BRC 3.5.4. Outsourced Processing
Hello,
Two questions regarding outsourced processing. 3.5.4.4 speaks of testing outsourced product "on return". Does this mean if the product goes from outsourced processor to customer it has not "returned" to me?
Also, 3.5.4.2 requires a GFSI or "documented site audit". I have 2 months to prepare for BRC and very little time to travel and audit the (new) outsourced processor. Will the processor's AIB certificate be sufficient?
Thank you,
Hello,
Two questions regarding outsourced processing. 3.5.4.4 speaks of testing outsourced product "on return". Does this mean if the product goes from outsourced processor to customer it has not "returned" to me?
Also, 3.5.4.2 requires a GFSI or "documented site audit". I have 2 months to prepare for BRC and very little time to travel and audit the (new) outsourced processor. Will the processor's AIB certificate be sufficient?
Thank you,
Hi Sruggero,
If the product isn't returned to your site then you will need to show it has been inspected either by the contractor or by samples that your check on site yourself.
The requirement is that you will need to audit your contractor or they need to be certified to the BRC standard or an equivalent GFSI benchmarked standard. Records of audit reports and certificates need to be maintained and be available for the audit. AIB is not a GFSI benchmarked standard so more than likely will not be accepted but you could discuss with your certification body.
Regards,
Tony
First of all, 3.5.4 is the requirement for intermediate process steps that done by your subcontractor. Therefore, if your subcontractor did all process and submit to your buyer directly, the requirement will not applicable to your company. For example, your company produces fruits (as frozen or juice or canned or dried). You buys fruits as whole fruit from your suppliers, then subcontracts external company to help the raw material preparation section to peel some quantities of the fruit before returning the peeled fruit back to your company to process as final products together with the one prepared by the raw material preparation section. Your fruit supplier is under 3.5.2 while your peeling subcontractor is under 3.5.4. Therefore, you need to have procedure to approve and accept whole fruits as well as peeled fruits.
For 3.5.4.2, there are 3 choices for you to monitor these outsourced processing: 1) audit by your company, 2) they certified GSFS, 3) they certified other GFSI standards.
Hope my answer can help.