Storage and Distribution

The BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution Issue 2

Issue 2 of the BRC Storage and Distribution Standard will be published in September 2010

Originally introduced in 2006 the Global Standard for Storage and Distribution provides the essential certification link between the range of BRC manufacturing Standards and the end user, the retailer/food service company.

This new Issue represents a substantial upgrade and builds upon the experience with Issue 1 with a new lay out, simpler presentation and clearer explanation of requirements.  The Standard is designed to ensure best practice in handling storage and distribution of products and promotes continuous improvement in operating practices.
 
This Standard includes the audit requirements, scheme rules and background to the Standard and provides the basis for an accredited certification of sites storing and/or distributing food, packaging and consumer products. It also enables certification where in addition, sites wholesale product or carry out a range of contracted services.

Key features:

• New layout with Storage and Distribution modules combined to form a core module in 8 logical chapters- reducing the complexity and duplication in Issue 1
• Risk based approach to compliance when applying the Standard to handling consumer products and packaging
• Greater clarity on expectations for product handling and vehicle operations
• New section on management commitment – clearly recognising the importance of this in achieving certification
• Additional contracted services – recognising the increased range of services now provided for customers
• Clearer guidelines on auditing multi-site distribution companies
• Audit frequencies and processes for corrective action review based on performance

Time lines for implementation

• The Standard will be published in September 2010
• Training courses for the new Standard will be available from November 2010
• All audits up to 31st December shall be carried out using Issue 1 of the Standard
• Between 1st January 2011 and 28th February 2011 audits may be carried out using either Issue 1 or Issue 2 of the Standard
• From the 1st March 2011 all audits shall be carried out against Issue 2

The BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution Issue 1

Meeting the requirements of the BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution Issue 1 ensures best practice standards are developed, implemented and maintained for any organization involved in the storage and/or distribution of goods.

Storage and distributor companies can be certificated against this Standard to demonstrate their competence in maintaining product safety and integrity. The Standard is equally relevant to companies storing and/or distributing food, consumer goods and packaging. This Standard is applicable to all forms of transportation.

Storage and distribution is the link between all stages of the product supply chain and retail. The introduction and the implementation of this Standard represent the efforts made to ensure product safety and integrity through the supply chain.

The Standard contains separate modules for the different sectors within the supply chain, namely storage, distribution, wholesaling and contracted specialist services offered by storage companies such as:

• Product Inspection/Sorting
• Contract Packing (Repacking, Assembly Packing)
• Quantity Control Inspection
• Contract Chilling/Freezing/Defrost Operations 

A supplement has been produced to provide additional information and further explanation of requirements which shall be used when auditing and Certification against the Standard. This can be downloaded here.

Benefits of the BRC Global Standards

• Comprehensive and focused on safety, legality and quality
• Clear and detailed requirements based on HACCP principles supported by documented systems
• Standardised reporting format providing information on how sites meet the requirements of the Standards
• Closure of all non-conformities identified at an audit with evidence included in the report before certificates can be issued
• Complementary with existing quality management systems e.g. ISO and HACCP where these meet the requirements of the Standard 

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