Earlier this year Parkacre had a visit from the auditors at the BRC Global Standard. As part of the multi-day audit BRC inspectors observed all documentation, processes, manufacturing and operation facilities.
Parkacre is proud to announce that its UK manufacturing site in Lincoln has been awarded an AA graded BRC certified manufacturer status. This is the second year in succession for Parkacre and shows the huge strides once again in its quest to offer the highest quality products.
What is the BRC Accreditation?
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a globally recognised UK trade organisation.
Known across the globe as one of the world’s leading food safety and quality certification programs, Parkacre has successfully undergone an extensive external audit with all its quality and food safety practices processes being assessed.
How we achieve an AA grade status
Parkacre have our annual BRC accreditation audits every 12 months and we have held the accreditation for 2 years.
We are now at the pinnacle of accreditation standards with Parkacre receiving the “AA” grade after only 2 years of being in the scheme.
To achieve our AA grade status Parkacre undertook an intensive 16 hour external audit which included compliance monitoring, clean room facility testing and ensuring we have the correct quality management systems in place.
Speaking to the Technical Operations Manager, he stated the importance of having the certification
“Food safety is of critical importance for Parkacre when working in the food supply chain. The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety certification gives our brand an internationally recognised mark of food quality, safety and responsibility.”
Parkacre has proven once again its commitment to delivering the highest quality products to its customers.
What this means for our customers
Increasing the awareness and trust of the company on an international scale, this globally recognised certification opens up new doors for Parkacre and further strengthens its position as one of the leading manufacturers within the nutraceuticals sector.
Our customers are already aware of the high standard of our work and Parkacre has proven once again its commitment to delivering the highest quality products.
Prospective customers are able to look at this certification as see that an external body had found we supply safe, quality products.
A closer look at the BRC
The BRC Global Standards for Food Safety is developed by leading food industry experts from retailers, manufacturers and food service organisations and has been published since 1998.
The BRC provides a framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality and quality, and the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing and packing industry.
As described by the organisation:
The Standard focuses on:
- Encouraging development of product safety culture;
- Expanding the requirements for environmental monitoring to reflect the increasing importance of this technique;
- Encouraging sites to further develop systems for security and food defence;
- adding clarity to the requirements for high-risk, high-care and ambient high-care production risk zones;
- providing greater clarity for sites manufacturing pet food; and
- ensuring global applicability and bench-marking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
Issue 8 of the Standard is divided into nine sections:
- SENIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT
Commitment at a senior level is essential in the development of a good food safety culture and is therefore necessary for any food safety system to be effective and to ensure the full application and continual development of these systems.
- THE FOOD SAFETY PLAN – HACCP
Effective hazard and risk analysis enables the company to identify and manage those hazards that may pose a risk to the safety, quality and integrity of their products. The Standard requires the development of an effective hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) programme based on the requirements of the internationally recognised Codex Alimentarius system.
- FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
This section ensures the company works to well-documented, systematic management systems that form the basis for the product and process controls necessary to produce safe products, meet customer expectations and ensure staff are trained.
- SITE STANDARDS
This covers the suitability, cleanliness and control of the site and includes topics such as factory conditions, cleaning, equipment, pest control, foreign body controls and food defence/site security.
- PRODUCT CONTROL
Establishing product controls such as allergen management, the prevention of food fraud and product testing are important in the reliable delivery of safe, authentic products.
- PROCESS CONTROL
These requirements ensure that the documented HACCP plan is put into operation on a daily basis, together with effective procedures to consistently manufacture the product to the correct quality.
- PERSONNEL
Training, protective clothing and hygiene practices are covered in this section.
- HIGH-RISK, HIGH-CARE AND AMBIENT HIGH-CARE PRODUCTION RISK ZONES
A specific section of the Standard dealing with products that are susceptible to potential pathogen contamination and therefore need additional controls to ensure product safety.
- REQUIREMENTS FOR TRADED PRODUCTS
A voluntary additional section of the Standard for sites that purchase and sell food products that would normally fall within the scope of the Standard and are stored at the site’s facilities, but which are not manufactured, further processed or packed at the site being audited.
Thanks to the team
Being awarded the highest grade was only achievable as a result of our hardworking team. We would like to extend a massive thank you to the whole Parkacre team for all their efforts in delivering this brilliant result.
Contact us today
If you have a requirement for vitamins, supplements and minerals and want these manufactured by a company who is certified as exceptional, please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts. You can contact us through email at enquiries@parkacre.com or call +44 1427 666 000.
More information
For further information on the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety certification, please visit www.brcglobalstandards.com.
