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Whether you are a food manufacturer, quality assurance professional, or compliance officer, understanding the intricacies of BRCGS is essential for staying competitive and building consumer trust.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the global food supply chain, ensuring food safety, integrity, and quality is paramount for food manufacturers. With consumer demands continuously shifting and regulatory scrutiny on the rise, businesses need a robust framework to navigate these challenges and uphold the highest standards. This is where the Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS) for Food Safety shines as a globally recognised benchmark, whilst meeting the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmark. There are a variety of BRCGS Standards to choose from, each tailored to the requirements within each sector – from packaging, storage, importation, distribution etc. and, all set the standard for food safety excellence.
What is the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety?
BRCGS is designed to help businesses achieve excellence in food safety management by ensuring compliance with the rigorous requirements of GFSI. This certification is not only well-regarded by food retailers, manufacturers, and food processors globally, but it also serves as a vital tool for achieving compliance and competitive advantage in an increasingly demanding market.
The Core Pillars of BRCGS
BRCGS focuses on embedding a comprehensive food safety culture across an organisation, while addressing key operational aspects. Below is a breakdown of it’s core components:
- Encouraging a Product Safety Culture
BRCGS highlights the importance of instilling a robust food safety culture. This means more than just following protocols; it’s about fostering a mindset at all levels of the organisation, from leadership to front-line employees.
- The Food Safety Plan – HACCP
The BRCGS Food Safety requires the development of an effective hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) program based on the principles of the internationally recognised Codex Alimentarius system.
- Site Standards
To be compliant, facilities must maintain impeccable hygiene standards. Pre-requisite programs such as pest control, cleaning, waste management, and foreign body control should be in place to ensure that production environments remain sanitary.
- Unannounced Audits
Due to the added confidence provided by unannounced audits, the GFSI benchmark 2020 introduced a requirement for all certificated sites to have at least one unannounced audit within every 3-year period, even where the site has opted to be part of an announced audit programme.
Why BRCGS Matters in Today’s Global Food Industry
The relevance of BRCGS cannot be overstated as it navigates the challenges of global applicability. By keeping up-to-date with its guidance, businesses position themselves for international success while aligning with evolving consumer needs and regulatory standards.
Here’s why businesses today invest in attaining BRCGS certification:
Global Recognition: Certification grants access to a wider network of customers, suppliers, and retail partners.
Competitive Benchmarking: Keep pace with market leaders while setting standards for internal processes.
Continuous Improvement: Regular audits ensure businesses continually maintain a strong food safety culture and adaptability.
Which BRCGS is right for me?
There are several BRCGS to choose from depending on your business requirements. This includes:
- BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety – Issue 9
- BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials – Issue 6
- BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution – Issue 4
- BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free – Issue 4
- BRCGS Global Standard for Agents and Brokers – Issue 3
- BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based – Issue 1
For details on each of the Standards visit our BRCGS Global Standards page.
Join the Journey Towards Food Safety Excellence
Navigating the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety can feel like a monumental task, but with the right preparation, it serves as a catalyst for operational improvement and greater consumer confidence.
At Intertek SAI Global, our team of experts partners with businesses to achieve BRCGS certification. Whether you are just getting started or optimising existing processes, we bring you unparalleled expertise.
Take the next step in safeguarding food safety while positioning your business for global success. Get in touch today to explore how we can help you achieve and maintain BRCGS certification.