Ensuring packaging safety across the food supply chain
Developed by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), a UK trade organization that represents the interests of the UK retailers, in conjunction with the Institute of Packaging, the BRC/IoP Global Standard - Packaging and Other Packaging Materials was developed to assist retailers and manufacturers in meeting their legal obligations.
The standard provides a common basis for the certification of companies supplying packaging to manufacturers and retailers. We are a globally accredited supplier of auditing and certification services to this standard.
Who is it relevant to?
The BRC's Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials is particularly suitable for suppliers of packaging materials to food manufacturers who supply UK retailers. Its scope has recently been expanded to include medical, pharmaceutical and consumer goods packaging manufacturers.
Principles of the standard:
- Minimize duplication of evaluation
- Ensure transparency and compliance with fair trading legislation
- Continuously review and improve standards and supporting processes
- Promote best practice
Requirements include:
- Organization
- Hazard and risk management system
- Technical management system
- Factory standards
- Contamination control
- Personnel
These requirements also cover some of the core elements of ISO 9001, therefore if an ISO 9001 system is already in place, work on implementing the BRC's Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials should be minimized.
Next steps
Request a quote, find out more about training courses or contact us for more details.
Certifying your organization against the BRC's Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials requirements can bring the following benefits:
- Assurance that your legal requirements are being met
- Assurance that your systems in place are best practice and enable production of packaging that’s safe
- Increased customer satisfaction through certification to a recognized standard
- Increased access to markets by meeting supplier requirements
- Certification associated with the BSI brand
- As some synergy exists between the requirements of BRC's Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials and ISO 9001, a combined audit can offer some cost savings compared to two separate audits
Next steps
Request a quote, find out more about training courses or contact us for more details.
If you’re already a BSI client, with various standards already in place, your Client Manager can help you assess where you are now, and guide you through to the certification process.
If you’re new to BSI, don’t worry - the route to certification is very simple.
1. Choose the standard
Before you can begin preparing for your application, you'll need a copy of the standard. You should read this and familiarize yourself with it. The standard is available directly from the BRC.
2. Make contact
Get in touch and tell us what you need, so we can sort out the best services for you. We’ll give you a proposal detailing the cost and time involved in a formal assessment.
3. Meet your assessment team
We’ll assign you a Client Manager, who will be your main point of contact through the process – and beyond. They’ll know your area of business well, and support you as you move forward to assessment and certification.
4. Consider training
Whether you’re seeking to implement a management system or would like to increase your general awareness of the standard, there are a range of workshops, seminars and training courses available.
5. Pre-assessment
We can do a pre-assessment of your existing management system against the requirements of the standard and identify any omissions or weaknesses that need resolving before formal assessment.
6. Formal assessment
A formal initial assessment will be carried out on site within an agreed timescale.
7. Certification and beyond
Once the assessment has been successfully completed, we’ll issue a certificate of registration, clearly explaining the scope of your management system. Certification frequency is 6 months, following your initial certificate assessment. This can be extended to 12 months thereafter, if no major non-conformities are identified at further assessments. Your Client Manager will carry out re-certification based on your visit cycle to ensure you remain compliant and support your continual improvement activities.
Next steps
Request a quote, find out more about training courses or contact us for more details.
