BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is the latest edition of the Global Standard for Packaging Materials, developed and released by BRCGS in order to establish requirements for the production of packaging materials in food, consumer and industrial supply chains. Manufacturing plants, converters, and printers involved in the supply of packaging to retailers, brand owners or food manufacturers use BRCGS Packaging Certification to prove compliance of their products to certain safety, quality and legal requirements. More and more buyers consider BRCGS Packaging Certification as the minimum requirement for the selection of suppliers especially when it concerns packaging that comes into direct or indirect contact with food or other products. This post will provide information about BRCGS Packaging Issue 6, BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 certification requirements and differences between BRCGS Packaging and BRCGS Food Safety certification.
What Is BRCGS Packaging Issue 6
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is the 6th issue of the BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials. This standard defines the requirements for organizations involved in manufacturing, printing, converting or assembling packaging materials for use in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, consumer products and many other applications. The standard covers packaging materials which make direct contact with the product as well as packaging materials that are used for transportation and display purposes.
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 covers a wide range of material types, including:
- Flexible and Rigid Plastics (films, pouches, trays, bottles)
- Paper, Board and Corrugated Packaging
- Glass Containers & Closures
- Metal (cans, closures, foil)
- Multi-layered or Composite Materials
In contrast to previous versions, BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 puts more stress on hazard and risk analysis, increased involvement of senior management, more specific requirements on safety culture, and better understanding of issues related to tracing raw materials and migration testing. Facilities which were audited according to the Issue 5 standard usually should have a gap assessment before being audited again to comply with new clauses.
This standard is also drafted in such a way that it is aligned with other BRCGS standards. This implies that if an organization has two BRCGS certifications like the BRCGS Food Safety at one location, the organization will be able to share some common aspects between the two systems.
Who Needs BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 Certification
The issue about who should be certified by the BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 standard is one of the most frequent inquiries that are asked when companies are considering this type of certification for the first time. The standard applies to all facilities which are engaged in the manufacturing and assembling of packaging materials that will later be used by a customer.
Businesses that typically pursue BRCGS Packaging Certification include:
- Manufacturers of packaging materials for food and beverages
- Label, carton, and flexible film converters and printers
- Rigid container manufacturers using injection molding and blow molding technologies
- Manufacturers of corrugated boards and folding cartons
- Contract packagers making packaging components either primary or secondary
- Suppliers requiring certification by retail or brand owners of BRCGS certified packaging vendors
The BRCGS Packaging Certification is becoming increasingly more common among retailers and large-scale food companies in their criteria for approving suppliers as it provides reassurance that any packaging coming into their supply chain has been manufactured through an auditable process. For exporters, especially those that sell products to UK and European retailers, this certification can be important.
BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard: Scope and Requirements
The BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard is built on a number of fundamental clauses that the facility has to fulfill before it gets certified. The table below highlights the key requirement areas reviewed in the context of BRCGS Packaging Issue 6.
| Requirement Area | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Senior Management Commitment | Product safety and quality policy, organisational structure, and management review |
| Hazard and Risk Analysis (HARA) | Identification and control of contamination, quality, and legality risks in packaging production |
| Product Safety and Quality Management System | Documentation control, specifications, supplier approval, and traceability |
| Site Standards | Site environment, layout, housekeeping, and pest control |
| Product Control | Product design, artwork control, and management of foreign body risks |
| Process Control | Control of manufacturing processes, calibration, and non-conforming product handling |
| Personnel | Training, hygiene, and protective clothing requirements for staff |
These clauses together constitute the foundation of all BRCGS Packaging Audits, with each site’s performance across all the areas contributing to its certification grade.
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 vs BRCGS Food Safety Certification
Are BRCGS Packaging certification and BRCGS Food Safety certification different? Yes. Both the certifications have been released by BRCGS and even have a common format of audit process, but they differ based on the stage of the supply chain and different risk type associated. The table below shows the differences between BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 and BRCGS Food Safety certification.
| Aspect | BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 | BRCGS Food Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Applies To | Manufacturers of packaging materials | Manufacturers and processors of food products |
| Primary Focus | Packaging safety, quality, and legality | Food safety, hygiene, and HACCP-based controls |
| Core Hazard Tool | Hazard and Risk Analysis (HARA) | Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) |
| Typical Site Type | Printers, converters, moulders, and carton makers | Food processing and manufacturing facilities |
| Key Risk Concern | Migration, contamination, and foreign bodies in packaging | Microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards in food |
| Certification Grades | AA, A, B, C, D | AA, A, B, C, D |
In practice, a food manufacturing company that is certified by BRCGS Food Safety will usually insist that its packaging companies be certified by BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 because the two are different stages of one process.
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 as a Packaging Safety Standard
The main goal of the BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is safety of packaging rather than quality assessment of any kind. The aim of BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is to guarantee that no contaminants, no harmful chemicals and no physical hazards will be added to the content by packaging material. Therefore, BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 does not serve as any sort of quality standard (such as ISO 9001), but instead addresses safety of product packaging specifically.
In addition, when it comes to auditing according to BRCGS Packaging Issue 6, product safety culture is being evaluated along with technical control systems. Auditing staff evaluates how consistently all personnel in a site from management to operators are applying their knowledge regarding safety and hygiene regulations in their production processes. This aspect has been greatly improved in comparison with previous versions of this standard, just like in other BRCGS standards.
Since packaging is seen as a component of the extended food safety supply chain, there is a demand from many brand owners for their packaging manufacturers to provide HARA information, migration test results, and traceability documents even after the initial certification process.
How to Prepare for BRCGS Packaging Certification
Sites that are new to BRCGS Packaging Certification tend to take a phased approach instead of scheduling the audit straight away. The normal route taken involves:
- Gap analysis in relation to the current problem with the standard
- Design/build or re-design/re-build of the HARA for the site
- Supplier approvals and documentation of traceability of raw materials
- Training of personnel in relation to hygiene, foreign bodies, and safety culture of products
- Internal audit in order to determine any gaps prior to the certification audit
- Selection of an accredited certification body and scheduling of the BRCGS Packaging Audit
Where a manufacturer is already certified under other BRCGS scheme, or under schemes like ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000, certain aspects of the current management system can be carried forward, but clauses related to packaging such as HARA and artwork control have to be developed independently.
BRCGS Packaging Audit Process
BRCGS Packaging Audit is also a step-by-step process, just like other BRCGS standards, but the checklist points are unique to packaging manufacturing processes as opposed to food manufacturing processes. The steps involved are:
- Pre-audit document review, such as the HARA for the site, specifications, and quality manual
- Opening meeting where scope and site information is verified
- Site audit regarding site requirements, process controls, and product controls
- Evaluation of traceability, mock recall, and non-conformance reports
- Closing meeting where results and any non-conformances are discussed
- Scoring the site as either AA, A, B, C, or D depending on the non-conformances
Audits occur once per year, although for high-ranking sites, those with an AA rating, it is possible that the cycle will be extended in accordance with the existing BRCGS certification process. A certificate and an audit report summary are issued by the certification body, and the buyer is able to find information about it via the BRCGS Directory.
Common Challenges in Achieving BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 Certification
Problems faced by manufacturers who shift from other versions of the standard or those that opt for BRCGS Packaging Certification for the first time are fairly common. It is important to anticipate these problems so that certification can be planned realistically instead of being treated as a tick box exercise.
- Developing a HARA tailored to the individual site processes instead of using an off-the-shelf model
- Showing a uniform product safety culture in all shifts and not only when the certification body comes around
- Having all the artwork and print control documents for every package variation produced
- Ensuring that corrective action is closed before the arrival of the certification body
- Updating supplier approval and raw material documentation with time as suppliers change
Firms which take the approach of BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 as a continuous process of management and conduct reviews throughout the year and not before the audit will score better and encounter few nonconformities during re-certification.
Key Takeaways
- Issue 6 of BRCGS Packaging is the latest iteration of the Global Standard for Packaging Materials which includes primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.
- Food or consumer brands that manufacture, convert, print or co-pack packaging would require BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 certification.
- BRCGS Packaging Material Standard is based on Hazard & Risk Analysis (HARA), site standards, process controls, and personnel requirements.
- BRCGS Packaging Certification and BRCGS Food Safety Certification are two different standards for different phases of the supply chain.
- Outcome of the BRCGS Packaging Audit leads to certification at Grade AA, A, B, C or D.
FAQs
What is BRCGS Packaging Issue 6?
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is the sixth edition of the BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials, which defines safety, quality, and legal standards for packaging material manufacturers.
Who needs BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 certification?
Companies producing packaging materials, printing, converting, and co-packing companies supplying packaging materials for food or cosmetic companies usually require BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 certification.
What is the difference between BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 and BRCGS Food Safety certification?
The difference between BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 and BRCGS Food Safety Certification is that one focuses on packaging manufacture while the other focuses on food manufacture.
Is BRCGS Packaging certification different from BRCGS Food Safety certification?
Yes, BRCGS Packaging certification is different from BRCGS Food Safety certification.
How long does a BRCGS Packaging Audit take?
The time required for an audit will depend upon the site size and its complexity. However, typically BRCGS Packaging Audits take one to two days to be completed.
What certification grades are given under BRCGS Packaging Issue 6?
The sites receive a grade of AA, A, B, C, or D depending on the number of nonconformities detected at the time of audit.
Does BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 apply to plastic packaging manufacturers?
Yes, BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 is applicable to plastic packaging producers along with other types of packaging manufacturers.
