Retailer Standards

Overview

The Global Food Safety Initiative is facilitated by CiES, an independent global food business network that is composed of international retail chain CEOs and quality managers. This harmonized inspection is driven by over 50 international companies that represent 65 % of worldwide revenue in the retail sector alone.

GFSI takes a holistic approach to enhance food safety systems, strengthen consumer confidence and improve cost efficiency throughout the whole supply chain of food, consumer products and packaging. Such assessment utilizes benchmarked standards, such as BRC and IFS, recognized by GFSI as applicable to suppliers, wherever they are.

The British Retail Consortium

BRC Standards

BRC has developed an range of highly successful Global Standard, now regarded worldwide as the authoritative Standards for the retail supply chain.

If you are a manufacturer of retailer branded products-food or consumer products- or of packaging used in such products, you need to be BRC certified to export to the UK market. The requirements of the standards differ depending on the risk your products present to the consumer or to the food.

BRC Global Standards - Food (Issue 4)

The British Retail Consortium published, on December 31, 2004, a new version of the highly acclaimed, globally recognised BRC Global Standard for Food. The new standard came into force from June 1, 2005.

Changes in the new Global Standard include new legislation affecting such areas as traceability in the supply chain, product segregation and the labelling of produce from specific farms. Interpretations of requirements are more concise and the protocol more expanded and detailed. Revisions resulted from extensive consultation between the BRC and key stakeholders accross the entire industry.

The BRC/IoP Packaging Standard (Issue 2)

The standards were developed over a two year period by the BRC and the Institute of Packaging iin consultation with a wide variety of retailers, food producers, trade associations and packaging companies.

The standard was first launched on 17 October 2001 and has been welcomed by the majority of the packaging industry. There is a growing demand from packaging companies (both in the UK and overseas) for certification and increasing pressure currently being applied by the retailers and food producers.

Other BRC Standards

BRC GMO Standard

BRC Global Standard - Consumer Products

Benefits of BRC Certification

• Supported by most of the major UK Retailers
• Single verification will allow manufacturers and suppliers to report on their status to food retailers and other organizations
• The standard addresses part of the 'due diligence' requirements of the packaging manufacturer/supplier, packer/filler and retailer
• Facilitates continuous improvement of quality, hygiene and product safety through surveillance non-conformities and corrective action
• Should significantly reduce the number of customer audits and their associated management costs

Reference : www.brc.org.uk

IFS - International Food Standard

Buyers in the retail and food industry require more and more transparency of the suppliers of final products and raw materials. These requirements can differ significantly for each buyer, but are mainly all based on a supplier's capacity to supply a safe product according to the specification and in conformity with the legislation. To avoid producers being overwhelmed by different requirements, the German and French retailers, supported by other international retailers, developed the International Food Standard, with the intention of reducing costs and bringing transparency to the entire supply chain.