6 replies to this topic

[Simon]

On the BRC website National Britannia Certification Limited are listed as Suspended. They are a large global certification body for BRC Food, Packaging, Consumer Products and Storage and Distribution.

BRC / UKAS have been receiving a bashing in the press recently and I wonder whether they are showing their teeth. We've called the inconsitency of audits on here many times over the years, so if foul play is involved I hope they are taking strong action.

Too many food safety audits spoil the broth

What will happen to Natbrit customers holding BRC certicicates? Does anyone have more information on this breaking news?

[Charles.C]

Dear Simon,

Thks for the very interesting link. My snap conclusion - What a mess !

I don't hv any input regarding Nat.Brit.(cheque for ver.5 bounced?? ) however as an addendum to above link, I thought readers might find the 2 items below surveying the overall Food standards scene of interest, first one 2009, second 2010 (the latter initially seemed neutral but ultimately is, i think, a cheerleader for FSSC/ISO 22000 ).

 Status of ISO 22000 (2009).pdf   341.88KB   11 downloads

 CIAA (2010) - FSprivateregimpactdongo12mar2010rev.pdf   455.31KB   11 downloads

One thing I did find rather hard to believe was a statement at end of 2nd attachment that the FSSC certificate was valid for 3 yrs (???)(added - i subsequently saw the full audit scheme which has "surveillance" visits annually within a 3yr cycle, hmmm)

(@Simon, in case you want to focus a NBCL thread only, feel free to split above off)

Rgds / Charles.C

[Esther]

On the BRC website National Britannia Certification Limited are listed as Suspended. They are a large global certification body for BRC Food, Packaging, Consumer Products and Storage and Distribution.

BRC / UKAS have been receiving a bashing in the press recently and I wonder whether they are showing their teeth. We've called the inconsitency of audits on here many times over the years, so if foul play is involved I hope they are taking strong action.

Too many food safety audits spoil the broth

What will happen to Natbrit customers holding BRC certicicates? Does anyone have more information on this breaking news?

Dear Simon

Thank you very much for the link! A very good one! In fact, I will use it as a support when I have to give my opinion regarding all this mess about auditing and specially about BRC.

M&S speaker and the others are totally right in my opinion.Those audits rarely can add value to food safety issues. In my opinion, the major problem falls on the standard per se ( or its interpretation by auditors) and on auditor training/ professional experience ( I do not mean BRC knowledge).

I would like to share something that happened to me in a recent audit. To sum up, my conclusion after that was: for BRC there is no risk analisys to be done but you have to do all what a requirement states ( or the interpretation by the auditor).This can lead to have same consideration for a big production plant ( 5000 thousands of units per hour) than for a small plant ( 400 hundreds per day) for example. Again, it is ridiculous. And another example, ¿ how is it possible that an auditor can assure that a point is not a PCC without asking anythingelse? This is real, it happens to me recently!


As a consultant, as a quality manager in a food company and as a person who passed BRC exam I can say that most of the times this auditing process is becaming ridiculous and unuseful!Waste of money & waste of time!In my case,I would add waste of health by listening to silly arguments during an audit.


It is a pity that this is happening to food industries. At least, big companies are starting to say in a loud voice what they thing.

On the other hand, in order to make this auditing thing effective I think that audits by the costumer and unnounced audits are the best way.

Well, again, Simon: thank you for the link!

[Ken]

On the BRC website National Britannia Certification Limited are listed as Suspended. They are a large global certification body for BRC Food, Packaging, Consumer Products and Storage and Distribution.

BRC / UKAS have been receiving a bashing in the press recently and I wonder whether they are showing their teeth. We've called the inconsitency of audits on here many times over the years, so if foul play is involved I hope they are taking strong action.

Too many food safety audits spoil the broth

What will happen to Natbrit customers holding BRC certicicates? Does anyone have more information on this breaking news?

One of my customers who is audited by National Britannia received a letter in the last few days confirming this. SAI Global will be completing National Britannia's audits whilst the investigation is completed. My customer informed me that the issue was about the alleged use of unapproved auditors in India. However, I'm not sure if this was gleaned from the letter or another source. It does not affect my customers certification but if the reason is true would affect the audits completed by any 'unapproved' auditors.

Perhaps another member has more information - please correct me if any of my information is wrong.

Ken

Edited by Ken, 11 October 2010 - 07:55 AM.

[Tony-C]

Dear Simon
To sum up, my conclusion after that was: for BRC there is no risk analisys to be done but you have to do all what a requirement states ( or the interpretation by the auditor).
Well, again, Simon: thank you for the link!

This must be an auditor failure.

From one of my previous posts on the BRC forum:

BRC just love "risk assessment". The following are required to be risk assessed:

i. Supplier approval and monitoring
ii. Storage
iii. Cleaning
iv. Water, ice, steam, and gases in contact with food or food contact surfaces
v. Maintenance of new equipment
vi. Cleaning of footwear if worn outside
vii. Risks of Chemical, Physical and Taint contamination
viii. Site audit frequency
ix. Potential contamination from glass
x. Frequency of checking glass items
xi. Glass breakage procedures
xii. Potential contamination from wood
xiii. Foreign body contamination from packaging
xiv. Pest control inspections
xv. Storage, loading and transportation procedures
xvi. Raw material contamination with allergens
xvii. Prevention of cross-contamination with allergens
xviii. Integrity of identity preserved raw materials
xix. Prevention of contamination of identity preserved materials
xx. Testing and inspection schedules
xxi. Product release
xxii. Checking of measuring devices
xxiii. Jewellery policy
xxiv. Hand cleaning
xxv. Protective clothing
xxvi. Laundering of protective clothing
xxvii. Wearing of beard snoods

Regards,

Tony

[Simon]

One of my customers who is audited by National Britannia received a letter in the last few days confirming this. SAI Global will be completing their audits whilst the investigation is completed. My customer informed me that the issue was about the use of unapproved auditors in India. However, I'm not sure if this was gleaned from the letter or another source. It does not affect their certification but if the reason is true would affect the audits completed by any 'unapproved auditors.

Perhaps another member has more information - please correct me if any of my information is wrong.

Ken

Thanks Ken, if that's the case they deserve to be sanctioned. Everyone who works diligantly within BRC Standards wants, expects and deserves a level playing field.

About time they sent a message.

[Simon]

Below is a reply to this story posted by Judith Hutchinson on the IFSQN LinkedIn Group

Karen Betts the compliance manager at BRC has issued information and I have pasted below the important parts with regard to what is happening if they are your accreditation body.

Hope this helps

Sites with audits pending: NB Certification are not permitted to undertake BRC audits whilst suspended. Sites with audits currently planned during the suspension period will be contacted by NB Certification. NB Certification will undertake to work closely with such clients and to offer to them as an option the provision of accredited audit services using another BRC recognised accredited certification body. Dispensation will be allowed for a delay of up to 28 days in the audit dates to accommodate this process.

Audited sites who have not yet been issued with a certificate: NB Certification are not permitted to issue accredited certificates whilst suspended. This will result in a delay in the issue of certificates whilst suspension remains in place. Once suspension is lifted sites within the certification process may then be issued with an accredited certificate. The BRC have made major retailers aware of the potential for delay in certification. Sites may choose to restart the certification process with another BRC recognised and accredited certification body if they so wish.

Existing certificated sites: A review has been undertaken of the processes operated by NB Certification to ensure the validity of currently issued certificates. At this stage there is no reason to doubt the validity of these certificates and the certificates will be valid for the duration of the certificate.

When will suspension be lifted ?:The suspension can only be lifted once corrective actions have been put in place and BRC and UKAS are satisfied that certification processes are again operating satisfactorily. An audit is scheduled for the beginning of November which will establish if suspension can be lifted.