BRC Global Standard: Food Defense and Site Security Audit Checklist

A comprehensive audit checklist focusing on food defense and site security practices within the framework of the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, ensuring effective protection against intentional adulteration and malicious contamination.

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About This Checklist

The BRC Global Standard: Food Defense and Site Security Audit Checklist is a critical tool for food and beverage manufacturers committed to protecting their products from intentional adulteration and malicious contamination. This specialized checklist aligns with the food defense requirements of the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, focusing on the assessment and mitigation of potential threats to the food supply chain. By systematically evaluating site security measures, personnel practices, and incident response protocols, this checklist helps organizations safeguard their products, facilities, and brand reputation against deliberate acts of contamination or sabotage. Regular use of this checklist not only supports compliance with BRC requirements but also enhances an organization's resilience against emerging food defense threats in an increasingly complex global food production landscape.

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Industry

Food and Beverage

Standard

BRC Food Safety Standard

Workspaces

Food Manufacturing Facility

Occupations

Food Safety Manager
Security Officer
Operations Manager
Quality Assurance Specialist
Crisis Management Coordinator
1
Is there a documented threat assessment in place?
2
Are access control measures in place to restrict unauthorized entry?
3
How frequently is personnel security training conducted? (in months)
Min1
Target6
Max12
4
Is there an incident response plan available and accessible to staff?
5
What measures are in place to protect the supply chain?
6
Are emergency contact details accessible to all staff?
7
Describe the documentation process for food safety training.
8
How often are access control audits conducted? (in months)
Min1
Target6
Max12
9
Are background checks conducted for all new personnel?
10
Outline the procedures for handling incident reports.
11
Are visitor access protocols documented and enforced?
12
Are monitoring systems fully operational?
13
How frequently are security drills conducted? (in months)
Min1
Target3
Max12
14
Describe the food defense measures in place.
15
When was the last security audit performed?
16
Are all suppliers verified for security compliance?
17
Are security monitoring logs maintained and reviewed regularly?
18
How often is incident response training conducted? (in months)
Min1
Target12
Max24
19
Describe the risk assessment process for food safety.
20
When was the last food safety training conducted?
21
Is there a scheduled maintenance plan for security equipment?
22
Are vulnerability assessments conducted regularly?
23
How often are food safety audits performed? (in months)
Min1
Target6
Max12
24
Provide an overview of the crisis management plan.
25
When was the last food security review conducted?

FAQs

The checklist covers threat assessment, site security measures, access control, personnel security, visitor management, transportation security, incident response planning, and food defense training programs.

It guides the assessment of critical points in the production process where intentional adulteration could occur, ensuring appropriate preventive measures are in place to mitigate these risks.

The audit should involve the food defense team, including security personnel, operations managers, human resources representatives, and key members of the crisis management team.

It includes checks on information security practices, ensuring that sensitive details about food defense measures, site layouts, and critical process points are properly protected and shared on a need-to-know basis.

Yes, the Food Defense and Site Security Audit Checklist is adaptable to various types of food and beverage facilities. However, it should be tailored to reflect the specific threats, vulnerabilities, and operational characteristics of each facility.

Benefits of BRC Global Standard: Food Defense and Site Security Audit Checklist

Ensures comprehensive food defense measures in line with BRC Global Standard

Reduces risks associated with intentional adulteration and malicious acts

Enhances overall site security and personnel awareness

Improves preparedness for potential food defense incidents

Demonstrates commitment to product integrity and consumer safety