BRC Certificate

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The BRC Certificate Standard (British Retail Consortium) was established by the British Retail Consortium. The primary purpose of the BRC Standard was to ensure the reliability of food products sold on the shelves of chain supermarkets in the UK and save time by continuously auditing these suppliers. The organization likely did not anticipate how influential its initiative would become. Today, not only chain supermarkets in the UK but also businesses, markets, and customs administrations worldwide agree on the necessity of the BRC Certificate.

The BRC Standard can be divided into two categories: (BRC FOOD / BRC IOP)

• BRC FOOD Certificate: Required for businesses producing food products.
• BRC IOP Certificate: Required for businesses producing primary and secondary packaging materials that come into contact with food.

The BRC Standard was developed to ensure that brand owners and retailers in food production meet safety requirements and maintain maximum hygiene in production facilities. Organizations aiming to sell products in the UK must obtain the BRC Certificate. The BRC Standard consists of seven sections:

1. Commitment from Top Management and Continuous Improvement
2. Food Safety Plan
3. Product Reliability and Quality Management System
4. Production Facility Requirements
5. Product Controls
6. Process Controls
7. Trained Personnel

What Are the Benefits of the BRC Certificate?

The BRC Certificate can significantly improve the structure and operation of a business. Some benefits of obtaining this certificate include:

• Enables businesses to operate easily in both domestic and international markets.
• Helps produce high-quality products.
• Ensures hygienic production processes.
• Exempts businesses from inspections by chain stores every six months.
• Facilitates customs clearance for export activities.
• Builds trust among trade partners and end consumers.
• Expands market share opportunities.
• Helps prevent risks associated with food safety.

Who Should Obtain a BRC Certificate?

Businesses eligible for a BRC Certificate fall into two main categories:

1. Food Producers: All businesses producing food products can obtain the BRC Certificate.
2. Businesses in Contact with Food: This includes companies producing primary packaging materials and secondary packaging that comes into contact with food.

All industrial food product manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, food facilities, packaging companies, catering businesses, canneries, slaughterhouses, etc., are required to obtain the BRC Certificate. Especially for food businesses supplying products to domestic and international chain stores, the BRC Certificate is often a necessity or an advantage. In certain product categories, only businesses with a BRC Certificate can supply products to these stores, while in others, businesses may supply products without the certificate but must pass supplier audits every six months.

How to Obtain a BRC Certificate?

Businesses seeking to obtain a BRC Certificate must focus on two key areas:

1. Physical Conditions: The business must ensure its physical conditions meet BRC Standards. Even if these conditions are insufficient, they should be improvable and adaptable. A lack of cross-contamination and sufficient physical infrastructure are crucial for certification.
2. Documentation: The business must have a traceable, continuously improving, and adequate documentation system, supported by specific software if necessary. Detailed records from raw material intake to final product output must be maintained.

To ensure readiness for certification, businesses are advised to work with a BRC consultancy firm. Such firms assess physical conditions and help avoid unnecessary investments, additional costs, and time losses. Consultants also help establish documentation systems quickly and correctly, train staff, and ensure proper record-keeping and tracking. Once ready, businesses can approach accredited certification bodies for the final certification process.

At EOScert, we meticulously handle your applications for the BRC Certificate. After customizing plans for your organization, we conduct audits and evaluations as an accredited body to initiate your certification process.

Where to Obtain a BRC Certificate?

The BRC Certificate must be obtained from accredited certification bodies. At EOS Certification, we have the expertise and infrastructure to support your BRC certification process with the most experienced team in Turkey.

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