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BRCGS Versus ISO 9000
BRCGS or ISO 9000
ISO 9001 and its subsequent derivatives have been very successful in
the automotive & electrical industries. It brought essential focus on the management of business systems so vital in these industries.
When used within the food industry the same management of business
systems could not be readily adapted to food manufacture.
When food companies in the UK implemented ISO 9000 systems they misused
them and as a result, ISO 9001 was not considered appropriate for use in food manufacture. Around the same time as this took place the UK
regulatory authorities, retailers & leading suppliers came up with their own standard, called BRC. British retail Consortium (BRCGS for short) recognised a gap in the market for regulatory bodies
and launched its own scheme.
By careful positioning, the BRC standards had effectively sealed off
entry to UK market for overseas goods & services. Indeed, the first thing anyone is usually asked do you have BRCGS!!!
A new initiative is, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
Certification. Due to complex challenges in today's food supply chain, many of the world's largest food retailers are mandating supplier certification to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) schemes,
which include SQF, BRCGS, IFS, FSSC, GLOBAL GAP, BAP and Canada GAP.
ISO brought out ISO 22000 to compete with BRCGS and other GFSI
accredited schemes. It has not been approved as a GFSI scheme so cannot be used as BRC look alike.
The difference between IS022000 and BRCGS standard is
that:
- ISO22000 focuses more on integrating food safety management system with business objectives & the need for communication as well as an additional prerequisite standard must be used.
- BRCGS standards focus more on improving a food safety management system by clearly addressing the pre-requisite programs as well as testing the product and focusing on highlighting control of food safety on a daily.
- The BRCGS Global Standards are a set of industry-specific standards, focusing on one industry
- sector, developed by industry for the industry and focuses on product safety, and quality management systems
ISO 9000 & ISO
22000
Advantages
- Excellent at bringing essential focus on the management of a business systems
- Offers ordered management systems
- Popular in automatic & electrical industries
Disadvantages
- Does not sit comfortably with Food Safety Management system with any GFSI approved screen
- Does not offer a “route to lucrative UK markets”
- Not recognised as an approved GFSI scheme
- Does not focus on one industry
- Audits based too much on systems paperwork
- Audit every 3 years
BRCGS
Advantages
- An approved GFSI scheme
- Offers ordered food-specific management systems
- Recognised by major UK retailers, importers and storage and distribution hubs
- Is considered an essential “route to lucrative UK markets”
- Easily implemented
- Straight forward audit by recognised independent bodies
- Allows a company to fit smoothly into a supply chain
- Audits based around products & facilities
- Process-driven product standard
- Standards cover all sectors of the food supply chain
Disadvantages
- Does not sit comfortably with some European countries
- Audits more frequent than ISO
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