BRC Global Standard - Storage & Distribution

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Technical Standard for Companies Supplying Retailer Branded Food Products was developed in 1998 to provide a common standard for companies supplying retailer branded food products.

Whilst, The BRC Technical Standard was developed by UK supermarket retailers to assist them in their fulfilment of legal obligations and protection of the consumer, it use has become more widespread with it becoming the accepted standard for foodservice suppliers and even the basis for supplier approval to food manufacturers. It is now known as the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety and is up to issue 5.

However, the BRC Global Food Safety Standard can only be applied where there is a production / manufacturing process involved, leaving many companies outside the scope of the original BRC standard. These include the following:

· Agents / importers
· Food wholesalers BRC and ISO Accreditation
· Distribution companies
· Storage companies
· Buying groups
· Any company whose activities involve a mix of the above

This is a varied group and can include companies with the following profiles:

· A company who develops products under their own label but subcontracts manufacturing, storage and distribution to subcontractors for sale into the foodservice sector
· An vegetable or meat importer who subcontracts packing, storage and distribution for sale into the food manufacturing sector
· A national storage and distribution company whose customers include food manufacturers and food retailers.
· A company who purchases, stores and distributes products into the foodservice or retail sectors.

This is a diverse group some of whom have premises and product which can be inspected and others who simply work from an office where no product is stored or handled. In response to this, a number of companies have developed standards which are applicable to these sectors. They appear to be based on older versions of the BRC Standard with criteria which are not relevant removed and other more relevant criteria added.

What do the standards require?

• The adoption and implementation of HACCP
• A documented and effective quality management system
• Control of factory environment standards, product, process and personnel where these are relevant

BRC Global Standard - Storage & Distribution

In September 2006, a new BRC standard for this sector was introduced called the BRC Global Standard - Storage & Distribution. The standard contains separate modules for the different sectors within the supply chain, namely storage, distribution, wholesaling and contracted specialist services offered by storage companies such as:

· Product Inspection / Sorting
· Contract Packing (Repacking, Assembly Packing) BRC and ISO Accreditation
· Quantity Control Inspection
· Contract Chilling / Freezing / Defrost Operations

The scope of the BRC standard appears to be wider than the earlier standards as it covers packing and similar operations which the others do not. The standard was revised again in 2007 and issued as The Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials Issue 3

Do you have any of the following problems?

• Developing a quality system for Food Wholesaling, Storage & Distribution?
• Maintaining your quality system?
• Need help preparing for your next audit?
• Need help on the day of your audit?
• Had problems with your last audit?

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