[Simon]

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is publishing a new version of the globally recognised BRC Food Standard on 31 December 2004. This will come into force on 1 June 2005.

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Regards,
Simon

[SAM]

Just had our BRC audit - only 7 minor non-conformities have been raised, I have already closed three of them out!!

The auditor this year was so much better than last year. Last year we had the dreaded Trainee auditor with the proper auditor. We had 4 pages of non-conformities, and to be completely honest, that much hasn't changed in the past 12 months!!

This auditor came with the attitude that, OK some areas of our site need refurbishment, It is an old site, but the process is completely enclosed so there is absolutely no risk to the product, last year it was raised as a non-conformity, the funny thing is is that if we pulled the actual building down, and carried out the process in the open air, we would not have got any non-conformity raised.

So for another twelve months we have retained our BRC - Higher certification thanks to an auditor with some common sense!!

[Simon]

Well done Nadine!

Your experience highlights the inconsistency between auditors even when we work to a standard, with clear audit guidelines, carried out by trained and competent auditors. At the end of the day it's still very much down to perception and attitude.

Give yourself a big pat on the back you deserve it. I'd give you one but I can't find an emoticon. :D

Regards,
Simon

[infoiqc]

Does anyone have more detailed info about the changes in the new standard?
I spoke to TSO and they said it wouldn't be available till sometime in Jan.

Regards,
Gail
IQC - Israel

[narongchai_y]

I think you can firstly see the changed summary in the BRC web page at http://www.brc.org.uk. I herewith the quotation;

The benchmark for food safety management, the Food Standard has been extensively revised for 2005. Created to establish a standard for the supply of food products, this publication has now become the international mark of excellence. Certification to the Standard verifies technical performance and aids manufacturers fulfilment of legal obligations and protection of the consumer.

Changes in legislation are included in the new 2005 edition, affecting:
- Traceability of food components through the supply chain
- ensuring that food components remain uncontaminated by other elements - important when allergens labelling becomes a statutory requirement next year
- food product suppliers being able to advertise that farmed goods in their products come from a particular source
- ensuring that guidelines governing various processes in the manufacture of food products are sufficiently robust
- pointers on what suppliers can say in their communications

[yorkshire]

Having just had a BRC audit we touched on the new standard with the auditor. Although this standard appears not to be finalised the key changes appear to be that there will be knock out clauses (KOs), sites will be given a grade / score and the audit frequency can change (6 and 12 months).

Sounds like they are going more down the IFS route.

[Simon]

yorkshire, on Jan 12 2005, 08:43 AM, said:

Sounds like they are going more down the IFS route.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does having two audits (for the same thing) make your blood boil Yorky? You would think some smart cert body would offer combined audits??? Now there's a thought.

Regards,
Simon

[yorkshire]

Simon

Our audit company can have a combined audit but the audit frequency can be different. For IFS once you have 2 inspections at Higher level then the frequency goes down from 12 month to 18 months, while the BRC audit remains at 12 months.

2 audits a year is not too bad and as we do not manufacture supermarket brands we do not have their visits to contend with.

Regards

Yorkshire