BRCGS STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION (GSSD)

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 BRC represents major UK retailers such as Tesco Stores, Sainsbury's Supermarket, ASDA Stores, etc.

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

The Standard is divided into four modules , each covering a specific activity. They can be applied individually or in combination, depending on the actual activity of the company:

1. "Storage";
2. "Distribution";
3. "Wholesale" (only in conjunction with the "Storage" module)
4. "Services" (only in combination with the "Storage" module).

The application of the standard within the food chain begins when:

• 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.