BRCGS Packaging Certification

BRCGS Packaging Materials is a GFSI-recognised scheme for the safety and quality of packaging materials in contact with food and consumer products. There are two hygiene categories: stricter requirements apply to packaging in direct food contact, and more flexible requirements to non-contact packaging.

• Food-packaging manufacturers: film, foil, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic containers
• Firms providing label and printing services
• Manufacturers of caps, closures and sealing systems
• Firms supplying packaging to food manufacturers

Not legally mandatory; compliance with food-contact-material legislation (Regulations (EC) 1935/2004 and (EU) 10/2011 in the EU) is mandatory. The certificate is widely requested in food manufacturers' supplier-approval process.

• Senior management commitment
• Hazard and risk management (HARA)
• The product-safety and quality management system
• Site standards: layout, building, equipment, maintenance, cleaning, pest control
• Product and process control: product design, print control, product verification
• Food-contact conformity and migration assessment
• Control of inks, varnishes and adhesives; odour and set-off risk
• Foreign-body control and requirements by hygiene category
• Personnel training and hygiene
• Food defense and product fraud

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• BRCGS Food
• IFS Food
• IFS Logistics
• ISO 22000Food Safety Management
• FSSC 22000Food Safety System
• HACCP
• GMPGood Manufacturing Practice
• GMP+Feed Safety