Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Now benchm
arked
against the
GFSI
Guidance Do
cument
Sixth Editio
n
Issue 4
ISSUE 4
February 2011
British Retail Consortium
BRC and IOP publish information and express opinions in good faith, but accept no liability for any error or omission in any such
information or opinion, including any information or opinion contained in this document.
Whilst the BRC and IOP have endeavored to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate, they shall not be liable for any
damages (including without limitation damages for pure economic loss, or loss of business, or loss of profits, or depletion of goodwill, or
otherwise in each case, whether direct, indirect, or consequential), or any claims for consequential compensation whatsoever (howsoever
caused) arising in contract, tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation, restitution, or otherwise, in
connection with this publication or any information contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of reading this
publication or any such information.
All warranties, conditions, and other terms implied by statute or common law are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded.
Nothing excludes or limits the liability of BRC and IOP for death or personal injury caused by their negligence, for fraud or fraudulent
misrepresentation, or for any matter which it would be illegal for them to exclude or attempt to exclude liability for.
The Global Standard for Packaging & Packaging Materials and the terms of the disclaimer set out above shall be construed in accordance
with English Law and shall be subject to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Copyright
© British Retail Consortium and IOP The Packaging Society (a division of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining) 2011
British Retail Consortium and IOP The Packaging Society (a division of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining) have asserted their
rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the authors of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form (including photocopying or storage in any
medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright owner. Application for permission should be addressed to
the Director of Global Standards at the British Retail Consortium and IOP The Packaging Society, contact details below.
No part of this publication may be translated without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Warning: Any unauthorized act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Contents
Section I Introduction 1
1 Background 3
2 The Scope of the Standard (Issue 4) 3
3 Principles of the Standard 4
3.1 Senior management commitment 4
2 Product Categories 11
Fundamental requirements 15
Exclusion of Requirements 15
Nonapplicable clauses 15
Risk-based exemptions 16
© BRC/IOP iii
3.7 Specifications 26
3.9 Traceability 27
4 Site Standards 29
4.1 External standards 29
4.3 Utilities 30
4.4 Security 30
4.6 Equipment 31
4.7 Maintenance 32
iv © BRC/IOP
5.6 Calibration 40
6 Personnel 43
6.1 Training and competence 43
3.7 Specifications 52
3.9 Traceability 53
© BRC/IOP v
4 Site Standards 54
4.1 External standards 54
4.3 Utilities 55
4.4 Security 55
4.6 Equipment 56
4.7 Maintenance 56
5.6 Calibration 62
6 Personnel 64
6.1 Training and competence 64
2 Getting Started 69
vi © BRC/IOP
9.3 Revisits 75
12.2 Certification 77
12.3 Appeals 78
3 Achieving Consistency—Compliance 86
3.1 Calibrating auditors 86
© BRC/IOP vii
Appendices 87
Appendix 1 The Standard and its Relationship with other BRC Global Standards 89
Appendix 2 Examples of Packaging Categories 90
Appendix 3 Registration, Qualifications, Training, and Experience
Requirements for Auditors 92
Appendix 4 Fields of Audit for Packaging and Packaging Materials 94
Appendix 5 Certificate Template 95
Appendix 6 Examples of Records that should be Kept 96
Appendix 7 Glossary 97
Appendix 8 Acknowledgments 100
viii © BRC/IOP
SECTION I
INTRODUCTION
© BRC/IOP 1
2 © BRC/IOP
Section I
Introduction
1 Background
Welcome to the fourth issue of the Global Standard for Packaging & Packaging Materials (henceforward
referred to as the Standard). Originally published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Institute of
Packaging in 2001, it was designed to protect the consumer by providing a common basis for the certification
of companies supplying packaging to own-brand food producers.
The Standard has been updated at regular intervals to reflect the latest thinking and the scope expanded to
include packaging for consumer products. The emphasis of the Standard has also changed reflecting the needs
of customers to ensure that not only is the packaging produced in a hygienic environment but that the quality
and performance (functional properties) are effectively managed to meet specifications. The Standard has now
established worldwide usage as a framework for businesses to assist in the production of safe packaging for
use both for food and for consumer products. In response to considerable demand, the Standard has been
translated into many languages to facilitate implementation by businesses across the world. This fourth issue
has been developed with advice and input from a wide range of international stakeholders.
The Standard specifies the safety, quality, and operational criteria required within packaging manufacturing
organizations to fulfill obligations with regard to legal compliance and protection of the consumer. The format
and content of the Standard are designed to allow an assessment of company premises, operational systems,
and procedures by a competent third party (the certification body) against the requirements of the Standard.
The Standard applies to the manufacture of packaging and packaging materials used in food packaging and
filling operations and to packaging and packaging materials for cosmetics, toiletries, and other consumer
products and materials. It is also intended to apply to:
© BRC/IOP 3
■■ providing a single audit report that is recognized by many customers in place of their own audits—saving
time and cost
■■ operating under an accreditation framework that ensures the results of certification have international
credibility and recognition
■■ a comprehensive scope, covering areas of quality, hygiene, and product safety, that meets most customer
requirements when assessing and approving suppliers
■■ providing a framework for the development of quality and hygiene management systems in companies
that encourages continuous improvement, reduction in waste, and increased efficiency
■■ addressing part of the legislative requirements of the packaging manufacturer/supplier, packer/filler, and
retailer. Packaging manufacturers may also use this Standard to ensure their suppliers are following good
manufacturing practices and are fulfilling legal requirements
■■ certificated sites making use of the marketing opportunities provided, through recognition on the public
BRC Global Standards Directory website and use of the BRC logo.
4 © BRC/IOP
In order for a packaging business to receive a valid certificate on completion of a satisfactory audit, the
organization must select a certification body approved by the BRC. The BRC lays down detailed requirements
that a certification body must satisfy in order to gain approval. As a minimum, the certification body must
be accredited to ISO Guide 65/EN45011 by a national accreditation body affiliated to the International
Accreditation Forum.
A list of certification bodies approved by the BRC is available on the BRC Global Standards Directory:
www.brcdirectory.com.
© BRC/IOP 5
6 © BRC/IOP
SECTION II
PREPARATION AND PLANNING
FOR SUCCESS
© BRC/IOP 7
8 © BRC/IOP
Section II
1 Preparation Time
In order for everyone to gain the most value from certification to the Standard, retailers and other specifiers
should have a clear understanding of the demands it places on their suppliers and the benefits that ensue.
Equally, manufacturers need to plan carefully to achieve certification.
Both specifiers and companies seeking certification should understand that considerable effort may be
needed to work toward certification, especially for companies that have no previous experience of third-party
certification schemes or quality management systems certification.
It is important to set realistic timescales in which to gain certification and have a clear project plan to ensure
that all the necessary actions are completed before the certification audit visit.
After the audit visit, there is a short timescale allowed to correct any failures to meet the requirements of
the Standard, which are identified by the audit report as nonconformities. This is 28 days (extended to 90
days for major nonconformities at initial audits). There is a limit to the number of nonconformities that are
allowed before certification is refused (see Section IV, 11 Grading of the Audit, for details). If the number of
nonconformities exceeds that allowed or the nonconformities are not corrected within the allowed timeframe,
a complete re-audit will be needed before certification can be obtained. It is therefore not advisable to attempt
an audit without adequate preparation.
© BRC/IOP 9
s 6ISIT THE "2# WEBSITE www.brcglobalstandards.com
s /BTAIN A COPY OF THE 3TANDARD AND STUDY IT
Stage 1
s 4RANSLATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN A NUMBER OF LANGUAGES
Learn
s -AKE USE OF OPTIONAL SUPPORT MATERIALS INCLUDING INTERPRETATION AND BEST
practice guidelines and training courses (available from BRC) to assist
understanding of the requirements
s %STABLISH THE AUDIT CATEGORY FOR CERTIl CATION
s 7HAT NEEDS TO BE DONE #ARRY OUT A GAP ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THE PARTS OF
Stage 2 the Standard which are not adequately covered
Plan s !SSEMBLE AND TRAIN A TEAM OF PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN RISK ASSESSMENT AND
other safety and quality matters
s )DENTIFY THE PRODUCT SCOPE TO BE INCLUDED IN "2# CERTIl CATION
s /BTAIN CONSULTANCY IF REQUIRED
s 2ENEW PREREQUISITE PROGRAMS
s %STABLISH THE APPROPRIATE PRODUCT GROUPS
Stage 3 s #ARRY OUT HAZARD AND RISK ANALYSIS AND ENSURE THAT CONTROL POINTS IN THE
Preparation process have been established
s 0REPARE PROCEDURES
s #HECK THE SITE IS CAPABLE OF MEETING "2# REQUIREMENTS
s 5NDERTAKE INTERNAL AUDITS
s #ONTACT CERTIl CATION BODIES #"
Stage 4 s 3ELECT SUITABLE #"
Pre-assessment* s !RRANGE A PRE
ASSESSMENT VISIT
OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED
s )MPLEMENT ANY IDENTIl ED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
s !RRANGE AN AUDIT VISIT WITH AN APPROPRIATE #"
s %NSURE ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THAT SENIOR
Stage 5 management staff are available
Audit and s !UDIT IS CONDUCTED
certification s #"