5 replies to this topic

[Tamale]

We are a Canadian paper mill that produces butcher wrap, steak paper, grease resistant wrapping and bag paper.

 

We wish to be present in the EU market but do not know which quality standard to apply. ISO 22000, BRC, HACCP...etc..

 

Any suggestions on where to start? 

 

Thanks!

 

Tamale

[Madam A. D-tor]

The commercial certificable packaging standards are:

- BRC IOP and

- IFS PACsecure (you can free download this standard on www.ifs-certification.com)

 

information about IFS PACsecure from IFS site:

The new IFS PACsecure standard, developed in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and a broad spectrum of industry representatives, specifically applies to all forms of primary and secondary packaging materials.

Unlike many standards, developed on broad-based principles for the food industry, the IFS PACsecure standard was specifically designed to identify potential hazards associated with each of the twenty-four common packaging manufacturing processes, resulting in more cost effective solutions. PACsecure has been accepted by the U.S.-based Food Safety Alliance for Packaging (FSAP), which includes organizations such as General Mills, Kraft, Nestle, Conagra Foods, Unilever, Sara Lee and Campbell Soup.

 

information about BRC IOP from BRC site:

The Standard provides focus on quality and functional aspects of packaging which complement the established requirements of factory hygiene.

Maintaining its versatility in food and non-food packaging, the publication will ensure the scheme continues to be a leading global standard adopted by major retailers and packaging businesses around the world. Certification to the Standard verifies technical and functional performance, aids manufacturers’ fulfillment of legal obligations, and helps provide protection to the consumer.

All of the requirements are based on wide and extensive consultation with international stakeholders.

 

EU legislative on food contact materials:

Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food: http://eur-lex.europ...20130101:EN:PDF

Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing Directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC: http://eur-lex.europ...20090807:EN:PDF

 

Other regulations may be important to you, but I am not familair to them.

 

 

Edited by Madam A. D-tor, 25 October 2013 - 01:56 PM.

[Charles.C]

Dear Tamale,

 

Well, I guess you are faced with 3 aspects -

 

(a) the regulatory EC / regulatory local standards of specific EC destination point.

(b) the private standards required by yr customer, often preferred to be benchmarked to GFSI, eg previous post  (IFS packaging benchmarked GFSI unsure)+ FSSC-22000 (packaging [maybe not quite yet benchmarked to GFSI]), SQF (not available for packaging yet maybe?)

(c) any other specific requirements of yr customer

 

Within the EC itself, (b) is likely to show preferences depending on location.

 

Rgds / Charles.C

[Simon]

Great reply Madam A. D-tor and lovely to see you again.

 

Tamale, it's a bit strange in Europe the UK is almost 100% B(ritish)RC whereas Germany and France are very much 100% IFS.  You know what we're like over here.  The French would never go for BRC.

If you intend to supply to all Europe or just specific countries, then we can say which you should go for. It may be that if you went for BRC/IOP and you had a few German customers they may accept it, but then if you had one awkward customer then you may need dual certification, if they were big enough to push you.  I have a lot of experience with BRC/IOP and I think it is very user friendly, the IFS Pacsecure standard is quite new.

 

At the end of the day all standards are very similar and whichever you choose it would not take much to get the other certificate if necessary.  If it were me I would choose the initial certification standard based on the location of my largest customer base or target customer base.  And you know the IFSQN already have an off-the-shelf package for BRC/IOP.

 

Cheers,

Simon

[Tamale]

Thank you very much everyone.

 

As Simon points, our sales targets must be taken into consideration. I will have a discussion with our marketing dept in order to determine our direction in this.

 

Having implemented other standards I agree that they are similar. Oftentimes its just a question of perception or culture that must be addressed.

 

Tamale

[Simon]

Whichever one you choose we're here to support you all the way...if you need it.

 

Have a nice weekend.

 

Regards,

Simon