BRC (The British Retail Consortium )

BRC, a UK trade organization that represents the interests of UK retailers, established the Global Standard for Food Safety in 1998. Originally intended for food producers supplying food goods to the UK, the Global Standard for Food Safety was developed to specify the safety, quality and operational criteria required for food manufacturers to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations and protect consumers.
Companies involved in the extended food supply chain must have a full understanding of the products they produce and distribute and have the systems in place to identify and control hazards to food safety.

The Benefits

There are a number of benefits for food manufacturers in seeking certification. The standard are:
Provides a measure by which food manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate to potential customers a level of competence in food safety and quality systems;
Is comprehensive in scope, covering areas of quality, hygiene and product safety;
Addresses part of the legislative requirements of those participating in the extended food supply chain;
Has a certification process that is simpler than other standards;
Allows companies to also use the standard to ensure their suppliers are following good safety management practices; and
Requires ongoing recertification, including a voluntary unannounced audit scheme to allow the organization to demonstrate their high level of commitment to food safety and quality

www.brc.org.uk