RSPH

The BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution requires 'The adoption of a formal Hazard Analysis System'. HACCP is only a requirement in relation to food.

If you already have well developed technical and hygiene management systems in place you should find the process of achieving certification relatively straightforward. If your company is ISO 9001:2000 accredited you may find that work already undertaken meets certain requirements of the Standard.

The frequency of evaluations is dependent on the findings at evaluation and the nature of your business. If you are working with chilled and/or frozen foods or provide contracted services your evaluation interval will range from 6 to 18 months depending on the number and severity of non-conformances found at these evaluations. If you are working with ambient foods, consumer products or packaging your evaluation interval will range from 6 to 24 months depending on the number and severity of non-conformances found at evaluation. This is explained fully in the protocol of the Standard. Evaluators visit each site within a company separately and award certification to each in its own right.

An RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] Certification Gap Analysis mirrors a full certification visit and is carried out by an RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] Evaluator with experience specifically in food packaging certification. Using the same reporting documentation and evaluation checklist as in a full certification visit the evaluator presents their findings and discusses any non-conformities identified. They will make it clear whether or not the site, as it stands, would or would not achieve certification. If there is work to be done a Gap Analysis will identify areas for improvement and provide a clear understanding of what needs to be achieved for Certification.

If you have worked systematically through the requirements of the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution this shouldn't happen. However, three types of non-conformities may be identified by the Evaluator:

• Critical - critical non-conformities must be addressed and a re-evaluation visit must take place to verify that the site now meets the Standard before the certificate can be issued
• Major - you must provide evidence (copies of documents/procedures etc.) that the major non-conformities have been corrected before the certificate can be issued
• Minor - you must provide evidence (copies of documents/procedures etc.) that the minor non-conformities have been corrected before the certificate can be issued

An RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] Gap Analysis will help you identify areas that need improvement well before you arrive at the point of a Certification evaluation.

The cost of certification lies largely in the time and effort invested by staff throughout the business, plus the costs of any building, facility or vehicle upgrades that might be needed. An analysis of how your current technical and hygiene management systems measure up against the requirements outlined in the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution will give you an idea of what costs are likely to be involved.

Against these it's reasonable to set savings made from of the reduction in the number of customer audits and increased efficiency and productivity.

Contact us for the current costs of evaluation and certification visits charged by RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] Certification.

The standard is published by the TSO Bookshop and costs £90.

As you work through the BRC Standard - Storage and Distribution you may identify areas where you have no in-house expertise, you may develop concerns regarding how to proceed at a particular stage, or have additional questions. RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] Certification can help via a formal Gap Analysis exercise.

The RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] team of Evaluators are all experienced in hygiene and product safety and undergo regular training and work in conjunction with a Senior Evaluator. Detailed record-keeping and good communication ensure that Evaluators arrive at your site well briefed and ready to get underway.

Evaluations against the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution can only be conducted by certification bodies recognised by the BRC and participating in the Pilot scheme organised by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service). RSPH [Royal Society for Public Health] is a certification body recognised by the BRC and part of the UKAS pilot scheme.

The retailers have driven the introduction of the BRC Global Standard - Storage and Distribution. They are required by law to 'take all reasonable precautions and exercise due diligence in developing, manufacturing, distributing advertising and selling food products to the consumer'. This means driving hygiene standards and requirements down the supply chain to include storage and distribution of food, packaging and consumer products.