THE BRC GLOBAL STANDARD - STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
Introduction
This is the latest in the series of Global Standards developed by
the British Retail Consortium (BRC) which addresses the technical
requirements for suppliers, forming a base for assessment and certification.
Scope
The BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution is divided
into four modules which are applied, as applicable, to the scope
of supply:
- storage
- distribution
- wholesale
- contracted services
This will apply to:
- pre-packaged and loose food products
- packaging materials
- consumer products.
Certification will apply to activities undertaken at the location
where the evaluation has taken place, and can cover one or more
modules of the standard. Certification against the wholesale module
and the contracted services module cannot be gained in isolation
– the requirements of the storage module must be satisfied
in addition to the requirements specified within those modules.
The application of the Standard commences when the product enters:
- a third-party storage premises, or
- a third-party vehicle, or
- a premises owned by the manufacturer that is not covered by
the scope of another BRC Global Standard.
The Standard is NOT APPLICABLE to:
- storage facilities that are under the direct control of the
production site management
- operations where product processing or the handling or packing/repacking
of open food occurs.
Companies who offer contract chilling/freezing/tempering and defrost
operations on loose foods will not be covered by the scope of the
Standard, as these operations are deemed to be processing activities
and thus an extension of a manufacturing process. Companies offering
these services on loose foods are covered under the scope of the
BRC Global Standard – Food.
The scope of the Standard shall also exclude live animals (unless
they are prepared for placing on the market for human consumption),
pre-farm-gate loose bulk agricultural products, and consumer products
that are not covered by the scope of the BRC Global Standard –
Consumer Products.
Benefits
There are a number of benefits arising from the use of the Standard
which include:
- Single verification audit which will allow manufacturers, agents,
importers and suppliers to report upon their status to their customers
and other organisations as required.
- Certification should replace the need for customers to perform
technical audits and assist in the prequalification process for
tendering new work.
- For food storage and distribution companies the EU Regulations
(No.178/2002, 852/2004) will have a direct effect as these businesses
are now classed as food businesses and as such have legal obligations
to supply safe and legal products. Certification against this
standard will help to provide a statutory "due diligence"
defence under English Law.
- The Standard is part of a comprehensive scope, covering areas
of quality, hygiene and product safety throughout the distribution
chain.
- The system of ongoing surveillance and confirmation of the
follow-up of corrective actions ensures that a self-improving
quality, hygiene and product safety system is established.
Requirements
The Standard requires:
- the adoption and implementation of hazard and risk analysis
(in the case of food a HACCP system) This will identify potential
risks and allow procedures to be put in place to control them.
- a documented and effective quality management system
- the control of environment standards, products, processes and
personnel.
Audit Frequency
The Storage & Distribution Standard will classify a supplier
as either Rating 1 or 2, as follows:
Rating 1
- Locations working with chilled and/or frozen foods
- Locations that provide contracted services.
Where less than 16 non-conformities are found during an evaluation
visit, the frequency of audit shall be 18 months.
Rating 2
- Locations working with ambient foods
- Locations working with consumer products
- Locations working with packaging.
Where less than 16 non-conformities are found during an evaluation
visit, the frequency of audit shall be 24 months. |
