BRC certification for only one product range

Hi,

We are small manufacture of middle eastern sweets and interested in getting BRC certification.

On site we also have high care area which is segregated from low risk where  middle eastern sweet are manufactured.

Can we possibly get certification for  our middle eastern sweets range only. Also want to mention in low risk area we also make other bakery items which we are not interested in getting in the scope of audit.

Is that possible?

T

hanks for your opinion.

Martin

It is my understanding that the scope is up to you.

Yes, you can exclude. However all areas excluded are still subject to inspection as to how they may/may not impact the scope inclusions. Meaning nothing is off limits.

BRC have tightened up on the requirements for exclusions from scope - they are still permissible but you'll need to agree these with your certification body ahead of the audit. You're also prohibited from using the BRC logo if you have any exclusions.
The current requirements under Issue 8 are that "The exclusion of products produced at a site will only be acceptable where:

• the excluded products can be clearly differentiated from products within the scope, and
• the products are produced in a physically segregated area of the factory. "
   

It sounds like you may also need to include the other bakery items in the low-risk area if there is no physical segregation from the processing area for the sweets range you're looking at.
There is further information in section 1.6.2 of part III of the standard (available free from the BRC Bookshop if you don't already have a copy) so worth having a read of that and then perhaps talking through with the certification body/ies you're considering working with.