Benefits of acquiring BRCGS Standard, and Challenges for Indian SMEs in implementing them

Benefits of acquiring BRCGS Standard, and Challenges for Indian SMEs in implementing them

What is BRCGS Certification and Why we should implement in our system: Brand Reputation through Compliance (BRCGS) is a trade association for the UK food retail industry created in 1992. The BRCGS has published standards for best practices for the food and manufacturing industries for two decades, and also publishes the On-Pack recycling standards for the UK. The BRCGS Global Food standard has been in existence since 1998, and in year 2000 they brought the first food safety standard to be recognized by the GFSI organization, which means the standard meets their “benchmark” criteria for acceptance. The standard is designed as a “Total Quality Management” program, and includes both food safety and quality requirements which food manufacturers must meet in order to be certified.

“What is BRCGS Standard?” BRCGS are global standards that set benchmarks for quality, safety and consumer protection, underpinning brand reputation through compliance for Food, Packaging, Transportation and Trading categories.

BRCGS is one among most recognised GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) Standard. GFSI is different than BRCGS. GFSI is non-profit organisation for benchmarking of various international standards. GFSI has recognised these international standards for food safety such as BRCGS Certification, FSSC22000, IFS and SQF. BRCGS, IFS, SQF and FSSC22000 standards have their distinct requirement for audit and compliance.

The purpose of BRCGS is to follow proven practices, ensure quality, and build confidence in the supply chain. BRCGS was developed by retailers and utilized by many businesses from various industries.  Acquiring BRCGS not only ensures product safety and quality but also enhance protection should the business face any charges by the enforcement authorities.

How do Company get BRCGS Certificate? Steps to achieve BRCGS Certification?

• Gap Analysis for Infrastructure and existing documentation
• Identify and establish Food Safety Policy, Food Safety Objectives
• Determining role, responsibility and authorities, Identify and assemble core group, Appointment of Team Leader
• Management System Documentation: Level 1 to Level 4, Pre-Requisite Program, Control Measures, Hazard Evaluation, Critical Control Point, HACCP Plan, Food Safety Plan, Validation Plan and Verification Plan.
• Work out VACCP (Food Fraud) and TACCP (Food Defence) including Security Risk Assessment
• Risk Assessment of Raw Material, Packing Material, Outsourced Processes
• Awareness Training to Core Group and identified staff
• Internal Auditors Training to Core Group and conduct of Internal Audit
• Conduct of Management Review Meeting
• Application to Certification Body
• Final Certification Audit – end of project

Benefits of BRCGS Certification:

1.       Improved Brand Image – BRCGS is a transparent certification scheme where the results are displayed on the net for customers and other interested parties to see.

2.       Product fetches higher price from the customer as it is safe for use for human consumption.  This assurance becomes available globally as legal aspect are also thoroughly taken care of in good BRCGS implemented system.

3.       It improves work force hygiene and attitude towards  housekeeping.  Working in spic and span work area improves efficiency.

4.       Since one is forced to good housekeeping and removing clutter from time to time 5S automatically gets implemented and is maintained.  Capital locked in into heaps of garbage and undecided stocks is freed up.

Challenges:

1.       In MSME besides Plant Head and / or Quality Head no one is competent enough.  Even Plant Head / Quality Head needs hand-holding and sometimes they leave the organisation.  Thus Consultant has to start afresh and may need to conduct multiple training of same topics.

2.       Promoter not willing to spend for Infrastructure improvement and services like Pest Control, laundry, housekeeping as much as required.

3.       BRCGS or even FSSAI requires outside testing and sometimes it is required multiple times initially to establish site specific parameters, more so for different variants. The cost incurred are heavy for a small organisation.

4.       Promoter sometimes keep on tinkering with addition / deletion of equipment, changing process flow and all these activities bring changes to Hazard and Risk Analysis increasing the work.

5.       Foreign Body Control esp. Metal Detector, X-Ray as may be needed in the last steps are just not available even though these are conveyed by consultants as “MUST” to be procured – promoter do not take this seriously at the time of awarding consulting but desist to provide till all the activities are done.  This alone delays the certification audit.

6.       Environmental monitoring, Zoning are few requirements which needs care, understanding, testing, restricted movements to achieve the required working atmosphere conducive for food / packaging unit. 

7.       Maintaining BRCGS is also little heavier over classical ISO systems as this is yearly certification programme, calls for ongoing internal audit, requires monthly PRP monitoring, calling for reviews and verifications.

8.       Small Business Owners have pointed out that complying fully with BRCGS Standard may result in reduction of productivity and production so it acts as double whammy – cost incurred in infra and practice improvement and decreased output.  However, as Systems mature workforce regains productivity in improved systems and housekeeping and hygiene in improved atmosphere becomes way of life.

Is consultant required to get BRCGS Certificate?

Nicheqs can help you achieve BRCGS-Food Certification and BRCGS Packaging Certification through effective implementation of the system right from reviewing infrastructure and suggesting required modification to developing documentation, training and then system related support activities.  

Kavita Jain,

Sr. Consultant