BRC and IFS certifications for Branded Products for Large Scale Retail

It has now become a prerequisite for the suppliers of Large Scale Retail branded products to be certified against food safety standards or regulations (such as BRC, IFS or ISO 22000), in order to ensure safe products, compliant with legislation and compliant to defined purchase specifications.

Increasingly, the requests for these certifications also extend to suppliers of non-branded products, as they are synonymous with the manufacturer's reliability and seriousness.

BRC Global standard for food safety and IFS International food standard

These certifications are necessary to export to some European countries but, nowadays, they have also become indispensable for accessing the Italian retailer market. These standards, developed and supported by large retailers, are applicable to food production / processing companies, after the primary phase, and define a series of requirements aimed at the correct management of hygiene aspects in all phases of the management, production and distribution processes. of the food processing industry.

The main elements of the standards include:

  • Application of GMPs
  • Adoption of a HACCP system
  • Implementation of a documented Quality System
  • Product and process control
  • Existence of specifications for raw materials, finished product, packaging materials, etc.

BRC and IFS are standards recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), an international initiative that aims to promote food safety along the entire supply chain.

 Examination of the application and documentation sent by the Company, listed in the "Special rules" specific to the product to be certified. Any deficiencies and significant deviations from the requirements, found at this stage, will be communicated so that the appropriate changes can be introduced before the assessment visit is carried out. Upon request, CSI will appoint an inspector to visit the organisation to verify the conformity of the product, process or service. If the results of the visit include non-conformities or observations, a corrective action plan will be required to meet the requirements for the issue of the product certificate. After all the non-conformities that may have emerged from the assessment visit have been passed, and after the positive outcome of the laboratory tests, certification will be granted. The issue of the certificate will be followed by surveillance visits to verify that compliance is being maintained. The frequency of surveillance visits and laboratory tests, if any, is fixed by the special rules applicable. The certification shall have the validity defined in the specific special rules, on expiry the contract shall be deemed to be tacitly renewed unless terminated by one of the two contracting parties 4 (four) months before the expiry date. Tool to certify, though an official recognized third-party body endorsement, that the company is compliant to the requirement... Tool to certify the capability of an organization to gain and maintain steadily, service standard declared to the public... Formal act of a third-party body that certify the conformity of the product technical reference documents, marketing deed to enhance and diversify the product... For years the training offered by IMQ group represented a point of reference for professional development and the update of freelance and employees. Second and third-party, inspections and testing: expert auditors capable to understand the situation of the company...