New Version Announced

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is publishing a new version of the globally recognised BRC Food Standard on 31 December 2004. This will come into force on 1 June 2005.

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Regards,
Simon

Just had our BRC audit - only 7 minor non-conformities have been raised, I have already closed three of them out!!

The auditor this year was so much better than last year. Last year we had the dreaded Trainee auditor with the proper auditor. We had 4 pages of non-conformities, and to be completely honest, that much hasn't changed in the past 12 months!!

This auditor came with the attitude that, OK some areas of our site need refurbishment, It is an old site, but the process is completely enclosed so there is absolutely no risk to the product, last year it was raised as a non-conformity, the funny thing is is that if we pulled the actual building down, and carried out the process in the open air, we would not have got any non-conformity raised.

So for another twelve months we have retained our BRC - Higher certification thanks to an auditor with some common sense!!

Well done Nadine!

Your experience highlights the inconsistency between auditors even when we work to a standard, with clear audit guidelines, carried out by trained and competent auditors. At the end of the day it's still very much down to perception and attitude.

Give yourself a big pat on the back you deserve it. I'd give you one but I can't find an emoticon. :D

Regards,
Simon

Does anyone have more detailed info about the changes in the new standard?
I spoke to TSO and they said it wouldn't be available till sometime in Jan.

Regards,
Gail
IQC - Israel

I think you can firstly see the changed summary in the BRC web page at http://www.brc.org.uk. I herewith the quotation;

The benchmark for food safety management, the Food Standard has been extensively revised for 2005. Created to establish a standard for the supply of food products, this publication has now become the international mark of excellence. Certification to the Standard verifies technical performance and aids manufacturers fulfilment of legal obligations and protection of the consumer.

Changes in legislation are included in the new 2005 edition, affecting:
- Traceability of food components through the supply chain
- ensuring that food components remain uncontaminated by other elements - important when allergens labelling becomes a statutory requirement next year
- food product suppliers being able to advertise that farmed goods in their products come from a particular source
- ensuring that guidelines governing various processes in the manufacture of food products are sufficiently robust
- pointers on what suppliers can say in their communications

Having just had a BRC audit we touched on the new standard with the auditor. Although this standard appears not to be finalised the key changes appear to be that there will be knock out clauses (KOs), sites will be given a grade / score and the audit frequency can change (6 and 12 months).

Sounds like they are going more down the IFS route.

Sounds like they are going more down the IFS route.

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Does having two audits (for the same thing) make your blood boil Yorky? You would think some smart cert body would offer combined audits??? Now there's a thought.

Regards,
Simon

Simon

Our audit company can have a combined audit but the audit frequency can be different. For IFS once you have 2 inspections at Higher level then the frequency goes down from 12 month to 18 months, while the BRC audit remains at 12 months.

2 audits a year is not too bad and as we do not manufacture supermarket brands we do not have their visits to contend with.

Regards

Yorkshire

For IFS once you have 2 inspections at Higher level then the frequency goes down from 12 month to 18 months, while the BRC audit remains at 12 months.

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Strange they didn't take the opportunity to iron out the anomaly with the latest revision of the BRC Standard. I wonder was it money or safety?

Regards,
Simon

I think the BRC are looking at safety.

They are looking at having 2 different audit frequencies, i.e. 6 and 12 months, which I believe is more like the packaging standard.

They are looking at having 2 different audit frequencies, i.e. 6 and 12 months, which I believe is more like the packaging standard.

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Yes it's the same.

I think the BRC are looking at safety.

I believe the reason is similar to that of a HACCP audit - it has got to be for safety reason. The longer the time period prior to the next audit, the opportunity for food safety abuse becomes more "attractive"

Charles Chew

I believe the reason is similar to that of a HACCP audit - it has got to be for safety reason. The longer the time period prior to the next audit, the opportunity for food safety abuse becomes more "attractive"

Charles Chew

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I have complete breakdown of all changes from the previous to the new 2005 BRC standard if anyones interested ?

I have complete breakdown of all changes from the previous to the new 2005 BRC standard if anyones interested ?

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That would be really useful Gary thank you.

Regards,
Simon

the new BRC Food is competing with IFS v4. The BRC tried to be tough but the CBs are different. The only reason is there are too many CBs can do BRC food audit. They are competing each other by cost, result and etc.

In this way, there is no way to compete with any other standards altough I agree that the technical protocol of BRC food v4 is much better than that of IFS v4 in wording (English).

The new BRC Food is competing with IFS v4.  The BRC tried to be tough but the CBs are different.  The only reason is there are too many CBs can do BRC food audit.  They are competing each other by cost, result and etc.

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So what are you saying Ding - the Standard is not being applied consistently? If so the issue must be raised if we are not to head down the same path as the tarnished ISO 9000.

Regards,
Simon

So what are you saying Ding - the Standard is not being applied consistently?

Not only the BRC, the IFS is not being enforced consitently. See thread on metal detection.


***EDIT ADDED LINK TO METAL DETECTION THREAD***
Are stop belt rejection systems allowed in Germany, IFS version 4 - Clause 5.5.3