10 replies to this topic

[salesmch]

Hello.  Our company is preparing for our first BRC audit.  I've read that there is a certain amount of time that the program is to be "in place" and being used prior to the audit.  i thought it was 2-3 months but needed someone who can verify that number?

 

Many Thanks

[SQFconsultant]

I have seen auditors accept 2 months, but it is more the rarity.  Auditors will look for at least 3 and 4-6 is more like it.   3Months is just barely enough time to shake things out, unless you have been implementing as documents, SOPS, etc were generated.

[Charles.C]

Hello.  Our company is preparing for our first BRC audit.  I've read that there is a certain amount of time that the program is to be "in place" and being used prior to the audit.  i thought it was 2-3 months but needed someone who can verify that number?

 

Many Thanks

 

Hi sm,

 

I guess it may depend on the relative importance of the program.

 

One common restriction is that for "significant" items auditors probably expect to see "adequate" documented records of the usage.

 

PS - there are usually some "specific," document-driven, restrictions for a new facility but that's a slightly different thing.

[012117]

Hi, Salesmch.

 

From my experience, we consider at least 3 months of records..

 

Thanks.

[redfox]

Hello,

 

BRC auditors requires at least 3 months of records.

 

regards,

redfox

[Charles.C]

Hello,

 

BRC auditors requires at least 3 months of records.

 

regards,

redfox

 

Hi redfox,

 

Are you referring to this ?

 

Manufacturing units that are newly built or ‘commissioned’ must ensure that systems and procedures in place are compliant
before an initial BRC audit is undertaken. It is at the discretion of the company when they wish to invite a certification body to carry
out an audit; however, it is unlikely that full compliance can be satisfactorily demonstrated at an audit undertaken less than 3
months from commencement of operation. This is likely to be the situation even where the site for certification uses quality
systems developed by other certificated companies in the group.

 

It's unclear whether facility is new or not.

[mgourley]

90 days of documents is the generally accepted standard per BRC.

However, the standard requires internal audits of the standard "throughout the year", so I would argue at least a year to meet the requirements in 3.4.

 

If you are a new site looking for certification, if you can provide 90 days of documents and have a "schedule" that shows internal audits have/will be conducted within the required time frame, you should be good to go.

 

Marshall

[redfox]

Hello Charles,

 

Presumably it is intended for new site. Because on re-auditing, auditor may check back on  the first day after your last audit, especially record of the steps that requires real-time monitoring ex: pasteurization time-temp record. Or he may check the record where you had NC on his previous audit. A whole year record is necessary for re-auditing, and it must be complete, organized and intact for an easy retrieval.

 

regards,

redfox

[bensmith007]

I agree with Marshall- in our first audit last year, we received a major non-conformance for clause 3.4.1 for not auditing the BRC procedures throughout the year. Our argument was how can we audit the program when it is not technically in place, or how can you audit something that you have just put in place?

 

The auditor double checked with head office but were firm on this as a major. We did not have any discussion as to how long these audits should have been happening for, but as Marshall states, clause 3.4.1 says 'throughout the year' so 12 months before makes sense (as much as BRC clauses make sense!).

 

Ben

[Charles.C]

As stated in the Standard ???.

 

> Post 6 .

[Pipsa]

Hi! This 3 months records before audit: does it mean e.g. if we have work instructions, and at the end of this document is training record, that all these kind of records has to be in use for 3 months before certificate audit? Or is it enough, that we have started filling one of these records 3 months before audit, and in this case some of the instruction training records are filled maybe 1 months before audit?