Next best accreditation body to BRC or SQF?

Hi, I work for an importing dry feed ingredient brokerage, e.g. corn gluten meal, dry milk powder, soy protein, etc.

I looked over the BRC requirements and some of them, my company wouldn't be able to fulfill. (Imagine how hard finding a GFSI feed ingredient supplier is at market value) We also wouldn't be able to conduct audits all over world due to costs. 

So my question is: What accrediation body should my company go for besides BRC or SQF? Maybe HACCP?

FSSC 22000

Marshall

Hello,

For the choice of the right certificate it's primary to study what your (future potential) customers are requesting. It will be pity to put energy in a certain schedule when your customers require another one.

You can also look what's usual in your branch. And to the markets you deliver, as there are variations throughout the globe. As I see that you are working on a feed ingredient company, it can be valuable to look to the GMP+ Certification schedule (again: bearing in mind your customers' requirements).

I hope to have informed you sufficiently. In case of further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Kind regards,

Gerard Heerkens

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked at FSSC 22000 requirements, but they don't seem to work well with brokers.

Gerard, our customers aren't too picky on a certain schedule, but they do want to see some sort of FSMS in place. Typically, they care more about the manufactorer's certification or FSMS, but I build a FSMS to show there was due diligence in our supplier approval program. With the GMP+ Certification, I noticed that one of their requirements is "A company may only buy his feed ingredients and services from a supplier who complies with GMP+ requirements, and is certified as such." Some of the companies that we purchase from aren't GMP+ certified.

In terms of a general FSMS that I can build off of, what do you think is best? 

Dear Mr, Ms,

The answer to your question is probably in the sentence you are mentioning:

"With the GMP+ Certification, I noticed that one of their requirements is "A company may only buy his feed ingredients and services from a supplier who complies with GMP+ requirements, and is certified as such." Some of the companies that we purchase from aren't GMP+ certified."

Kind regards,

Gerard Heerkens

Hi ingrebroker,

I have no familiarity with the broker business but from a manufacturer's POV you are correct IMO that a 2-tier System exists with the top tier being filled by GFSI-recognised standards and a lower tier focussing on conventional haccp . The latter choice (also offered by a variety of Companies) will probably require substantially less technical resources and less  documentation.

So, if an analogous situation exists for brokers, the choice will likely relate to yr own situation (ie resources) + yr customer requirements.

Thank you Gerard and Charles for the responses.

Do you think I should work toward GMP+ certification without actually being certified under it? Some of our suppliers are only HACCP certified, so I am unsure if it'll be possible to be certified under it.

Also, would it be possible for a broker company to be certified under ISO 22000? I'm looking at ISO 22000 specifically and not at the ISO 22002 schemes used for FSSC 22000.

Dear Ingrebroker,

You're welcome.

You are the person who knows your market, suppliers and customers. As you have mentioned, "A company may only buy his feed ingredients and services from a supplier who complies with GMP+ requirements, and is certified as such.".

You will probably meet customers with the requirement above, when you are supplying them.

Kind regards,

Gerard Heerkens