8. Supplier management
Managing material supplier risks
This article provides an overview of supplier risk assessment which is an important aspect of the management of materials and suppliers.
The standards
Supplier risk assessment is a requirement of the following sections of the standards:
| BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 | 3.5.1.1 Raw material risk assessment 3.5.1.5 Purchasing from agents and brokers 5.9.1 Animal conversion risk assessment 9.2.1 Supplier approval and monitoring system; traded products |
| BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 | 3.7.6 Purchasing from agents and brokers 7.1.1, 7.1.2 Supplier approval and monitoring system; traded products |
| BRCGS Agents & Brokers Issue 3 | 4.1.2 Manufacturer approval and monitoring system 4.1.4, 4.1.5 Purchasing from agents and brokers |
| BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4 | 10.2.1.1, 10.2.1.3 Supplier approval; branded products 10.3.1.1, 10.3.1.4 Supplier approval; own-label |
| FSSC22000 Version 5.1 | ISO 8.2.4f Supplier approval and assurance processes |
| IFS Food Version 7 | 4.4.3 Purchasing |
| SQF Edition 9 | 2.3.4.2 Approved supplier program |
| FSMA Preventive controls for human food (Final 2015) | Subpart G – Supply-chain program |
The requirements
Risk assessment
The assessment must take into consideration:
- Potential material risks.
- The application of use.
- The quantity of the material provided by the supplier.
- Historical evidence and data.
Materials may be grouped and risk assessed together, but only if all the materials in that group share the same risks.
Scope
The assessment must identify risks due to:
- Product safety hazards.
- Legal violations, for example to prohibited substances.
- Product defence threats.
- Quality defects.
Material risks
The risk assessment must consider inherent risks from:
- Allergen contamination.
- Foreign body contamination.
- Microbial contamination.
- Chemical contamination.
- Radiological contamination.
- Variety or species cross-contamination.
- Geographical origin.
- Integrity and claims.
- Accuracy of printed packaging.
The risk assessment must also meet customer requirements.
Legislation
The risk assessment must consider legislation in the country of manufacture and sale (where known).
Product defence
The assessment must take into consideration:
- Potential risks in the supply-chain up to the point of receipt at intake.
- Substitution, adulteration and authenticity.
- The length and complexity of the supply-chain.
- Potential risks in the supply-chain from the point of dispatch to receipt by the customer.
Traders
Where products or materials are purchased from a trader:
- Who does hold a relevant GFSI certificate, the trader will be considered by the risk assessment.
- Who doesn’t hold a relevant GFSI certificate, the trader’s supplier must be considered by the risk assessment (not the trader).
BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9
The scope of the material risk assessment must now include authenticity. The risk assessment must also meet customer requirements, and be reviewed where a material or supplier is implicated in a withdrawal or recall.
Emergency contact details must be received for agents and brokers, in case of an incident.
A risk assessment to be completed for primary animal conversion, that considers substances prohibited by law.
Supplier management
Managing material supplier risks
This eLearning course will provide you with an detailed solution to risk assessment of material suppliers. It’s designed for staff who are involved in the material and supplier risk assessment.
The course follows a simple risk assessment process which can be applied to all materials and suppliers.
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