A guide to key changes to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Number 8

The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is the most widely used of the trade standards to ensure the production of safe food. BRC certification is designed to verify products that meet high levels of safety and quality.
On August 1, 2018, the BRC published the 8th edition of the most anticipated BRC global standard for food safety. This new version of the standard will replace edition 7 after a transition phase of six months. There are several changes, additions and amendments between BRC Global Standard #7 and #8, including the integration of pet food, new environmental monitoring clauses, and an increased focus on senior management culture and engagement. Despite being an evolution of previous versions of the standard, the BRC Global Standard for Number 8 introduces many significant changes compared to its predecessor, Number 7. The format and content of the standard are designed to allow an evaluation of the a company’s facilities, systems and operating procedures by a competent third party certification body against the requirements of the Standard.
BRC 8 will be effective from February 2019. Therefore, anyone who has an audit after the end of January 2019 should familiarize themselves with the differences between BRC Issue 7 and BRC Issue 8.
Other changes that will probably be approved refer to the creation of a new section where all the requirements of high risk, high attention and high environmental attention are centralized. There will also be a focus on cyber security and greater clarity for sites that make pet food. Another area concerns the global applicability and benchmarking of the Global Food Safety Initiative.
Key changes in BRC Food Safety Issue 8

• Internal audits should be spread throughout the year
• Establishment of a confidential information system
• Mandatory food safety training for team leaders
• Separate clauses for supplier approval and supplier monitoring
• How, why and where to perform root cause analysis
• Recognition of cybersecurity incidents
• Environmental monitoring
• Pet Food Product Control Clauses
• Full validation of cooking instructions
• New section 8: high risk, high care and high environmental care requirements
• New Section 9: Requirements for marketed products

To help you stay one step ahead of the transition from BRC Standard Number 7 to Number 8, Punyam Academy organized two days”
BRC Food Safety Issue 8 Conversion Lead Auditor Training” from
October 16 to 17, 2018 in Ahmedabad, India. This BRC Standard Number 8 training highlights the key changes from Number 7 to Number 8 and what they mean for you and your organization.