Food & Beverage Manufacturers urged to consider Issue 9 of the BRCGS Standard for Food Safety
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE STANDARDISING QUALITY & SAFETY
THORITE
Food & Beverage Manufacturers urged to consider Issue 9 of the BRCGS Standard for Food Safety
Adopted as THE Food Safety Standard by 30,000 food manufacturers in over 130 countries , the ‘ Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards ’ standardises quality , safety , and operational conventions to ensure that manufacturers fulfil their legal obligations to the consumer . Whilst it ’ s not yet a legal requirement in the UK , most large food retail brands insist that their suppliers are BRCGS-certified .
Key changes outlined in Issue 9 are heavily influenced by the most frequent non-conformities discovered throughout 2021 , the most prevalent of which was 4.11.1 - Premises & Equipment Hygiene . Given its dubious honour as the most common type of non-conformity , equipment compliance is a major focal point in Issue 9 .
There is far more emphasis on manufacturers responsibilities concerning equipment management than in Issue 8 . This includes a documented purchase specification , as well as any relevant legislation , food contact approved requirements , and details of intended use of the equipment . Companies with a dedicated Food & Beverage team such as Thorite , the UK ’ s leading independent supplier of pneumatic and fluid power process products are now able to supply EHEDG certified components & equipment that ensure compliance with these new clauses .
Another of the most frequent reasons for an audit non-conformance is contamination - In particular biological , allergenic , or ingress of a foreign body . Contamination can occur in small parts of food manufacturing machinery , hence Issue 9 states a requirement for ‘ the use of correct seals , impervious surfaces , or smooth welds and joints ’. To combat this , Thorite offers products such as hydroformed diaphragm vales , constructed from a single piece of stainless steel with no welds or crevices for contamination .
Although not as prevalent , another of the BRCGS ’ s new fundamental requirements
There is far more emphasis on manufacturers responsibilities concerning equipment management than in Issue 8 .
is process control which is essential for ensuring full compliance with a HACCP ( Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points ) or food safety plan . This is especially apparent in the clause 6.1.3 .
This standard outlines the critical nature of process monitoring for ensuring products are manufactured to the mandated specification . Comprehensive monitoring systems are proven to provide highly accurate , real-time temperature data , support food safety compliance , and cut costs . Temperature , time , pressure , and chemical properties are all included as some examples of key parameters to measure . Leading monitoring systems will typically also measure :
• Humidity
• CO2
• Energy consumption
• Concentration
• Flow
• Viscosity
In this instance , products from Thorite ’ s premier partners such as the FLOWave from Burkert can be used as a multi-parameter measuring device , where measurement is independent of flow direction and does not require conductivity of the medium .
Since it does not have any moving parts in the measuring tube , it thus has ;
• No pressure drop
• No leakage problems
• No dead spaces
• No replacement parts
No matter the unique challenge your Food & Beverage Facility faces in light of the Issue 9 updates , Thorite has a solution . Contact their dedicated Food & Beverage team on FBFTeam @ thorite . co . uk today to discuss how these changes will impact your business .
For further information , please visit www . thorite . co . uk
30 PECM Issue 62