufacturers”
“maintain the user
friendliness of the
BRC Standard, is
practical in use”
Reflecting realistic
requirements for the
industry
“Continuous improvement of
the Standard. Maintain the
integrity of the Standard.”
BRC Directory - public
BRC Directory - private
Future Objectives
• 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
Thank You
For further Information please visit:
www.brcglobalstandards.com
Contact:
enquiries@brcglobalstandards.com