The BRC is a standard developed by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and it defines requirements for Food Safety. To achieve Certification, the organization must implement the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), in addition to demonstrating that it has implemented a Quality Management System.
The benefits of having this certification are:
- Improvement of trust between merchants and buyers of packaging materials in relation to the safety, quality and legality of the product.
- Increased product safety and decreased risk of liability for the product.
- Safe and efficient process in relation to packaging in order to quickly identify and control risks in terms of hygiene, quality and health of consumers, as well as to specify effective prevention measures.
- Access to the British food market.
BRC Food Safety Standard
According to the Food Safety Act of 1990, retailers must take all precautionary measures that are necessary to act with due diligence in the prevention of errors in research and development, distribution, advertising, and the sale of food products for consumers
The standard provides the basis for the evaluation of retail brand manufacturers, who have to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the same.
BRC Food Safety is designed for every food company, regardless of its size or complexity. However, they focus primarily on organizations that either produce retail brand products, or that supply products to Great Britain and that have been requested by local retail chains.
BRC Packaging and Packaging Materials Standard (BRC / IoP)
BRC / IoP is designed for packaging manufacturers that supply components or packaging already prepared for the packaging and / or packaging of food products, as well as their suppliers.
BRC Storage and Distribution
The standard provides the essential certification link between the range of BRC Manufacturing standards and the end user, the retailer and the Food Service company.
The standard ensures the best practices in storage management and product distribution, promoting continuous improvement in operating practices. In addition, it provides the basis for an accredited certification of storage and / or distribution sites for food, packaging and consumer products.
BRC Storage and Distribution is applicable to all companies whose activities may affect the safety, quality and legality of stored and distributed products, and of the additional contracted services provided by the storage and distribution companies.
BRC Standard for Agents and Brokers
The standard BRC for Agents and Brokers provides the essential certification for those companies that provide services of purchase, import or distribution of food products and / or the packaging supply chain.
Agents and brokers offer a critical link in the movement and trade of products. This standard seeks to promote best practices in product safety, quality, traceability, compliance with legal requirements and consumer protection.
BRC Consumer Prodcts Standard
The BRC Consumer Products standard is aimed at production or packaging factories for the majority of non-food consumer goods, from toys and textiles to cosmetics and televisions. Some items such as vitamins, live plants and fuels are excluded.
This standard has been designed so that non-food consumer goods companies can demonstrate the safety and legal compliance of their products which comply with the quality levels required by their customers.