How Should You Plan for a BRC Food Safety Issue 9 Audit?

The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is a system created by a group of food industry partners who want to improve overall food safety and standards. Retailers, producers, and food service organizations all contributed to the development of an easy-to-understand detailed system for maintaining food safety requirements. The system was first acknowledged and published in 1998. The Standard, currently in its seventh edition after twenty years, has acquired global recognition as a dependable and efficient authority on food safety. The BRC has also evolved to incorporate inputs from different top worldwide specifiers.

The standard provides legal, technological, and financial benefits to food sellers operating in a highly competitive market. Achieving the BRC food standard offers consumers reliable evidence that the manufacturer can be trusted to provide a safe, legal, and high-quality product. The BRC Food standard applies to all food manufacturers, regardless of size or capacity. Companies that develop private label items for retailers or manufacturers that wish to sell their products in the UK market can demonstrate that they meet the product standards thanks to the BRC food certification.

Today’s food industry is very competitive, and businesses are constantly looking for methods to differentiate themselves from the competition. Obtaining a BRC certification is one way to accomplish this. Retailers value this worldwide food safety accreditation because it demonstrates that your organization takes food safety seriously. A BRC audit is required to earn a BRC certification. This post will discuss what the BRC audit comprises and how to develop a BRC audit checklist to ensure you acquire and keep this certification. To obtain the BRC food safety issue 9 accreditation, the organization must conduct an audit, so here are some of the actions indicated that assist in preparing for a BRC audit.

You can prepare your facility for a BRC issue 9 Audit, as you would for any other sort of certification, by ensuring that your recordkeeping systems are effective, efficient, and up to date. Finally, when it comes to your BRC audit, you want to be as prepared as possible. The simplest approach to accomplish this is to create a checklist of everything you need to do to pass the audit. A BRC food safety audit checklist should include everything from making sure all documents are ready to perform a mock audit. With a checklist, you can verify that you haven’t forgotten anything and that you’re as prepared for the audit as possible. Although, here are some pointers to assist you to prepare for an impending BRC audit for issue 9:

  • Perform a Self-assessment: Self-evaluation is an excellent technique to uncover any food safety or quality issues that may exist in your facility. Furthermore, using self-assessment, you can identify deficiencies during an audit performed by either one of your employees or a third-party inspector.
  • Choose a Certification Body: The following step is to locate a BRC-accredited certifying authority. You must schedule an audit with an accredited CB once you have located one. You can also use the BRC’s directory to find one. Choose one that is convenient for both you and your staff.
  • Set a Date: Once you’ve decided on the best auditor, set up an audit date that works for both of you. Don’t put off having your facility audited for too long, as this could place you in violation. Consider important factors such as which staff members should be present during the audit. Determine the optimal period for your activities based on the type of your business and the time of year. Furthermore, keep in mind that any prospective re-audits will take place six months or a year after the release of your BRCGS issue 9 certification result.
  • Get Your Team Involved: Once you’ve decided on the best auditor, set up an audit date that works for both of you. Don’t put off having your facility audited for too long, as this could place you in violation. Consider important factors such as which staff members should be present during the audit. Determine the optimal period for your activities based on the type of your business and the time of year. Furthermore, keep in mind that any prospective re-audits will take place six months or a year after the release of your BRC certification result.
  • Ensure All Documents are in Order: Making sure all of the BRCGS food safety issue 9 documents are in order is one of the most critical things you can do to prepare for an audit. This includes your food safety manual, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and any other policies and procedures that are relevant. Ensure that these documents are current and easily available to you and your team. Furthermore, go over them before the audit so you can answer any questions the auditor may have.
  • Conduct a Mock Audit: A mock audit is an excellent approach to preparing for a BRC audit. You can discover potential areas of non-compliance and take action to address them before the actual audit by conducting a mock audit. A simulation audit can also assist you in determining your team’s knowledge and readiness for the BRC audit. It’s a fantastic approach to see how well they grasp the food safety protocols and how well they implement them. After finishing all of the steps successfully, you are ready to take the final audit.