BRCGS ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF THE PACKAGING MATERIALS ISSUE 6 STANDARD

BRCGS has announced the publication of the sixth issue of its Packaging Standard. The Standard now provides a robust framework for all types of packaging manufacturers to assist them in the production of safe packaging materials and to better manage product quality to meet customers' requirements, while maintaining legal compliance.
The Standard has been developed to specify the product safety, quality and operational criteria that must be in place within a packaging manufacturing organisation in order for it to fulfil its obligations with regard to legal compliance and protection of the consumer.
What's new for Issue 6?
The development of Issue 6 followed a wide consultation to understand stakeholders' requirements. A review of emerging issues was also carried out in the packaging industry and the industries it supplies. The information has been developed and reviewed by a working group composed of international stakeholders representing different sectors of the packaging materials manufacturing industry, retailers, brand owners, food service companies, certification bodies, trade associations and independent technical experts.
Key features remain integral to the Standard, such as:
• meeting the needs of retailers and brand owners to reduce the audit burden
• better recognition of the diversity of the packaging industry and its customers' demands
• encouraging greater transparency, traceability and product defence in the supply chain
• encouraging adoption of the Standard as a means of improving product safety at small sites and facilities where processes are still in development.
The focus for this issue has been on:
• enhancing the processes used by quality management systems in printed packaging controls through a hazard and risk analysis approach
• continuing to ensure consistency of the audit process across the world
• recognising the importance of a work place product safety and quality culture in the drive to improve transparency and coherence across the supply chain
• simplifying the hygiene requirements based solely on risk
• introducing a new fundamental clause, corrective and preventive actions, to address issues and minimise the risk of their occurring
• based on risk, putting a microbiological environmental monitoring programme in place
• simplifying the unannounced audit programme.
• Developing a new module to better control process waste including pellets, powder and flakes

Grace Abamba BRCGS Global Program Manager, said: "The requirements of Issue 6 have evolved from previous issues with an emphasis on senior management commitment, a hazard analysis and risk assessment-based product safety programme and a supporting quality management system. Our objective was to direct the focus of the audit towards the implementation of good manufacturing practices within a product safety and quality culture of continual improvement, while recognising the diversity and breadth of the packaging industry, and the skills required to audit it."

Company: BRCGS

Company URL: https://www.brcgs.com/brcgs/packaging/packaging-materials-issue-6/