the nature of the product and associated risks
customer-specific requirements
legislative requirements in the country of sale or importation of the product
source or country of origin
potential for adulteration or fraud
potential risks in the supply chain to the point of receipt of the goods by the company
the brand identity of products (i.e. customer own brand or branded product).
a valid certification to the applicable BRC Global Standard or GFSI-benchmarked standard. The scope of the certification shall include the products purchased
demonstrate the competency of the auditor
confirm that the scope of the audit includesproduct safety, traceability, HACCP review and good manufacturing practices
obtain and review a copy of the full audit report
traceability, HACCP review and good manufacturing practices, and it shall have been reviewed and verified by a demonstrably competent person.
There shall be a process of review and records of follow-up of any issues identified at the manufacturing/packing sites with the potential to affect food products traded by the company.
9.1.4 There shall be a process for the ongoing review of manufacturers/packers, based on risk and using defined performance criteria, which may include complaints, results of any product tests, regulatory warnings/alerts,customer rejections or feedback. T
Where approval is based on questionnaires, these shall be reissued at least every 3 years and suppliers shall be required to notify the site of any significant changes in the interim, including any change in certification status.
9.2.1 Specifications shall be available for all products.
These shall either be in the agreed format as supplied by the customer or, where this is not specified, include key data to meet legal requirements andassist the customer in the safe usage of the product.
Specifications may be in the form of a printed or electronic document, or part of an online specification system
9.2.2 The company shall seek formal agreement of the specifications with relevant parties. Where specifications are not formally agreed, the company shall be able to demonstrate that it has taken steps to ensure formal agreement is in place.
9.2.3 Companies shall operate demonstrable processes to ensure that any customer-specified requirements are met. This may be by inclusion of customer requirements within buying specifications or by undertaking further work on the purchased product to meet
9.2.4 Specification review shall be sufficiently frequent to ensure that data is current or at a minimum every 3 years, taking into account product changes, suppliers, regulations and other risks.
Reviews and changes shall be documented.
9.3.1 The site shall have a product sampling or assurance programme to verify that the products are in accordance with buying specifications and meet legal and safety requirements.
Where verification is based on sampling, the sample rate and assessment process shall be risk-based.
Records of the results of assessments or analysis shall be maintained.
9.3.2 Where verification of conformity is provided by the supplier (e.g. certificates of conformity or analysis), the level of confidence in the information provided shall be supported by commissioning periodic independent product analysis.
9.3.3 Where claims are made about the products being handled,
9.3.4 Where the company undertakes or subcontracts analyses which are critical to product safety or legality, the laboratory or subcontractors shall have gained recognised laboratory accreditation or operate in accordance with the requirements and princip
9.3.5 Test and inspection results shall be retained and reviewed to identify trends. Appropriate actions shall be implemented promptly toaddress any unsatisfactory results or trends.
compliance with relevant legal composition requirements
compliance with quantity or volume requirements.
Where such responsibilities are undertaken by the customer, this shall be clearly stated in contracts.
9.5.1 The site shall maintain a traceability system for all batches of product which identify the last manufacturer or, in the case of primary agricultural products, the packer or place of last significant change to the product.
This shall include identification of the movement of the product through the chain from the manufacturer to receipt by the company (e.g. each movement and intermediate place of storage).
9.5.3 The traceability test shall include the reconciliation of quantities of product received by the company for the chosen batch or product lot. Traceability should be achievable within 4 hours (1 day when information is required from external parties).
