About this Video

• Video Title: Introducción a las normas de seguridad alimentaria - Episodio nº 1
• Channel: Marife Montes Luna
• Speakers: Marife Montes Luna
• Duration: 00:26:08

Introduction

This podcast episode provides an introduction to food safety standards, specifically focusing on BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000. The speaker explains the history and evolution of these standards, their similarities and differences, and the role of the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) in harmonizing them. The episode also discusses the benefits of food safety certifications.

Key Takeaways

• BRC (British Retail Consortium), IFS (International Featured Standards), and FSSC 22000 are three prominent food safety standards. Each has its own history and evolution, with multiple updated versions released over time.
• GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) is an organization that harmonizes these standards to ensure a common level of food safety globally. GFSI itself is not a standard or certification body.
• Similarities between BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000 include a focus on minimizing food safety risks throughout the supply chain, similar audit structures, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Differences between BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000 include market focus (BRC leans toward retail, FSSC 22000 is more global) and flexibility (FSSC 22000 offers more flexibility in integrating other management systems).
• Benefits of certification include increased client and consumer confidence, access to new markets, risk reduction, and operational efficiency.

This podcast episode offers an in-depth exploration of three major food safety standards: BRC (British Retail Consortium), IFS (International Featured Standards), and FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification). The speaker, Marife Montes Luna, begins by contextualizing these standards within the broader landscape of food safety, highlighting the increased need for rigorous, internationally recognized norms due to globalization and international trade.

The episode then delves into the history of each standard. BRC, established in 1996 in the UK, initially focused on supermarket own-brand products but has since expanded globally. IFS, originating in 2003 through collaboration between German and French distributors, aimed to simplify audit processes for suppliers and manufacturers. FSSC 22000, launched in 2009, is a more recent standard based on ISO 22000 and specific technical specifications.

A crucial aspect discussed is the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative). The speaker emphasizes that GFSI is not a standard itself but rather a coordinating body that harmonizes requirements across various food safety standards like BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000, ensuring consistency and comparability worldwide. The episode clarifies the common misconception of GFSI being a certification standard.

The core of the podcast focuses on comparing and contrasting the three standards. While sharing significant similarities—a focus on minimizing risks, similar audit structures, and a commitment to continuous improvement—they also exhibit differences. BRC and IFS cater more to retail markets, whereas FSSC 22000 has a broader, more global approach. FSSC 22000 also stands out for its flexibility in integrating other management systems (like ISO 9001 or ISO 14000). The speaker details the evolution of each standard, citing the current versions available in 2024 and outlining the iterative improvements and updated requirements incorporated over time.

Finally, the podcast highlights the tangible benefits of obtaining these certifications. Beyond formal compliance, certifications bolster consumer confidence, open access to international markets, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce risks. The speaker concludes by urging listeners to view these certifications not merely as formalities but as crucial investments in robust food safety systems. The episode prepares the listener for future episodes that will cover specific requirements, audit planning, and deviation handling within each of these standards.

The podcast compares and contrasts BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000 across several key aspects:

Similarities:

• Focus: All three standards prioritize food safety and minimizing risks throughout the supply chain. They all aim to ensure the safety and quality of food products.
• Structure: They share a similar structure based on audits and inspections to verify compliance with the established requirements.
• Continuous Improvement: A strong emphasis is placed on continuous improvement of food safety management systems. The standards aren't static; they require ongoing updates and adaptation.
• GFSI Recognition: All three are recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), meaning they meet a baseline of global food safety standards, facilitating international trade.

Differences:

• Market Focus:
  • BRC: Primarily geared towards the retail market, particularly supplying own-brand products to supermarkets.
  • IFS: Broader than BRC, but still heavily focused on the retail sector.
  • FSSC 22000: Has a more global and broader focus, applicable to a wider range of businesses and supply chain stages.
• Flexibility:
  • FSSC 22000: Is considered more flexible, allowing easier integration with other management systems such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management). BRC and IFS are less flexible in this regard.
• Specific Requirements: While possessing many overlapping requirements, each standard has its own set of specific requirements and emphasizes particular areas more strongly than others. For example, FSSC 22000 is more explicit about prerequisite programs (hygiene, cleaning, pest control, waste management), though these are implicitly covered in BRC and IFS.
• Versions and Updates: The podcast highlights that each standard undergoes regular updates, resulting in different versions being current at different times. This means that the specific requirements evolve over time, necessitating continuous adaptation by certified companies.

In short, while all three standards aim for food safety, their scope, flexibility, and emphasis on specific requirements differentiate them, allowing businesses to choose the standard best aligned with their particular needs and market focus.

The GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) doesn't create or certify food safety standards itself. Its role is to harmonize and benchmark existing standards like BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000. It ensures that these different standards share a common level of food safety requirements, promoting consistency and reducing the burden on companies that trade internationally. Essentially, GFSI works to create a unified global approach to food safety.

According to the podcast, GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) doesn't set its own standards or issue certifications. Instead, it acts as a harmonizing body, ensuring that various food safety management systems (like BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000) maintain a comparable level of stringency and consistency worldwide. This simplifies matters for businesses operating internationally by providing a benchmark and reducing discrepancies between different certification schemes. The podcast emphasizes that GFSI is not a standard or certification body itself.

Several important points beyond the main comparison of BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000 are highlighted in the podcast:

• The voluntary nature of these standards: The speaker explicitly states that these are not legally mandated requirements but rather voluntary choices for businesses. This is crucial for understanding the decision-making process for companies choosing which standard to adopt.

• The benefits of certification extend beyond compliance: While compliance is a primary goal, the podcast emphasizes the business advantages gained from certification, including:

  • Increased consumer and client trust: Certifications signal a higher commitment to food safety, building confidence in the company and its products.
  • Access to new markets: Many international buyers and retailers require certification as a prerequisite for doing business, opening up new opportunities for certified companies.
  • Improved operational efficiency: Implementing and maintaining a robust food safety management system often leads to more efficient processes and reduced waste.
  • Risk reduction: Proactive hazard analysis and control measures reduce the likelihood of food safety incidents.

• The importance of continuous improvement: The podcast stresses the ongoing nature of maintaining these certifications. Standards are updated regularly, requiring continuous adaptation and improvement within the company's food safety management system. It’s not a one-time achievement but a continuous process of refinement.

• Detailed information available in future episodes: The speaker previews that future podcast episodes will offer more detailed guidance on the specific requirements of each standard, planning and conducting audits, and handling deviations. This suggests a comprehensive learning resource is being developed beyond the introductory nature of this episode.

These points add valuable context and practical implications that go beyond a simple comparison of the three main standards, providing insights into the strategic and operational aspects of food safety management.