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BRC Version 6 - discussion on the changes

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Simon

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 12:05 PM

I think they should only let a company have the same certification body for a maximum of 5 years and the same auditor twice.:bye:


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Posted 14 February 2011 - 03:14 PM

I have just booked our audit, and BRC have changed the auditing criteria, below is what our auditing body sent us (SAI Global):

This is to advise you that the BRC have implemented a new procedure for calculating audit duration. The new procedure establishes the typical audit duration as two days, of which a minimum of 5 hours shall be spent auditing the production environment.

There are 3 main factors which are used to calculate audit duration;



· Number of employees – as full time equivalent employees per main shift including seasonal workers.

· Size of the manufacturing facility (in square metres) - including storage facilities on site

· The number of HACCP studies included within scope – A HACCP study corresponds to a family of products with similar hazards and similar production technology for the purpose of the calculator

In addition to the above there are also a number of other factors identified in the procedure which may influence the calculation but are considered to be less significant. These other factors shall not influence the audit duration by more than 30% from the total calculated audit duration.



Certification Bodies are required to implement the new procedure for all audits undertaken from the 1st of March 2011. In addition to recording the total audit time and the time that is spent auditing the production facility, we are also required to include details of the above factors in the final audit report.

In the implementation of this procedure BRC are seeking to:-

· achieve transparency

· have a more consistent approach to establishing audit duration

· ensure that there is a good balance between documentation review and review of the production environment.

In order that we may calculate the duration for your upcoming audit I would be grateful if you would complete the attached Company Profile document and return it to me within 5 working days. We will then calculate your audit duration in line with the procedure and contact you again to finalise your audit date.

The full procedure is available on the BRC Website: http://www.brcglobal.../audit duration



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Posted 14 February 2011 - 05:03 PM

Thanks, interesting to know and glad there is now some guidance and flexibility. IME auditors used to try and audit a large factory or tiny one in 3 hours.



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Posted 21 February 2011 - 10:17 PM

We have a BRC audit due in March, I would like to see an auditor spend 5 hours in our factory without losing his marbles. We have 8 production employees spread within a relatively large factory and either very very slow process or fast processes on really simple products. I don't think we can talk about the process, factory, HACCP and training and pest control etc without resorting to deviation, repetition or hesitation! The auditor has told us that he will spend that time in the factory so we may well keep him to his word.


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Posted 24 February 2011 - 05:00 AM

Do not know if some body have referred the following official website. It is very much relevant to the topic. Here you get the information regarding features of the latest edition and opportunity to tell BRC what you would like to see in issue 6.

http://www.brcglobal...standards/food/

Regards:
M. Zeeshan



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Posted 24 February 2011 - 07:11 AM

Dear Jules,

Welcome to the forum ! :welcome:

Must confess i found yr description a little confusing. You are producing marbles ?? :rolleyes:

Rgds / Charles.C


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


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Posted 24 February 2011 - 07:57 AM

Posted Image
Lol, just followed the link to find BRC version 5 has been "translated" into American English! Two nations, divided by a common language...

Have any American standards or publications been translated into English English? Also did you know you can translate facebook pages into pirate English?


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Posted 09 March 2011 - 08:29 PM

Two days, twice the cash. Customers won't put up with a price increase, so stealth rise built into the standard. Not us mate. :dunno:

I would go for 1 day unannounced sample audits that spend more time checking what is happening where it matters on the shop floor rather than checking documents in an office.

Just my 2p worth.


I just pass BRC audit and it's a rule with version 5 that audit should be 2 day


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Posted 18 March 2011 - 07:36 PM

I just pass BRC audit and it's a rule with version 5 that audit should be 2 day

Thanks mikysya.

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Posted 02 April 2011 - 10:44 AM

Thanks mikysya.



Is this 2 x 8 hour days, or 2 x 10/12 hour days (which i've had in the past)????


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Posted 02 April 2011 - 10:47 AM

Yep but sounds like they're considering changing it from optional to compulsary which I would be happy with tbh. Would save me from 3-4 months of nagging a year and might actually make my sernior management realise they can't just pick up technical systems when they feel like it.



I'm sure i've posed this question before, but imagine the scenario.

Mr Tesco PIU turns up in reception to do his unannounced, and whilst he's signing in Ms BRC turns up to do her unannounced!!

Who do you turn away?????
And should you have to pay for the aborted unannounced audit???

Caz x


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Posted 07 April 2011 - 01:38 PM

I expect more clarification is on it way, i.e. tightened standards. Over the last three years our facilities have been audited by 4 different BRC auditors (Each facility is individually certified) NONE of which are on the same page! We jump through hoops and put out fires only for the next auditor to read the standard and interpret it in a completely different way. (marking us up for minors time and time again) I am not sure if others have experienced this, but we are completely frustrated at this point. I'm putting my money on clarification.


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Posted 07 April 2011 - 01:42 PM

As for the unannounced audits I don't think that will be the case. Simply because one of the standards is that you must "maintain" certification (i.e. annually) Unless they are planning on getting rid of that requirement you would know when they are coming still... announced or not. :rolleyes:


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Posted 07 April 2011 - 01:57 PM

I'm sure i've posed this question before, but imagine the scenario.

Mr Tesco PIU turns up in reception to do his unannounced, and whilst he's signing in Ms BRC turns up to do her unannounced!!

Who do you turn away?????
And should you have to pay for the aborted unannounced audit???

Caz x


Ms BRC .......Ladies first!

A BRC audit is usually for the benefit of all of your customers not just one of them

Regards,

Tony

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Evonna

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Posted 08 April 2011 - 07:38 AM

Hi,
Yes, version 6 will come out on the 1st June 2011 for implement in January 2012...

So- Has anyone heard anything about v6? I understand some initial training will be taking place at the end of 2010? :helpplease:
[/quote]



GMO

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Posted 08 April 2011 - 08:16 AM

http://www.brcglobal...standards/food/

Looks like first draft will be April 2011 now. Anyone know revised timescales?


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Posted 12 April 2011 - 08:01 PM

I just heard today from someone on their board-they are issuing version 6 to the CB's in Mid-July via Webinars. Their training window will be from launch till December. They will be going 'live' on January 1st and begin to audit against that standard at that time.


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Posted 18 April 2011 - 04:03 PM

The draft for consultation is now available; it seems unannounced audit which was a big dicussion point remains optional:

http://www.brcglobalstandards.com/standards/food/issue-6-consultation-documents/



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Posted 18 April 2011 - 08:50 PM

Initial impression is that draft version 6 is much better - 25% fewer requirements! Less words and much easier to understand. Less emphasis on documentation and more on GMP and what actually goes on on the factory floor.

Some excerpts from the introduction:

The consultation identified a number of opportunities for further improvement particularly with regard to the way the audits are conducted including:-

 A better balance of auditing time between the factory environment and paperwork review with more emphasis on good manufacturing practice.
 ensuring consistency of audit results and particularly that grades awarded were truly representative of the standards sites could maintain on an on-going basis.
 providing a path to allow recognition of sites which are developing their food safety systems.
 Reduce the need for multiple customer audit
The rewrite has been used as an opportunity to look at the wording and lay out of the standard to simplify and remove ambiguity.
A review has been undertaken of the statements of intent which precede each set of requirements in the standard to ensure that these all express the required out come with the following more detailed requirements supporting the achievement of the desired outcome.
Changes to the draft of the standard have resulted in an overall reduction in the number of clauses of about 25% by removing or rolling together clause so that each expresses a significant idea. This should also add to the consistency of grading as requirements now have a more similar significance.
The certification process has been strengthened by ensuring that not only are issues identified at the audit corrected but also the root cause is identified and an action plan put in place to prevent recurrence.

Unannounced audits is still optional.

Will have read of the standard in more detail



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Posted 19 April 2011 - 07:16 AM

Thanks for summary,

I just downloaded the first draft version, expecting new comments here,

Best regards,

Jason


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Kind Regards,

Jason

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Posted 20 April 2011 - 08:53 PM

Thank you for the link & also the summary. Our team has began to reference it and find where our weaknesses might be. Should be an interesting audit year next year. :smarty:


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Posted 21 April 2011 - 07:15 AM

Dear all,

I have read part of the new issued draft version.

My feeling is that wording in this version is pretty good :clap: . For each clase, BRC stated its guidance on what aspects should be concerned by auditors. Thus I believe the homougeneous level of the audit will be definitely enhanced.

Secondly, the sensitive issues are more specified in the new draft verion. e.g. Allergen issue, the foreign body control parts etc.

Lastly, some repeated clauses are deleted. Different clauses are incorporated maximally. Thus the total number of clauses are decreased, which will derectly linked to a possible better grade got by auditee.

I am keep my reading, above is only my feeling to the formar half part of the draft.

Best regards,

Jason


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Posted 21 April 2011 - 07:48 AM

Hello All,

I have been through the new draft and it's looking like it includes less than expected!

Anyone who supplies the major supermarkets is most likely doing most of the new additions already. Nice to see the expanded section on allergens though again this just brings it up the the standard we are already requried to have by our customers.

I have not seen the three levels of risk in the production areas before (4.3.1) We have always worked to low risk and high care and now they have added " open materials but not classified as high care" as an intermediate level. Any comments on this?



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Posted 21 April 2011 - 07:47 PM

Interesting section on complaints:


"All complaints shall be recorded, investigated and the results of the investigation and root cause of the issue recorded". What if you work for a manufacturer who makes millions of products a day so a low number of complaints would still be in the 1000's but each has to be investigated?


GMO

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Posted 21 April 2011 - 08:05 PM

I think the open products not high care is vague. It could mean factories who have open RTE products but don't consider themselves to be high care or it could mean raw meat and raw veg areas in a ready meal factory, also there is no mention of high risk which is different. I think that will cause confusion in auditees and auditors if not clarified.

Hmm, they seem to be confused themselves. High care areas normally have some materials which aren't disinfected into the area (unlike 4.3.5) because they can't be, e.g. bread in a sandwich factory.

I also think cheese packers will be questioning the decision tree...





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