BRC / IoP Packaging - Audit Process

ISOQAR's BRC Packaging Auditors are selected to meet the requirements of your particular sector. Your company's activity, location of premises, size and complexity are all taken into account.

On receipt of your application form, we will contact you to agree dates for the following:

The Audit

A detailed, on-site Audit of your company's implemented, documented system against the company's working practices and the requirements of the BRC/IoP Global Standard - Food Packaging. (Minimum 2 days).

Findings of the Audit are documented. If there are any areas of concern to the Auditors, any or all of the following may be raised:

Critical non-conformance – a critical failure to comply with a food safety or legal issue, either against a fundamental or non-fundamental requirement.

Major non-conformance – a substantial failure to meet the requirements of a statement of intent and/or any fundamental clause of the standard and/or a situation that from available evidence raises significant doubt as to the conformity of the product being supplied.

These types of non-conformance must be rectified before certification can be recommended by the Evaluator. If either is raised against a fundamental clause another full Audit will need to be carried out.

Minor non-conformance – absolute compliance to the statement of intent and/or a mandatory clause has not been fully demonstrated but from the evidence the product's safety and legality is not in doubt.

This type of non-conformance does not affect the recommendation for approval but must be addressed within 28 days prior to the issue of your certificate.

The nature and number of non-conformances will determine the award of a certificate and the frequency of visits following the Audit. Certification will not occur where there is a failure to meet the requirements of the Standard.

At the close of the Audit, the Evaluator will leave his/her recommendation with you.

Ongoing Audit

ISOQAR's certification is valid for a period of 6 or 12 months at initial Audit depending on the level of non-conformities raised. An ongoing Audit visit must occur within the 28 days prior to the 6 or 12 month anniversary, as appropriate.

Please note: All Audits are performed on the basis of limited sampling. If discrepancies are not discovered, there is no guarantee that they do not exist.

Extension to Scope of Certificate

Any change to your company's scope or product range, following certification, must be treated as an extension to scope, for example, to add a new product category to the existing certificated scope or to add a new site. A common practice is to allocate some extra time during a scheduled Audit visit for additional products, but a full Audit is required for additional sites/locations.

Logos

Following certification your company can display the ISOQAR shield of approval.

Rules for Appeal

In the event of an Audit which results in a recommendation to defer registration to the relevant standard (or at a later stage if notified that a certificate is to be withdrawn), a written appeal may be sent to the Chief Executive of ISOQAR.

All appeals will be heard by an Appeals Panel selected from the Governing Board. Your company has a right to object to any member forming part of the chosen panel. The Governing Board will then select a different panel. If the appeal is upheld, the findings of the auditor will be overruled. If the evaluator is found to be correct, your company will be required to pay for a partial or full re-Audit and the cost of the appeal.

Such appeals are exceptionally rare.

A schematic showing the process is available here