I just heard one piece of news for version 6 that the audit days would be at least 2 days. One of the guy in the working group just told me.
I have had a V5 audit last 2 whole days and only got 4 minors (all paperwork based!) this was with SAI global, I have recently had 2 BRC audits with "A.N.Other" auditing body that were not so "in depth" so to speak.
I am hoping that BRC are going to look at those that issue the certificates as well as those that need them, in light of the recent issues with Nat Brit I think this may be the case. BRC V6 needs to be audited to an agreed standard, for example "X" amount of time on
HACCP as this is fundamental. and more time on the shop floor as this is where the food is actually produced not in a paperwork system. You can have fantastic procedures and bits of paper to say people are trained, but you need to observe this in practive and not just collect the paperwork! I have also had non conformances for things with one auditing body that another one has allowed. I understand auditing is a "sampling excersise" but surely there needs to be a level playing feild to start with?
As a manufacturer; I like the challenge of BRC,BUT I think it needs to remember what it was put in place for. I still have unanounced audits from retailers.. so whats the point of BRC? It needs to regain the prestige it appears to have lost and I can only attribute this to sites being issued grades that the retailers do not agree with. I know of one site on "red status" with one retailer, and just failed another retailer audit with 6 criticals and over 30 other non conformances that got a BRC grade A with 5 minors.... Think that sums it up really.