ANSI launches accreditation program for BRC standards.

Press Release Summary:



The ANSI program is for certification bodies assessing compliance with BRC Global Standard Food - 2005, BRC Global Standard - Consumer Products - 2006, BRC/IoP Global Standard - Food Packaging and Other Packaging Materials - 2004, BRC Storage and Distribution Standard - 2006, and Technical Standard for the Supply of Identity Preserved Non-Genetically Modified Ingredients and Product - 2001. Those seeking accreditation under the program must demonstrate compliance with various ANSI standards.



Original Press Release:



ANSI Launches New Accreditation Program for BRC Standards



From food and consumer products to packaging and distribution, many retailers choose to sub-contract the manufacturing of their own name-brand goods. To comprehensively meet the needs of these retailers, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has developed BRC Global Standards that have come to define best practices in the manufacturing of branded products.

Though compliance with BRC Global Standards is not mandatory, many global retailers and brand owners will only sub-contract those suppliers who are certified to the appropriate BRC standard. To meet this market demand, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is pleased to announce the launch of a new pilot accreditation program for certification bodies assessing compliance with the following standards:

BRC Global Standard Food - 2005
BRC Global Standard - Consumer Products - 2006
BRC/IoP Global Standard - Food Packaging and Other Packaging Materials - 2004
BRC Storage and Distribution Standard -2006
Technical Standard for the Supply of Identity Preserved Non-Genetically Modified Ingredients and Product - 2001

"ANSI accreditation adds value to the process by verifying the competence of certification bodies to assess compliance with these BRC Global Standards," said Reinaldo Figueiredo, ANSI program director of product certification accreditation. "Accreditation also helps to strengthen consumer confidence and promote best industry practices while reducing the need for retailers and governments to individually monitor credentialing organizations."

Certification bodies seeking accreditation under the new program must demonstrate compliance with:

ANSI-ACP- CA-001: ANSI Policy and Criteria for Accreditation of Certification Programs
ANSI-ACP-CA-002: ANSI Manual of Operations for Accreditation of Certification Programs
ANSI-ACP-CA-003: ANSI Operating Procedures of the Accreditation Committee
ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems
IAF guidance on the application of ISO/IEC Guide 65

ANSI will accept applications for the pilot program from March 15 through May 15, 2008. To learn more about the requirements or to obtain an application, please visit the program webpage or contact Reinaldo Figueiredo (rfigueir@ansi.org; 202.331.3611).

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