What is required to approve a supplier of food contact packaging?
Hello,
I am working with a packaging company who would like to become certified to the BRC Packaging standard. My background is in food - not packaging.
The company I am working with purchases coated sheets of cardboard and folds/forms the boxes and lids. Their supplier is not audited or certified but can provide information confirming that the coating on the boxes and lids is safe for food contact.
The coated boxes will be used for a low risk product - raw frozen beef that is intended for further processing.
In order to approve their supplier who is NOT audited or GFSI certified, here is what I am recommending.
- Letter of guarantee
- Information from the coating manufacture regarding safety/use with direct contact of food
- Annual audit of the supplier for GMP's/Food Safety Practices
What additional information be needed for their supplier who is actually coating the boxes?
What GMP's or Food Safety Practices would be required for the company who is coating the boxes?
Hello,
I am working with a packaging company who would like to become certified to the BRC Packaging standard. My background is in food - not packaging.
The company I am working with purchases coated sheets of cardboard and folds/forms the boxes and lids. Their supplier is not audited or certified but can provide information confirming that the coating on the boxes and lids is safe for food contact.
The coated boxes will be used for a low risk product - raw frozen beef that is intended for further processing.
In order to approve their supplier who is NOT audited or GFSI certified, here is what I am recommending.
- Letter of guarantee
- Information from the coating manufacture regarding safety/use with direct contact of food
- Annual audit of the supplier for GMP's/Food Safety Practices
What additional information be needed for their supplier who is actually coating the boxes?
What GMP's or Food Safety Practices would be required for the company who is coating the boxes?
Hi TJW,
Have you read the Standard / I.Guidelines ?
eg - 3.7.1, 3.7.2 etc
Supplier approval is a BRC "Pièce de résistance".
And, IMO, not always in a good way.
As indicated above, the Standard lists what the options are for approving a supplier.
The third item on your list may be the way forward.
The audit needs to have been carried out by a demonstrably competent and experienced auditor and cover traceability, product safety, HARA and GMP. As the coating is carried out by a sub-contractor, I would also include their supplier approval procedures.
As you are buying for food contact, the questionnaire route is not likely to be sufficient.