Food safety certification for small to medium sized businesses.

The BRCGS START! programme recognizes and encourages the development of food safety systems in small sites where food safety management systems are immature. Developed in line with the full Food Safety Global Standard, it is recognised and supported by many leading brands and retailers.

Key Benefits

Starts your food safety certification journey - Small food producers get the opportunity to demonstrate recognised stepping stones towards eventual certification to the full Food Safety Global Standard.

Supported by large retailers - BRCGS START! has the full support of leading retailers as it provides them assurance about established food safety systems. This facilitates the way for small businesss to get their products on shelves of big retailers.

Business Growth - Independent research, carried out by the University of Birkbeck demonstrates that organizations operating to BRCGS standards improve food safety, operational efficiency, commercial growth, improved profitability and broad-based innovation.

About the Standard - The BRCGS START! programme gives small food producers the opportunity to demonstrate recognised stepping stones towards eventual certification to the full Food Safety Global Standard. 30% of sites certificates to START! successfully transition to the full standard within two years.

Who is the BRCGS START! standard for? - The BRCGS START! programme recognizes and encourages the development of food safety systems in small sites where food safety management systems are immature. Developed in line with the full Food Safety Global Standard, it is recognised and supported by many leading brands and retailers.

Product Categories - The START! programme sets out the requirements for the manufacture of processed foods and the preparation of primary products supplied as:

1. Retailer-branded products
2. Branded food products
3. Food or ingredients for use by foodservice companies, catering and food manufacturers

The audit and certification will apply only to products that have been manufactured or prepared at the site where the audit has taken place. This will include storage facilities that are under the direct control of the production site management.

Benefits

1. There are two levels of certification to suit your size, maturity and need
2. It is fully aligned with Food Safety Issue 9 and provides a clear roadmap to full certification
3. Fully aligned with the GFSI Global Markets programme (the full Standard is GFSI-benchmarked)
4. It requires completion of corrective actions on any non-conformities before certification, reducing the need for customers to follow up audit reports
5. Public listing on BRCGS Directory, the tool that brands and retailers use for supplier selection
6. Improve brand reputation through the use of BRCGS logos to promote your products

BRCGS START! Issue 2

Following the publication launch of Issue 2 of the START! Standard in March 2023, audits to the new issue are expected to start six months later on 01 September 2023.

BRCGS Packaging Materials Global Standard is an internationally recognised standard that sets out the requirements for the manufacture of packaging and packaging materials used in food packaging and filling operations and for cosmetics, toiletries and other consumer products and materials.

Gaining BRCGS certification gives your brand an internationally recognised mark of quality, safety and responsibility. The programme is designed to be efficient, reducing the need for multiple audits and helping you to improve your processes.

As one of more than 27,000 BRCGS certified manufacturers in 100 countries, you will benefit from increased consumer confidence and open your business to new opportunities.

The Standard provides a framework for all types of packaging manufacturers to assist them in the production of safe packaging materials, to manage product quality to meet customers' requirements and to fulfil its obligations regarding legal compliance. Certification against the Standard is recognised by many brand owners, retailers, food services companies and manufacturers around the world when assessing the capabilities of their suppliers.

The BRCGS Standard demands high levels of compliance and the certification programme is wide ranging, including food safety planning, site and process controls, and gaining management on product quality and integrity. You can also add on the BRCGS Food Safety Culture Excellence module to your next audit. As your partner, we can support and guide you on your journey to certification.

The people within your food organisation are critical to its success, therefore by assessing your food safety culture you can make improvements to your business that help to protect your brand, products and the consumer.
The BRCGS Food Safety Culture Module is an assessment that helps food businesses to evaluate their food safety culture; highlighting any areas for development and acting as a measurement of success which can be used over time as the food safety culture evolves.

Developed with industry leaders in the field of food safety, management, education and organisational culture, the Food Safety Culture Excellence assessment captures, measures and categorises cultural data, providing One Score across Four Categories and 20 Dimensions.

Some of the key benefits the BRCGS Food Safety Culture Module can bring to your organisation include:

1. Determining the strengths and weaknesses in your food safety capability
2. Providing a benchmarking tool for multi-site businesses
3. Complementing the existing audit programme with a behavior-based approach
4. Providing insight into staff attitude, opinion and behavior
5. Strengthening your reputation with a proactive approach to food safety culture

BRCGS has designed a range of options for the Food Safety Culture Excellence assessment. So no matter the size of your operation, you can support assurance and improve your food safety culture.

BRCGS Agents and Brokers Certification is recognised by many retailers, food service companies and manufacturers around the world when assessing the capabilities of their suppliers.
Agents and Brokers (non-manufacturing traders) who buy, sell or facilitate the trade of products, provide a critical link in the movement and trade of products, and influence supplier product safety and quality standards, as well as being responsible for maintaining an effective chain of traceability.

Key Benefits

Drives Integrity - BRCGS sets the benchmark for best practice, helping to provide reassurance that products and services are high quality, legal and safe.

Business Growth - Gaining certification to the Agents and Brokers standard will give you a competitive advantage because it is becoming a prerequisite of trading with many leading retailers.

Builds Consumer Confidence - Agents and brokers play an important role in the movement and trade of products and, as a critical link between product manufacture and the trade of products, they are responsible for maintaining an effective chain of custody on which businesses and consumers rely.

The Agents and Brokers Global Standard provides a framework to manage product safety, authenticity, quality and legality for businesses in the food, packaging and consumer products industries that buy, sell or facilitate the trade of products, but do not manufacture, process or store the products in their own facilities or on their own sites.

BRCGS Agents and Brokers Certification is recognised by many retailers, food service companies and manufacturers around the world when assessing the capabilities of their suppliers, covering certification for the following categories of products:

1. Food products, including raw materials, processed foods, and fruit and vegetables
2. Packaging materials – primary, secondary and tertiary materials, and raw materials for the manufacture of packaging materials
3. Pet foods for domestic animals
4. Consumer products

Issue 3 Publication and Transition

Issue 3 of the Global Standard for Agents and Brokers was published on 1st October 2021. There will be a period of transition and certification audits against Issue 3 will commence in April 2022. All certificates issued against audits carried out prior to this date will be against Issue 2 and be valid for the period specified on the certificate.

Mitigating risk through a risk-based management systems approach to gluten-free food production.

As more consumers adopt a gluten-free diet, food manufacturers need to ensure that their gluten-free claims are accurate.

The BRCGS Gluten Free Certification Programme (GFCP) certifies your business, facility and its gluten-free manufacturing controls and is recognised by major celiac associations globally. First published in 2011, the Standard promotes the use of HACCP principles and a management systems approach, to systematically manage and control gluten in food manufacturing and packing environments.

Certified sites can offer their customers trademarks to put on their product’s packaging as proof of certification and verification of being safe for those with a gluten intolerance or allergies. The program can be attached to any GFSI-benchmarked food safety standard and the audits may be conducted as standalone or in combination with a GFSI certification audit

BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free Issue 4 was published 05 February 2024 and includes a new section resulting from a strategic partnership with the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS). This collaborative effort empowers certified sites and brands that source from them to display the AOECS’s Crossed Grain symbol on their packaging. This symbol is the most recognized gluten-free emblem across Europe and its neighboring economies, signifying adherence to stringent gluten-free standards.

Other key changes in Issue 4 include the addition of non-conformity grading, a new section on labelling and pack control, and an extension of scope to include outsourced processing.

Benefits to BRCGS gluten-free certification:

1. Fast track access to a market that is growing exponentially
2. The ability to use recognised national and recognised celiac/coeliac association on-pack trademarks that are trusted by consumers
3. Certification for dedicated or non-dedicated supplier sites
4. Operational efficiencies (combined audits) and reduced testing costs
5. Reduced likelihood of product recalls
6. Expands potential for new business via listing in GFCP Site Directory

The BRCGS Plant-Based Global Standard offers clarity and consistency given the widely divergent interpretations of what food can be worthy of the ‘plant-based’ label.
The BRCGS Plant-Based Standard is based on a comprehensive management system approach and provides a framework for manufacturers to assist them in the production of plant-based food. The Standard includes operational criteria required to be in place to ensure that plant-based products are free of material of animal origin.

Key Benefits:

Inspires Confidence - The use of an on pack trademark is a tool for consumers to develop trust in a brand by a quick label​. The Informed Trademark is globally recognised and trusted, providing manufacturers and brands with a mechanism to be transparent about the claims, healthiness, and quality of their products.

Drives Business Growth - Independent research carried out by the University of Birkbeck, demonstrates that organizations operating to BRCGS standards improve food safety, operational efficiency, commercial growth, improved profitability and broad-based innovation.

Brand Differentiator - The Informed Trademark is globally recognised and trusted, providing manufacturers and brands with a mechanism to be transparent about the claims, healthiness, and quality of their products.

What is the BRCGS Plant-Based Standard

The Standard is based on a comprehensive management system approach and provides a framework for manufacturers to assist them in the production of plant-based food and ensure that plant-based products are free of material of animal origin.

Scope of BRCGS Plant-Based Standard

The Plant-Based Global Standard applies only to the control of animal inputs in plant-based products, in the manufacture, processing and packing of:

1. Processed foods, both own brand and customer branded
2. Ingredients for use by food service companies, catering companies, and food manufacturers
3. Pet foods (Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked schemes only)
4. Natural health products

The Global Standard for Storage and Distribution ensures the quality and safety of products during their storage and distribution throughout the supply chain. The Issue 4 reflects the changing dynamics of the logistics sector with the growth of e-commerce and the diversification of operational activities, and supports greater supply chain visibility and assurance.

Key Benefits:

Drives Integrity - BRCGS sets the benchmark for best practice, helping to provide reassurance that products and services are high quality, legal and safe.

Greater Business Improvement - Continual improvement is achieved through the Standard by enhancing root cause analysis and internal audit requirements.

Builds Consumer Confidence - The Standard addresses consumer assurance demands and demonstrates industry best practice by encouraging the development of a product safety culture.

The BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution reflects the best practice and facilitates a process of continual improvement through well-designed risk-based product safety management systems.

Who is the Standard for?

The Standard is specifically designed for logistics operations dealing with Food, Packaging, and Consumer Products. It is easy to understand, uses prescriptive language, and is applicable for global application.

Scope

The Standard has been developed to cover all activities which may affect the safety, quality and legality of the products stored and distributed, and of additional contracted services provided by storage and distribution companies.

Additional Voluntary Modules

A unique benefit of the Standard is that Operations can choose Additional Voluntary Modules (AVMs) that cover common current industry practice to demonstrate greater supply chain assurance. The AVMs cover e-commerce, cross-docking, wholesale, contracted packing, inspection and waste management.