BRC/IoP Global Standard – Food Packaging and Other Packaging
Materials
Introduction
For many years, packaging manufacturers and suppliers have commissioned
hygiene audits, in order to satisfy the ‘due diligence’
defence found in United Kingdom legislation, and to improve their
own premises and practices. Many retailers and food manufacturers
also inspected packaging premises in order to satisfy themselves
that systems and procedures at their packaging suppliers meet their
individual requirements.
In 2001 the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Institute of
Packaging (IoP) published a joint standard covering food packaging
materials to assist retailers and food manufacturers in the fulfilment
of their legal obligations. With the assistance of representatives
from throughout the industry, the Standard aimed to provide a common
basis for the evaluation of companies. Since its introduction, the
Standard has become a benchmark by which these evaluations are undertaken
and in 2004 the scope was extended to cover all types of packaging
materials.
Objectives
The objective of the BRC/IoP Packaging Standard is to specify safety,
quality and operational criteria which are required to be in place
within any manufacturing organisation supplying packaging to UK
retailers, their suppliers or other Standard users. The format and
content of the Standard are designed to allow an assessment of a
company's premises, operational systems, and procedures, by an accredited
third party certification body. Amongst the aims of this standard
are:
- the intention to minimise duplication of auditing,
- the reduction of conflicting requirements from various customers,
and
- the promotion of "best practice" for the industry
as a whole.
Benefits
There are a number of benefits arising from the use of the BRC/IoP
Standard which include the following:
- Evaluation and registration by an accredited third-party certification
body will allow recognition throughout the industry.
- Common verification criteria will allow both manufacturers
and suppliers to report upon their status to food retailers and
other organisations in the supply chain.
- As the Standard is comprehensive in scope covering the areas
of quality, hygiene and product safety throughout the packaging
industry, no additional certification of these areas should be
necessary.
- At least part of the 'due diligence' requirements for the packaging
manufacturer/supplier, packer/filler and retailer will be met
through certification. Packaging manufacturers may also use this
Standard to ensure their suppliers are following good hygiene
practices and so complete the 'due diligence' chain.
- Ongoing surveillance and follow up of any corrective actions
helps to establish a self-improving quality, hygiene and product
safety system within the audited company.
Requirements
The Standard requires:
- the adoption of a formal Hazard Analysis System
- a documented Technical Management System
- the control of factory standards, products, processes and personnel.
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