The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has published the third issue of its internationally recognised BRC Global Standard for Storage and Distribution. The audits against Issue 3 which was announced on 1 August 2016 will start on 1 February 2017.
The Standard is designed to provide a certification link between the range of BRC manufacturing Standards and the end users, retailers and food service companies. It was designed to ensure best practice in handling, storage and distribution of products and promotes continuous improvement in operating practices to ensure product safety, quality and legality. It also enables certification of a range of contracted services commonly operated by storage companies on behalf of their customers to take into account the often diverse operations and networks making up the distribution chain.
This new standard has been designed to ensure consistency and confidence throughout the whole supply chain and a review of emerging issues in the logistics industry and the industries it serves was also carried out.
Rob McIndoe, Finance Director Johnston Logistics UK said: “As holders of the BRC Standard for Storage and Distribution we welcome this announcement. Any measure that will improve product security and reduce vulnerabilities in the supply chain should be embraced.”
The development of Issue 3 involved input from a group of stakeholders representing different sectors of the logistics industry, retailers, brand owners, certification bodies and independent technical experts. It focusses on:
- continuing to ensure consistency of the audit process
- grading system to increase recognition for better performing companies
- unannounced options – full and 2 part to give even more confidence to customers that standards are constantly being applied
- greater consistency with the requirements of the other BRC Global Standards
- vehicle and load security
- more robust requirements for own-label wholesalers to reduce their exposure to fraud
- increased supplier approval requirements
- focus on companies providing contracted services in areas that have traditionally resulted in recalls and withdrawals (e.g. label and packing management)
