BRC's 3.5.1.2 - Approved Supplier/Vendor List
Hi everyone,
We run a wheat mill in Ontario, Canada and I have a question regarding the BRC's 3.5.1.2 requirement for supplier approval. It states that all suppliers of raw materials including packaging are to be approved. Our supplier list includes front office paper suppliers, mail couriers, lab facilities (which have their own accreditation), contractors, outside trucks, building material suppliers etc. None of which supply "raw"materials. I believe our list in far too long, as soon as you buy a paper clip from a different shop you would need to include and have it approved. Should the only suppliers be: wheat, enrichment, water and chlorine as those 4 ingredients are the only true raw materials, besides packaging?? Thoughts please???
A rational auditor would understand that a paperclip supplier does not need to undergo the same scrutiny as a food ingredient or food packaging supplier as it is common knowledge that a paper clip is not safe for human consumption.
All food ingredient and food packaging suppliers need to undergo a supplier verification protocol
Hi everyone,
We run a wheat mill in Ontario, Canada and I have a question regarding the BRC's 3.5.1.2 requirement for supplier approval. It states that all suppliers of raw materials including packaging are to be approved. Our supplier list includes front office paper suppliers, mail couriers, lab facilities (which have their own accreditation), contractors, outside trucks, building material suppliers etc. None of which supply "raw"materials. I believe our list in far too long, as soon as you buy a paper clip from a different shop you would need to include and have it approved. Should the only suppliers be: wheat, enrichment, water and chlorine as those 4 ingredients are the only true raw materials, besides packaging?? Thoughts please???
Hi Franny,
I suggest you re-read the "Fundamental" paragraph.
Hi Franny,
It concerns all suppliers (of services) which have influence on the quality and food safety of your organisation, process and finished product.
If not specifically stated under 3.1.5.2, these ones are located elsewhere in the norm.
Kind regards,
Gerard Heerkens
Hi everyone,
We run a wheat mill in Ontario, Canada and I have a question regarding the BRC's 3.5.1.2 requirement for supplier approval. It states that all suppliers of raw materials including packaging are to be approved. Our supplier list includes front office paper suppliers, mail couriers, lab facilities (which have their own accreditation), contractors, outside trucks, building material suppliers etc. None of which supply "raw"materials. I believe our list in far too long, as soon as you buy a paper clip from a different shop you would need to include and have it approved. Should the only suppliers be: wheat, enrichment, water and chlorine as those 4 ingredients are the only true raw materials, besides packaging?? Thoughts please???
Hi Franny,
As Gerard H. noted, this could also include suppliers of services/products that have, or could have, an impact on food safety and quality within the same system - basically grouping 3.5.1 and 3.5.3 together.
In addition to the packaging and "true" raw materials (i.e. those from which you're actually making the products), you may also need to consider:
Transport providers (need to verify they're suitable for carrying foodstuffs);
Warehousing, if you use any external storage services;
Laboratory services - they may be accredited, but you should record that you have formally considered this and approved them based on accreditation that you have deemed to be appropriate;
Suppliers of cleaning chemicals - obviously can have a major impact on site hygiene/safety, in terms of both general site hygiene and potential nature of residual contaminants;
Pest control contractors (if you use them) - again I'd recommend recording that the method by which they've been assessed as suitable, and recording this;
Suppliers of calibration services - need to demonstrate they're suitably competent and record as such, as the data from process monitoring in critical areas is very much a food safety consideration;
Suppliers of lubricants used in food-contact machinery;
External engineering services - if you subcontract any maintenance/servicing, you need to know it is done to a suitable standard so again probably should be formally approved and recorded.
Other site services - do you use e.g. any compressed gases that could come into contact with food? If so, you almost certainly need to assess and approve the sources of those.
We also approve the provider of the ring-testing scheme we use for our own lab (not much point in it if it isn't administrated by a competent body) and the supplier of our ATP unit (need to know and be able to demonstrate that it does what it's supposed to do), so there are possibly a few more things that would be applicable for your specific site that you'd want to include.
Certainly it doesn't need to be *everything* that is purchased by the business, but it will probably be broader than just raw materials and packaging.
Hope that helps!