6 replies to this topic

[Whitney]

Hi

 

I am just wondering what other people do regarding packaging in supplier approval.  We have an approved supplier list that includes all packaging, from food contact bags to the tape that seals the outer case. This issue with this is that some of the non food contact packaging suppliers do not have the required documentation to meet our supplier approval procedure. Suppliers that are purely label makers don't have BRC or HACCP systems.

 

How do you get round this? The BRC standard just uses the term 'packaging' but what does this cover? My thoughts are that if they meant food contact packaging only, then surely they would of stated food contact packaging rather than just packaging?

 

Appendix 5 details what the terms mean but there is only a definition for 'primary packaging' not 'packaging'

 

I would love to hear what other people are doing and your thoughts!

 

Thank you

 

Whitney

[BrummyJim]

Hi Whitney,

 

It sounds like your packaging supplier approval procedure is too rigorous. We are more relaxed with our non-food contact suppliers and justify it using a risk analysis matrix and use a multiplier of 2 for food contact. Thus a risk level of 8 for a non-food contact supplier would become a level of 16 for food contact material from the same supplier and would trigger an audit. Note that you can also use prior use as a justification.

 

We don't approve our label supplier and this has never been questioned. However, we do approve all food contact components (taps, tubing, bag steriliser etc.) as well as major components such as boxes and pallets.

[Sharon (Dewsbury)]

It all depends on the label. Is it supplied as printed?

if so it could have a food safety impact if the information is wrong or illegible. i.e. allergens, nutrition information.

You'd need to know about the ink and its migration too.

What about the adhesive ?is it a sticky label with migration issues for the glue?

Primary packaging is the packaging the consumer takes home be it contact or not.

Other than that do a risk assessment as suggested by Brummyjim

[Nikki R]

Hi, the company I work for have never put secondary packaging through the supplier approval system. We just never considered it. This bit us on the backside this year and we got a non conformance for not  approving secondary packaging suppliers. We have handled this by putting every supplier through the system, those who have accrediataion are great. Those who dont we have a supplier questionnaire based on the standards for the packaging and packaging materials BRC that they are required to fill in. As long as staff are not permitted to consume food on the manufacturing line (allergen contamination), and branded overruns are handled correctly e.g destroyed is stored securely until next run (Potential fraud threat) we accept them as a C grade supplier who will need monitoring and reassessing on a annual basis. 

[Whitney]

Hi Sharon

 

no the labels aren't supplied printed they are just plank labels. Regarding the glue migration and ink migration, would you consider this if the label is to put on the outside on a bag?

 

Thanks

 

Whitney

[Whitney]

Hi Nikki

 

Would it be possible for you to upload a copy of the questionnaire you use? That would be a great help!

 

Also was it a non conformance from a BRC auditor?

 

Thanks

 

Whitney

[Nikki R]

Yes it was a non conformance from a BRC Auditor. Hopefully the file has uploaded. It looks a bit bland as I have removed all the company logos and document numbers from it. I just ran through the BRC standards for packaging and picked out what I felt was vital and added them to the questionnaire as I have no idea where to start and very little time! It seems very effective and our auditing company were happy with it 

Attached Files

•  Extended Packaging Supplier Questionnaire.pdf   515.46KB   465 downloads