4 replies to this topic

[MOURADTALBI]

According to  BRC version 8

 

5.4.4           " The site shall undertake documented mass balance tests at a frequency to meet the particular scheme requirements or at least every 6 months in the absence of a scheme-specific requirement.The site shall undertake documented mass balance tests at a frequency to meet the particular scheme requirements or at least every 6 months in the absence of a scheme-specific requirement." 

 

 

can someone explain to us what it means and how to meet this requirement.

 

 

Thanks

[pHruit]

This section applies if you are making any specific product claims - e.g. Organic, Fairtrade, non-GMO etc.

For some of these (e.g. Organic) there is separate certification required, and the relevant certification schemes may mandate a minimum frequency for traceability and mass balance tests.

This BRC clause requires that in the absence of any requirements from a specific other certification scheme, you do your internal test at least once every 6 month.

 

Have you got a copy of the BRC Issue 8 Interpretation Guidelines? If not then this is worth obtaining - it's free if you're already on the BRC Participate scheme, or £125 from the BRC Bookshop here if not. If it's your first time doing BRC then I believe this will be a very sensible purchase for you.

[MOURADTALBI]

This section applies if you are making any specific product claims - e.g. Organic, Fairtrade, non-GMO etc.

For some of these (e.g. Organic) there is separate certification required, and the relevant certification schemes may mandate a minimum frequency for traceability and mass balance tests.

This BRC clause requires that in the absence of any requirements from a specific other certification scheme, you do your internal test at least once every 6 month.

 

Have you got a copy of the BRC Issue 8 Interpretation Guidelines? If not then this is worth obtaining - it's free if you're already on the BRC Participate scheme, or £125 from the BRC Bookshop here if not. If it's your first time doing BRC then I believe this will be a very sensible purchase for you.

So, if I understand correctly I must perform a traceability test + material balance at least once every 6 months in case of allegation.

[pHruit]

The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is that it could depend on which specific claim(s) you're making and any other requirements relating to it - for example, if you're labelling a product as organic and your organic certifier stipulates a requirement to do a mass balance / trace every 3 months then this would override the BRC requirement. (I'm not readily aware of any schemes that do have such a requirement, so just an illustration).

[MOURADTALBI]

The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is that it could depend on which specific claim(s) you're making and any other requirements relating to it - for example, if you're labelling a product as organic and your organic certifier stipulates a requirement to do a mass balance / trace every 3 months then this would override the BRC requirement. (I'm not readily aware of any schemes that do have such a requirement, so just an illustration).

 

Right

 

Thanks