What Is A BRC Audit?

A BRC Audit is an independent review conducted by an independent auditing organisation or regulatory body that accredits companies’ compliance to the National Code of Practice. This code was created in response to the public’s growing concern about the food supply chain. It aims to ensure that the food we eat is safe for consumption. There are various different types of BRC audits, including those that focus on health issues, environmental sustainability, animal welfare and compliance with a range of other standards.

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The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is an international trade organisation for the food retail industry designed in 1992 in recognition of the importance of the food sector in UK society. The BRC publishes national standards for food hygiene, quality, liability and compliance. For more information on a BRC Audit, visit a site like MQM, a provider of BRC Audit services.

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Many leading retailers throughout Europe and the rest of the world will only undertake business with suppliers who are accredited and have previously been validated by an approved BRC board. They will not accept a company that is not accredited and will insist that the company provides them with proof of validation of their accreditation. Some supermarkets, like Marks & Spencer, will also perform their own independent audits as part of the process of selecting new suppliers. They do this in order to ensure they are only dealing with established food businesses who meet strict requirements. If the retailer does not have the necessary expertise, they will need to take on a professional to do the audit.

 

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