Hello everybody.
I'm on internship for 6 month in a packaging society and the objective is to prepare the company to be certificate BRC/IOP 1st categorie .
We have the 3rd issue of the norm for the moment and we wont have the 4th issue before 1 month i think (haven't been ordered yet).
How many times did it took for you do get the the new version (pdf version)?
Can anobody tell me what chapters haven't change much so i'll concentrate on them?
thanks by advance
Denis
Copied below is a briefing issued by the BRC.
BRC Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials Issue 4 - An overview of the key changes to the BRC / IOP Standard between Issue 3 and 4IntroductionIt is now three years since the Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials Issue 3 was published and Issue 4 provides the opportunity to look again at the relevance of the Standard to emerging issues.
Whilst the principles of the Standard and broad expectations remain unchanged, Issue 4 has been substantially rewritten and the operation of the scheme updated to reflect the implementation of the other schemes. We believe Issue 4 adds value to Retailers and Manufacturers alike in reflecting commitment to the scheme.
This also means, however, that it is not possible in a document such as this to provide a comprehensive list of every change. In order to prepare for an audit, or understand the changes, it will be necessary to purchase a copy of the Standard. This document is designed to give an overview of the most significant changes and improvements to the Standard
Scope of the StandardThe scope of the Standard remains the same, encompassing Packaging and Packaging Materials. However, Issue 4 has been rewritten to provide greater focus on quality control and functional properties of packaging which compliment the established requirements of factory hygiene.
General layout of the StandardIn order to maintain the clarity of the Standard the layout lists the requirements for the categories separately.
The number of categories has been reduced to two, based on the hygiene risk associated with the application of the Packaging or Packaging Material. The categories are entitled “High Hygiene Risk Category” and “Low Hygiene Risk Category,” and can be broadly defined as food or non-food packaging. Generally the statements of intent for the Low Hygiene Risk Category are based on expected outputs from the requirements.
The grading system from the Food Safety and Consumer Products Standard has been incorporated into Issue 4, so the number and severity of non-conformities is reflected in the certification status and grade applied. Audit frequency and corrective action review will also relate to grade and performance.
“Fundamental” Clauses have been introduced, relating to systems that are crucial to the establishment and operation of an effective packaging manufacturing operation.
A Preparation and Planning section provides guidance and support for sites new to the scheme’s audit and certification process.
The site now maintains responsibility for continued certification, requiring that recertification audits occur on or before the audit due date. Should this not occur then a major non-conformity will be raised. If a site does not continue certification then a period of six months must elapse before a new initial audit may take place.
Standard Requirements1. Senior Management Commitment and Continual Improvement
This section incorporates the existing requirement of Senior Management Commitment by defining the component parts e.g. organisational structure, resource management and management (systems) review together with new clauses demonstrating senior management involvement and commitment to the Standard, including setting and reviewing objectives for improvement. This section is identical in both categories. The quality policy has been moved into Section 1 to emphasise the importance of this within the context of senior management commitment.
2. Hazard and Risk Management System
Slight changes have been made to this section to reiterate the importance of the use of a multi-disciplinary team to manage and review the implementation of the Standard, and to clarify the role of exemptions to the Standard found through the implementation of the pre-requisite programme.
3. Product Safety and Quality Management System
The content of the clauses remain largely unchanged, but have been extensively reviewed and enhanced to ensure the clauses are clear and add value to the pre-requisite programme. Notable inclusions are around establishing customer requirements as a function of customer focus; the requirement for a declaration of compliance as a greater emphasis on the functional and physical properties of packaging materials; and focus on the processes surrounding incidents, product withdrawals and recalls.
4. Site Standards
Generally, requirements covering the grounds, building fabrication, layout for staff facilities have been only slightly reworded. Site security measures have been extended to reflect the increased concerns in some regions of the threat of malicious contamination.
5. Product and Process Control
The greatest changes in this section are the new clause requirements for managing packaging print control. The aim with this section is to ensure that essential criteria such as allergen information is fully legible and correctly printed. This section also makes requirements over adequate segregation of printed packaging to prevent mixture of packaging types, particularly where composite or ‘gang’ printing is use. This formalises the general good practice followed by many packaging printers and reassures retailers and packaging end-users of the integrity of the information presented on the packaging.
6. Personnel
Requirements have been slightly reworded. For the Low Hygiene Risk Category the requirements surrounding medical screening have been removed.
Audit ProtocolThe general elements of the audit protocol remain the same, the process and audit duration remain as Issue 3 with some new elements introduced. Those familiar with the Food Safety and Consumer Product schemes will recognise the principles of grading and subsequent audit frequency based on grading. The grading thresholds in Packaging are the same as in the other Standards, with an A or B grade remaining on a 12 month audit frequency, and a C grade incurring a 6 month audit frequency. D graded sites will not be certificated.
Consequences for major non-conformities against the Statement of Intent of a Fundamental clause are also now in line with that of the Food Safety and Consumer Products Standards. Where such a non-conformity has been identified the site shall not be certificated.
Operation and Governance of the schemeDetail has been added to the Standard to incorporate information on the operation and governance of the scheme. This is to inform users of the Standard how the schemes are operated.
The aim of this document is only to summarise the major changes. A copy of Issue 4 can be ordered from www.brcbookshop.com. An interpretation guideline for Issue 4 of the Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials will also be available in summer 2011.
