What is the Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials?

Originally created to establish a Standard for the suppliers of packaging and packaging materials for the food industry, this Standard is now a leading global Standard adopted by major retailers, manufacturers and packaging businesses around the world and is equally applicable to non-food packaging producers. Certification to the Standard verifies technical performance, aids manufacturers' fulfillment of legal obligations and helps provide protection to the consumer.


The latest edition features a number of innovations, including:-

• Extended scope to cover non-food packaging producers
• The audit frequency established at 12 month intervals, with 6 months for suppliers receiving 3 or more major non-conformity
• Requirements for auditors included in the Standard to allow companies to verify auditor qualifications
• Greater emphasis on senior management demonstrating their commitment to the aim of achieving product quality and safety and to ensuring that corrective action for non-conformity is undertaken
• Hazard and risk management has been comprehensively reviewed to provide greater guidance to certification bodies and producers
• Expanded sections on issues of major importance, such as site security, product design and development and control of In-line testing equipment

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
• Standardized reporting format providing information on how sites meet the requirements of the Standards
• Closure of all non-conformity 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
• Focuses on identifying and preventing hazards from contaminating food
• Is based on sound science
• Permits more efficient and effective government oversight, primarily because the record keeping allows investigators to see how well a firm is complying with food safety laws over a period rather than how well it is doing on any given day
• Places responsibility for ensuring food safety appropriately on the food manufacturer or distributor
• Helps food companies compete more effectively in the world market
• Reduces barriers to international trade.