WHAT IS THAT
The BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution (GSSD) defines the requirements for the storage, distribution and wholesale marketing of prepackaged and bulk food products , packaging materials and non-food (consumer) products.
It is intended as a tool to complete compliance within the food chain between food manufacturers and retailers .The BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution was developed to assist and help retailers and other users meet legal obligations and safeguard the consumer , using a common basis for the assessment of those companies involved in storage and distribution of products, wholesale and contracted services.
The first version of the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution standard was published in August 2006, thanks to the collaboration between the British Retail Consortium and UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) , the British national accreditation body.
The BRCGS represents major UK retailers such as Tesco Stores, Sainsbury's Supermarket, ASDA Stores, etc.
CSQA is Accredia accredited for BRCGS Storage and Distribution certification.
KEY POINTS
The standard requires:
- to adopt and implement a hazard and risk analysis (in the case of food products the HACCP system)
- a documented and effective quality management system
- Control of environmental, product, process and personnel standards
- "Storage";
- "Distribution";
- "Wholesale" (only in conjunction with the "Storage" module)
- "Services" (only in combination with the "Storage" module).
- the product enters or storage facilities managed by a third party (compared to whoever manufactures the food product),
- or when entering vehicles always operated by a third party ,
- or even when it is found in structures that are owned by the person who makes the food product , but which are not included in the scope of the BRC Food , the BRC/IoP and/or the BRC Consumer.
Activities that cannot be verified against this standard are:
- bulk food cooling, freezing and thawing services (BRC Food applies);
- storage directly under the management control of the production site (BRC Food applies);
- processing, handling, packaging, re-packaging of bulk product (BRC Food applies);
- live animals (except crustaceans ready to be placed on the market for human consumption);
- bulk agricultural products;
- non-food products not included among those included in the BRC Consumer.
ADVANTAGES
- The possible synergies between the various schemes allow for a reduction in the time and costs required for the various inspections. In fact, having a single point of contact for all company certifications allows the optimization of possible synergies between these standards and ISO 9001 (Quality Management System); therefore the intervention of the certification body can be concentrated in a single check, avoiding having to check several times the aspects common to the various schemes, with evident savings in time, energy and costs.
- The international recognition of the Standard which allows us to respond to requests from customers from all over Europe.
- For companies that already apply a quality management system according to ISO 9001 or use the HACCP methodology, compliance with these standards is very rapid.
- The reduction of second party inspections , i.e. those carried out on behalf of customers on the supplier company, with a reduction in costs to be incurred, both direct (expenses relating to inspections) and indirect (inevitable slowdowns in production activity coinciding with the numerous second party inspections).
- choosing CSQA also means making use of a body with vast experience in supply chain certifications, and with numerous BRC and IFS Food certifications issued, thus summarizing the experiences and management skills of the GDO schemes.