3.5 Supplier and raw material approval and performance monitoring

Hi All, I am new to Ifsqn. WE have our dreaded BRC audit in early May. My time seems to have been totally consumer with risk analysis in other section having 320 raw materials! I am now struggling with a few sections ie. 3.5.3.1 and 3.5.3.2. I have contracts in place for Transport Companies and our Maintenance Contractor, basic agreement for LAundry company and Pest Control contractor, indicating basic information like visits per year, etc and number of coat issues per year. I only have accreditation information in place for Waste contractor and External Laboratory.
I would be grateful for any examples of procedures for approval and monitoring of suppliers of services and any examples of contracts for the same.
Help desperately neededand will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you all.

I covered this with a services based SAQ as most of our contracts had nothing suitable in them. It seemed the pragmatic approach; however, when the BRC FAQs came out, it seemed to imply it was more ongoing review which was required:

http://www.brcglobal...bid=178&mid=595

Look on page 10, it suggests pest control and laundry can be reviewed on a 6 monthly basis in a meeting which is not a contract at all!!!

So I ended up doing both!

Hello,

according the BRC, there is no strict requirement about the suppliers of services. "There shall be a documented procedure for the approval and monitoring of suppliers and services". Thus, you can define your own system of approval. The only thing that the auditor will check is :
- what is your procedure (how do you approve and monitor your suppliers and services ?)
- is your procedure suitable according the risk related to your supplier or service.
- what is included in your review : complaints, performance, prices, ....

You can add as many criteria as you wish. The only thing is to assure that you follow your supplier of services correctly. You can of course see what is recommended by the BRC or done in the other company. but it will only be guidance.

Regards.

Jorick BESNARD

Hello,

according the BRC, there is no strict requirement about the suppliers of services. "There shall be a documented procedure for the approval and monitoring of suppliers and services". Thus, you can define your own system of approval. The only thing that the auditor will check is :
- what is your procedure (how do you approve and monitor your suppliers and services ?)
- is your procedure suitable according the risk related to your supplier or service.
- what is included in your review : complaints, performance, prices, ....

You can add as many criteria as you wish. The only thing is to assure that you follow your supplier of services correctly. You can of course see what is recommended by the BRC or done in the other company. but it will only be guidance.

Ah, now yes, but if you read the FAQ, this doesn't suggest that at all and it also says "contracts or formal agreements shall exist with the suppliers of services". This seems fairly explicit to me that something formal must be agreed somewhere.