3 March 2020

BRC – what has changed?

Now the revised packaging standard is in force (from February 2020), what do you need to consider? The major change throughout the new version is the emphasis on product safety. We are working on a guidance document for BRCGS Packaging Materials – Issue 6, but in the meantime you can request support and advice through BPIF Specialist Services.

The new BRCGS Packaging Materials – Issue 6 includes a few major changes;

- One set of hygiene requirements (risk-based approach); these will have a higher or differing level of hygiene that applies to 'food contact materials'.

- The split and second audit has been removed, as it will be in line with Issue 8 of the Food Standard, by removing the split unannounced audit option. Unannounced audits remain optional.

- Issue 6 highlights the corrective and preventive actions required. This clause requires the addressing of issues to minimise the risk of their occurrance (3.6).

- Integrates specific requirements on corrective and preventive action (CAPA) related to a root cause analysis into a structured continuous improvement approach, that addresses issues with the intent to remove the risk of re-occurrence. This is in line with Issue 8 of the Food Standard.

- In the hazard and risk analysis (HARA) it separates hazards into product safety and quality defects to improve control measures necessary to prevent, eliminate or reduce each product quality hazard to acceptable levels (2.2.6).

- Requires sites to set up, execute and review an action plan to improve product safety and quality culture. The auditor will assess the efforts made to document the status of the organisational culture and the steps that are put in place to improve it (1.1.2).

- Enhance the processes used by quality management systems in printed packaging controls and through a hazard and risk analysis approach (5.3).

- A vulnerability assessment needs to be carried out in terms of fraudulence related to product authenticity, claims and chain of custody. This vulnerability assessment needs to encompass all raw materials or groups of raw materials (3.8).


If you have a BRC query and would like support/advice, please email [email protected]

Source: https://dqs-cfs.com/2019/01/whats-new-brc-global-standard-for-packaging-issue-6/