Storage & Distribution Standard

Additional modules can be added to the standard audit process, offering valuable benefits for customers:

• Reduce audit burden and cost by covering requirements that would previously have needed a separate audit, such as second-party audits.

• Meet specific geographic or customer requirements, particularly where a brand owner or specifier needs additional criteria to complement the Standard.

• Address particular operational needs or explore key market concerns in greater detail.

Sites wishing to adopt an additional module must notify their chosen certification body before their next BRCGS audit.

• The standard and any additional module requirements are audited together. This may extend the audit duration, depending on the module’s requirements.

• Non-conformities for both the standard and the additional module will be identified during the audit. However, non-conformities raised against the additional module are not included in the standard’s assessment or grade.

• Non-conformities relating to the additional module must be addressed with supporting evidence provided alongside evidence for any non-conformities raised against the standard.

• Additional modules are not graded - they are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

There are six additional modules relevant to the storage and distribution standard covering e-commerce, cross-docking, wholesale, contracted packing, inspection and waste management.

During the lifetime of a published standard, the BRCGS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) may be asked to review the wording of a clause or provide an interpretation of a requirement or a detail of the protocol. The decision made by the TAC is known as a position statement.

Position statements are binding and are considered to be an extension of the standard. Certified sites need to be aware of any statements relating to a standard and, where necessary, ensure that information is transferred into action.

Position statements are published on our website and on Participate. You can find out when a new statement has been published by signing up to the BRCGS newsletter.

BRCGS publishes self-assessment checklists for each standard providing a practical way to assess your operation against the standard requirements. This helps you build confidence ahead of your certification audit.

Covering every requirement of the standard, it helps you undertake a gap analysis of your level of compliance with the option to add comments and highlight improvement opportunities as you go.

Self-assessment checklists are published in a range of languages.

BRCGS storage and distribution audit duration is calculated using a standardised audit duration calculator, helping ensure a consistent and reliable approach.

The calculator has been developed and reviewed using insight from the first audits against the current issue, international feedback from certification bodies and frequently asked questions.