What segregation is required for food packaging and other products
Good Morning,
Can someone try and answer a questions for me, We currently have the BRC storage and distribution standard issue 2 certification. we supply a range of packaging materials, some are and some are not direct food contact. A couple of our other branches do not have the standard and they also store and sell (as well as packaging) chemicals, IE soaps, bleach, polish etc etc.
The question I have, is there any rule to say I can not store these chemicals on site, I know we have direct food contact packaging, however, these goods are sealed at the manufacture and are never opened on our site, so if we was to make sure we keep the two separate then is this allowed. The reason I am unsure is, I can send the products out on a carrier that is also carrying chemicals as long as there is at least 1 full pallet space between my goods and the chemicals ( the was told to me by a BRC Auditor ) so if this is the case then surely I can store them ?
Look forward to any help you folks can give me.
Thanks Tony
Hi Tony,
If you have a separate area for storage of chemicals on site then that shouldn't be a problem. Mixed loads is more of a problem and BRC usually like to see a risk assessment, if you are happy that the pallet spacing arrangements eliminate risk of taint/contamination from chemicals your risk assessment should show this. It would also be expected that defined precautions are stipulated in contractual agreements where appropriate.
Some relevant extracts from the BRC Storage and Distribution Standard:
'3.4 Customer Contractual Arrangements
3.4.1 Customer requirements for the storage and/or distribution of their product shall have been agreed with the customer and documented prior to fulfilment. This shall include any specific handling requirements for the products e.g. temperature, humidity, light conditions, stack height or compatibility requirements. This may be in the form of a company issued service specification where no customer issued specification exists.
3.5.2 Management of sub-contractors
3.5.2.1 A contract or written agreement shall exist with all sub contractors which shall on the basis of risk and any specified customer contracts, define requirements for the safe handling and storage of products stored or transported e.g. temperature, special handling requirements, segregation of incompatible products, vehicle type.
4.3 Layout, Product Flow and Segregation - Product Intake, Handling, Storage and Dispatch Areas
4.3.5 Appropriate storage facilities shall be provided for the control and storage of cleaning and maintenance chemicals, and sited so they shall not compromise the safety, legality and quality of the product.
7.4 Physical and Chemical Product Contamination Risk
7.4.2 All spillages or breakages that pose risk of product contamination shall be recorded in an incident report.'
Regards,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the reply,
Our manual states in clause 4.3.5 that
" it shall be company policy that all chemicals including cleaning materials, lubricants etc shall be controlled so as to prevent any contamination of product. All chemicals shall be kept in lidded containers and appropriately labelled and located in a designated area so as not to compromise the safety, legality and quality of the product"
Therefore If we was to use say Plywood and section a part under our MEZ floor with double doors on it, it would then be Controlled ( as it would be locked) it would also be in a designated and segregated area, and they would be labelled as they are controlled under COSHH and all MSD sheets would be present on site.
I am assuming that this would be enough to keep the Auditors happy? would you agree? (obviously in your personal opinion)
Thanks
Tony
That's sounds sufficient. You will also need spillage/leak controls.
Regards,
Tony
Thanks Tony for you input :-)
Good Morning,
Can someone try and answer a questions for me, We currently have the BRC storage and distribution standard issue 2 certification. we supply a range of packaging materials, some are and some are not direct food contact. A couple of our other branches do not have the standard and they also store and sell (as well as packaging) chemicals, IE soaps, bleach, polish etc etc.
The question I have, is there any rule to say I can not store these chemicals on site, I know we have direct food contact packaging, however, these goods are sealed at the manufacture and are never opened on our site, so if we was to make sure we keep the two separate then is this allowed. The reason I am unsure is, I can send the products out on a carrier that is also carrying chemicals as long as there is at least 1 full pallet space between my goods and the chemicals ( the was told to me by a BRC Auditor ) so if this is the case then surely I can store them ?
Look forward to any help you folks can give me.
Thanks Tony
Please do the risk analysis , and storage history of the products in order to justify that to the auditor
Please do the risk analysis , and storage history of the products in order to justify that to the auditor
Will do, I am already on it, thanks rrana786 :-)