Each BRC Global Standard has a unique structure. Only the Food Standard is addressed in this section. The Food Standard possesses a comprehensive scope covering all areas of product safety and legality. The Food Standard also addresses part of the due diligence requirements of both the supplier and the retailer. The Food Standard covers 7 chapters:

1. Senior Management Commitment  and Continual Improvement – For any food safety system to be effective it is essential that the factory senior management are fully committed to its application and continued development.

2. The Food Safety Plan  ( HACCP ) – The basis for the Food Safety System is an effective HACCP programme based on the requirements of the internationally recognised Codex Alimentarius system

3. Food Safety and Quality Management System - This sets out requirements for the management of food safety and quality, building upon the principles of ISO 9000. This includes requirements for product specifications, supplier approval, traceability, and the management of incidents and product recalls.

4. Site Standards – These define expectations for the processing environment including the layout and maintenance of the buildings and equipment, cleaning, pest control and waste management. This includes a specific section on managing foreign body controls.

5. Product Control – This includes requirements at the product design and development stage, Allergen management and the expectations of Laboratories and product testing.

6. Process Control – This covers the establishment and maintenance of safe process controls, weight/volume control and equipment calibration.

7. Personnel – This defines requirements for the training of staff and expectations on protective clothing and personnel hygiene.  

BRC Global Standards contain highlighted paragraphs in bold text, which are statements of intent, that all companies must comply with in order to gain certification. Following each statement of intent are specific requirements related to the statement of intent. Product certification is dependent upon continued compliance to the statements of intent. Within the BRC Global Standards certain requirements have been designated as fundamental requirements, which are marked with the word ‘Fundamental’ immediately after each section heading. These fundamental requirements relate to systems, which shall be well established, continuously maintained and monitored by the company. Where a critical or major non-conformity is raised against the statement of intent associated with these requirements, they will result in non-certification, suspension or withdrawal of certification. In all cases where critical or major non-conformites are raised against fundamental requirements full evaluation to establish demonstrable evidence of compliance is required.

The BRC does not conduct audits but does provide recognition to certifiying bodies to audit against any of its standards. Certification bodies that are accredited (or are seeking accreditation) to EN45011 ( ISO /IEC Guide 65) with the appropriate scope can carry out evaluations against the BRC Standards and issue certificates.