In 2019 BRC Global Standards, rebranded to the new BRCGS, with a large selection of standards which can be found on the BRCGS website. This article will aim to develop your understanding of the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety. It will also highlight the many benefits it offers; as well as pointing you in the right direction in how to achieve the standard.
What is the Food Safety Standard?
The Food Safety Standard was first published in 1998, and it aimed to provide a framework for managing product safety, integrity, legality, and quality and the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredients manufacturing as well as covering processing and packaging (with the storage and distribution of products covered in a seperate standard). This standard is designed to encourage companies to focus on the development of product safety culture and encourage sites to further develop systems for security and food defence.
The latest issue of this standard (Issue 8) is divided into nine sections;
- Senior Management Commitment,
- Food Safety Plan,
- Food Safety & Quality Management Systems,
- Site Standards,
- Product Control,
- Process Control,
- Personnel,
- High-Risk, High-care, and Ambient High-Care- Production Risk Zones,
- Requirements for Traded Products.
In summary, this standard can be used to create a benchmark for compliance to good practices in food industry standards.
What are the Benefits?
Arguably the largest benefit of obtaining this standard is its global presence. The BRCGS Food safety standard is built by experts and delivered by highly qualified auditors who have undergone thorough training and examination of food safety standard to ensure your high quality standards.
Achieving a BRCGS food safety standard boasts many benefits such as, Protecting your brand and consumer through meeting all safety requirements; which in turn provides your customers confidence that your food has to be dealt with at the highest order of safety. Additionally the standard is accepted by many retailers, manufacturers, and food service organizations worldwide as part of their supplier approval process.
Additionally, the BRCGS food safety standard is the first standard to be GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative)-benchmarked, define food fraud, and offer a food safety culture assessment.
This standard can guarantee a reduction in waste, complaints and recalls, through strict compliance to food safety laws.
Additionally, audits are carried out by experts who have been trained and experienced as well as having their performance managed by BRCGS, unlike any other scheme.
How do i get BRCGS Food Safety Certified?
If you’re interested in taking the next step forward in achieving your Food Safety Standard, We recommend heading over to our Contact page to get In contact with our highly trained and experienced BRCGS consultants who will give you further information and a deeper explanation of the processes behind achieving this standard. BRCGS Consultants can guarantee you a straightforward certification process with no hidden costs.