Introduction to BRCGS Storage and Distribution Issue 4 Course

About this course

The BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution sets out what a warehouse, cold store, transport or logistics operation must do so that the food, packaging and consumer products in its care stay safe, legal, genuine and of the right quality while they are stored, handled and moved. Issue 4 was published in November 2020, and certification audits against it began on 1 May 2021.

This five-hour course gives an overview of all of the Issue 4 requirements. It explains which operations and products the Standard covers, how it is built around statements of intent rather than fundamental clauses, and what the applicability codes and the voluntary modules (wholesale, cross-docking, e-commerce and contracted services) mean for a site. The core requirements are discussed with clause references and South African warehouse and transport examples, from senior management commitment and hazard and risk analysis to goods-in, temperature control, stock rotation, vehicles, traceability and recall. The course ends with the full certification process: the audit options, including the unannounced audit every site must have at least once every three years, non-conformities, grades, corrective action timescales and the BRCGS Directory.

It is an awareness-level course. It builds understanding of what the Standard asks for and how an audit works, so that your team can take part confidently in preparing for and hosting a Storage and Distribution certification audit, announced or unannounced.

Who should attend

Anyone who needs a working understanding of the Storage and Distribution Standard, including:

• Warehouse, cold store and distribution centre staff and team leaders
• Shift, dock and warehouse supervisors responsible for goods-in, picking and dispatch
• Quality assurance and technical staff in logistics, cold-chain and third-party logistics businesses
• Transport managers, fleet controllers and driver supervisors
• Stock and inventory controllers who manage stock rotation, holds, returns and traceability
• Wholesale, cross-dock and e-commerce fulfilment staff
• Internal auditors, business owners and managers preparing for a first Storage and Distribution audit

No previous HACCP knowledge is assumed, although some experience of a food safety or quality system is helpful.

An independent ASC course

This is an independent course by ASC Food Safety Training. It explains the Standard in our own words, with clause references; it is not a BRCGS course and is not endorsed by BRCGS. The certificate you receive is a course completion certificate. It is not a BRCGS qualification and it does not indicate BRCGS certification of any site. Always check brcgs.com for the current issue of the Standard and the latest BRCGS position statements.