English Harthoorn Packaging again achieves the highest possible standards for BRC & IFC Certification…
On 24 January 2014, Harthoorn Packaging, like previous years, successfully completed the BRC and IFC certification process. The company again achieved the highest level possible for these certificates. At Harthoorn Packaging, the quality of our products and services is always top priority. This is reflected in our daily processes. We are therefore extremely happy that this certification underlines our high quality standards. If you need any of your products to be packed, leave it to Harthoorn Packaging.
BRC
BRC stands for British Retail Consortium. This is the British counterpart of the Dutch Centraal Bureau Levensmiddelen [Foodstuffs Trade Organisation]. This standard is comparable to HACCP, albeit that it is a lot more far-reaching. It also formulates requirements for the company’s surroundings, internal organisation, and communication. This certificate is one of the most important ones for Harthoorn Packaging. All processes have been brought in line with the requirements of this standard. Companies that hold this certificate meet all requirements to be allowed to supply to all major British supermarket chains. Harthoorn Packaging has held this certificate from when it was founded. In 2012, a new standard was introduced for this certificate. Harthoorn Packaging was the first company in the Netherlands to be awarded the new grade A BRC certificate, i.e. this standard’s highest possible class.
IFS
IFS is often considered the joint French and German version of the BRC standard. The International Food Standard was introduced by German and French food retailers in 2002 and 2003. Like the BRC standard, this system aims to control food safety risks as much as possible. This system is also based on the HACCP and the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) standard. Harthoorn Packaging was inspected for compliance with the IFS standard, and was eventually granted the IFS certificate to go with its BRC certificate, attaining the highest possible class, IFS Higher Level.