The latest version (Issue 8) of the British Retail Consortium Global Standard (BRC) was published on 1 August 2018 and implemented on 1 February 2019.
In the whole standard, 43 of the 302 items are new, 26 items have amendments and additions, and 21 items have minor corrections.
Among the total 302 items of the standard, the following items may be excluded. The items to be excluded are as follows:
3.5.2.3 Live animal admission to the facility. [NEW]
3.5.4. Outsourced process.
4.9.4. Glass packaging.
4.10.3 Use of metal detector and X-ray device.
4.10.4 Magnet use.
4.10.5 Use of optical separation equipment.
4.11.7 CIP in our process.
4.13 Animal feed by-products.
4.15.4 Storage in controlled atmosphere.
4.15.5 Outdoor storage.
5.2.5 Any cooking instructions on the packaging. [NEW]
5.4.4-6 A statement about the product.
Of the out of scope items defined above, the reasons for those to be excluded by the organisation should be documented and defined.
With the new version, 18 new items have been added to the items that companies cannot exclude and must implement. We list them below: 18 of these are the items newly put into effect with the Issue 8 version of the standard.
1.1.2. Improving food safety culture.
1.1.6. Specific reporting system for raising food safety concerns
1.1.13. BRC Logo usage
3.5.2.2. Practices to ensure that the correct input is accepted by input acceptance personnel.
3.7.3. Application of root cause analyses.
3.9.1. Documented information on traceability.
4.4.6. Requirements for walkways and stairs passing over production areas.
To prevent contamination from input packaging
Related to pencils
4.11.8.1 Design of environmental controls for pathogens or spoilage microorganisms.
Determination of PEM control limits, trend monitoring
Review of the PEM programme.
4.14.7. Involving birds in pest control.
5.5.3. Management of unused packaging and labels.
5.6.2.5. The importance of laboratory results, taking prompt actions in case of inappropriate results or trends.
6.1.2. Where equipment adjustments are critical to food safety, adjustments should only be made by trained and authorised personnel.
6.3.3. Requirements for automatic weighing units on line.
7.1.5. Training of personnel on labelling and packaging. Remember, this standard can be downloaded free of charge from the official site of BRC. You can download the standard by following this link.
As 10k, we provide comprehensive training and consultancy services for you to obtain (or renew) your BRC certificate. you can contact us for.