The BRCGS standard describes three levels of involvement:

• Enrollment program

  For factories where food safety is still developing. This program allows recognition of improvements in food safety by providing a scored audit for sites that are not ready for certification. The audit reports and scores can be shared with customers and are intended to enable sites to develop within a framework that will eventually enable full certification.

• Announced audit program

  For existing certificated sites. This is the same audit process used for sites within the enrollment program. Successful sites are awarded a certificate with the grade A, B or C, depending on the number and type of non-conformities identified.

• Voluntary unannounced program

  This voluntary program provides added confidence in certification to customers and creates marketing benefits when the top BRCGS grade of A+ is achieved. Available to factories with mature food safety systems that are currently awarded a certification Grade A+, A, B+ or B. Two options are available for an unannounced program. Option 1 involves a facility walk-through and verification of good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Option 2 requires two separate on-site audits: Part 1 involves a walk-through and verification of GMPs, while Part 2 involves review of documented systems, procedures and records.

Eligible Companies

BRCGS certification is relevant to any food processing or packing operation in which food is handled, processed, packed, stored or distributed, including:

• Packhouses
• Slaughterhouses
• Food processing
• Canneries
• Handlers of high-risk ready-to-eat products

Certification Criteria

BRCGS certification criteria address the following seven areas:

• Senior Management Commitment and Continual Improvement
• HACCP Food Safety Plan
• Food Safety and Quality Management System
• Site Standards
• Product Control
• Process Control
• Personnel

Issue 6 came into effect in early 2012. Issue 5 can no longer be used for audits.

Pre-Assessment

SCS can walk you through a pre-assessment process. Pre-assessment is a non-scored mock audit designed to assess the level of your preparedness for a certification audit. Ask about combining a pre-assessment with your initial audit for greater efficiency.

Complementary Services

In addition to BRCGS audits, we offer a full suite of food safety and food quality testing. Combine BRC Certification with Organic Certification, Certified Sustainably Grown, and other options for added operational and cost efficiency.

1. Purchase the Standard

   To fully assess your level of compliance to BRC Standards, order the standard from the BRCGS Global Standards Bookshop. The BRCGS standard is not available for free review. The BRCGS has also published guidance documents on best practices and on the use of the standards.

2. Apply for Auditing

   Fill out an SCS Application form, which provides  details of your site and operation. SCS returns a proposal for your approval with a suggested scope of work, timeline and quote. To initiate the certification process, return a signed proposal and Work Order.

3. Self-Assessment

   Review your current systems and practices against the requirements of the BRCGS Standard in order to identify areas which may need further work before undertaking a full audit. Consider undertaking a pre-assessment with SCS or use the BRCGS developed Self-Assessment Tool.

4. Schedule an Audit

   SCS assigns an auditor and audit dates are proposed. Once an audit date is confirmed, an audit plan is provided to ensure that your team is prepared.

5. On-site Audit

   An on-site audit of your operation is carried out to ensure that your operation complies with the BRCGS Standard. After completion, the SCS auditor provides you with an Audit Report, which lists any non-conformities. You can discuss these findings and ask questions with the auditor at the closing meeting.

6. Complete Corrective Actions

   Identified non-conformities must be addressed and evidence of corrective actions provided to SCS within 28 days. In some circumstances it may be necessary for the auditor to return to the site to check that appropriate corrective action has been taken.

7. Make Certification Decision

   SCS reviews the Audit Report and Corrective Action documentation to make a certification decision.

8. Receive Certificate

   For those who achieve certification, a final audit report and certificate is issued within 42 days of the original audit date. A copy of the report is automatically sent to the BRCGS, and your company is listed in the online BRCGS Directory.

   Note: It is a principle of the BRCGS scheme that the audit report is owned by the company paying for the audit. Copies can only be provided to other parties at the request of the owner (a copy is provided to the BRCGS and this is held confidentially).

SCS Global Services is an IHA Accredited HACCP Training center, offering on-site courses, webinars and customized trainings throughout the year in North America and Central America. Our expert trainers can tailor their curricula to meet your needs. For BRCGS training See here

• HACCP Training - Designed for in-house practitioners, managers and consultants; contact Diane Dulmage, 510.452.8003

SCS Global Services ofrece capacitación en persona y en línea a su propio ritmo

Horario de cursos ofrecidos en México - HACCP, SQF, GLOBALG.A.P.
Horario de cursos ofrecidos en los Estados Unidos.

Why did issue 5 of the Standard need changing?

Food safety does not stand still. New risks, legislation and practices to improve food safety emerge so as a matter of principle and in line with GFSI benchmarking requirements the BRCGS Standards need to be periodically reviewed and updated. The most significant changes in issue 6 are around the audit options and methods of audit. However the new issue also includes more specific requirements on aspects of best practice to ensure consistency.

Will customers still accept my old certificate until I am due for my next audit?

Yes. Whenever there is a change from one issue of the standard to the next the existing certificates remain valid and acceptable to customers up until that certificate expires.

Will the audits take longer and therefore be more expensive?

No. The BRCGS introduced a new audit duration calculator at the beginning of 2011 which increased the typical audit duration from 1.5 days to 2 days. We do not expect current audits to result in longer total time for the audit, although we do expect more time to be spent in the factory and less time auditing paperwork. The audit duration calculator has been updated for the current issue to show the distribution of time expected between the factory and the office parts of the audit.

How do I prepare for my audit?

Your company will need to prepare and supply SCS with background information prior to the audit, including:

• A summary of critical control points (CCPs)
• The process flow diagram
• A simple site plan
• The management organizational chart
• The list of products or product groups included within the audit scope
• Typical shift patterns
• Production schedules, to allow audits to cover relevant processes (e.g., night-time manufacture)
• Recent quality issues, withdrawal or customer complaints and other relevant performance data

How long will the audit take?

Typical audit duration is two days at the site. The exact time expected to undertake the audit is calculated based on: the number of employees (full time, including seasonal), the size of the manufacturing facility (including storage facilities), the number of HACCP studies included within scope, the complexity of the manufacturing process, the number of product lines, and other considerations.

What are the benefits of BRCGS Certification?

Earning BRCGS certification provides several potential advantages:

• Limit Risk - Minimize the potential for food safety incidents and recalls.
• Become a Preferred Supplier - Satisfy retailers and other customers who require their manufacturers and suppliers to be BRCGS certified.
• Competitive Edge - Assure your customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled to rigorous standards.
• Improvement over Time - Demonstrate continual improvements to quality and safety processes.
• Professional Service - SCS is known for our thorough, timely audits.
• Combined Services - Take advantage of our broad food and agriculture certification expertise, from safety to sustainability, to earn recognition for multiple achievements most cost-effectively.