Are you currently preparing for the next BRC Global Standards assessment? BRC has published a highly useful report that may you help you to avoid some of the most frequently detected non-conformities.
By analyzing a sample of the BRC Directory, BRC has compiled a list of ten frequent problems. The findings are based on the audit reports of 2012, drawn from manufacturing sites across the world. According to the report, these are the ten typical pitfalls, in descending order:
Section 2 – HACCP
Most common cause: HACCP process flow diagram is not accurate or not detailed enough
Section 4.4 – Building Fabric
Most common cause: the condition of doors, which must be properly fitting so that pests cannot get into the building
Section 4.13 – Pest Control
Most common cause: on-site survey by a qualified pest control expert is either not completed, not sufficiently frequent or not detailed enough
Section 4.11 – Housekeeping and Hygiene
Common causes: documentation of cleaning procedure not sufficiently detailed, or the cleaning itself is not thorough enough
Section 1 – Senior Management Commitment
Most common problem: objectives concerning food safety are not set, monitored or reviewed
Section 4.7 – Maintenance
Most common problem: companies cannot demonstrate that there is sufficient cleaning and sign-off after maintenance
Section 4.8 – Staff Facilities
Most common problem: hand-washing facilities do not meet the requirements of the standard
Section 3.4 – Internal Audits
The most common non-conformity relates to the scope, frequency and records of the internal audit
Section 4.9.3 – Glass, Brittle Plastic, Ceramics and Similar Materials Control
Most common problem: incomplete lists of items, leading to incomplete monitoring
Section 3.9 – Traceability
The main non-conformity in this section relates to incomplete systems, or the incomplete application of a system.
Thanks to the BRC report, it should be easier to prevent non-conformities, which will lead to better ratings for the audited sites and to a higher level of food safety in the long run. Head over to the BRC Global Standards website to download the full report.
