BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4 Summarized

As food manufacturers and retailers focus more on food integrity, reducing damaged goods, and preventing foodborne illness, this creates new concerns about food safety and quality during storage and distribution throughout the supply chain. More than ever, producers and retailers must demand assurance that manufacturers consistently apply food safety standards throughout the distribution chain. 

Unified criteria in food safety protocols are essential to ensuring a consistently successful manufacturing process, a core reason why standards like BRCGS exist. Their most current regulations for storage and distribution help establish best practices that safeguard food products throughout their journey from ingredient harvesting to final consumption. 

What is BRCGS? 

The Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (or BRCGS) Storage and Distribution Standard Issue 4, released in 2020, is a compilation of best practices that enables a continuous improvement process through well-designed, risk-based product safety management systems. It was created in accordance with GFSI 2020 requirements and ensures product quality and safety during their transportation, storage, and distribution throughout the supply chain. 

This internationally recognized certification has evolved to become a qualification requirement for storage and distribution companies interested in doing business with large food manufacturers and retail chains that have decided to demand the same high standards for food integrity throughout the entire process that they use during their own manufacturing procedures. 

Understanding Protocols in BRCGS Issue 4 

As with any upgrade in certification standards, the BRCGS Storage and Distribution Standard Issue 4 continues to better reflect the changing role of the warehousing and logistics sectors. The most significant changes in the protocol include: 

1. Blended/Hybrid audits: As of Issue 4, this new option combines remote offsite with onsite visits to enhance audit quality by facilitating the sharing and analysis of information ahead of time. 

1. Color coding of requirements: As of Issue 4, auditors are instructed to distinguish between activities that will be audited as part of the facility assessment and those that will be audited as part of the records, systems, and documentation. 

1. Unannounced audits: Issue 4 now mandates at least one unannounced audit every three years to provide greater confidence in product safety culture. This is a GFSI benchmark 2020 requirement that applies to all certification programs. 

New Requirements in BRCGS Issue 4 

In this most recent issuing from BRCGS, updated requirements focus on stricter auditing and internal regulating policies that improve transparency, communication with inspectors, and better practices of protecting consumers from any potential downstream negative effects of manufacturing. 

1. Product Safety Culture: As of Issue 4, auditors should not be attempting to audit the culture of the site but will be looking at how facilities have implemented their product safety culture, focusing on four key areas: effective communication strategies, training development program, impact mechanisms, and performance reviews on product safety related activities. 
2. Confidential Reporting: As of Issue 4, manufacturers must enlist a procedure to report hazards or infractions anonymously to ensure the product’s safety, integrity, quality, and legality. 
3. Internal Auditing: As of Issue 4, manufacturers must conduct at least two internal audits per year covering all the areas of product safety, including other requirements of the standard and any other voluntary modules. 
4. Root Cause Analysis: As of Issue 4, manufacturers are required to conduct a procedure to determine the root cause of any food safety problem, as well as a timeline for when this should be solved. 
5. Product Fraud Vulnerability: Issue 4 now encourages the development of systems to avoid the purchase of fraudulent products as part of the GFSI benchmark requirements. 
6. Supplier Approval Requirements: Issue 4 directs manufacturers to improve clarity and ensure rigorous controls of the subcontractors, service providers, and supplier approval throughout the sales module. 
7. Pest Management: Issue 4 now encourages the development of good practices in pest management. 
8. Automation Systems (including robotics): Issue 4 introduced a new clause where automation is used for direct product handling activities. 
9. Allergen Management: As of Issue 4, manufacturers must increase the emphasis on allergen management as cross-contact may occur during the storage and handling of products. 
10. Open Product Handling: Within the text of Issue 4 itself, multiple requirements related to product handling have been relocated into a single, newly created section of the standards (section 9). 

While the length of the auditing process varies depending on the size and complexity of the facility and its operations, typical audits will take 1.5 days on-site, plus a half-day for drafting the report and overseeing the corrective action process. 

Enabling Widespread Good Practices in Your Facilities 

Food safety managers have a responsibility to create workplaces that prioritize healthy products throughout the manufacturing process. Start by signing up for courses like Food Safety Culture online training from AIB International, helping facilitate a stronger and more functional environment for quality products.