Overview

Sponsored by:

Note: Class size is limited to the first 20 paid participants.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety - North American Version is a leading third-party global food safety and quality certification program. Other BRC technical standards cover requirements for production, packaging, storage and distribution of safe food and consumer products. The BRC Global Standards, together, are used by more than 15,000 certified suppliers in over 100 countries. Food processors obtaining certification under the BRC standards signal conformance to the food safety principles of the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

The IDFA-sponsored BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants will utilize the North American version of the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, which allows participants to learn practical tools to develop and implement a food safety and quality program. If the workshop training and tools are used properly, food plants will meet or surpass customer requirements and receive BRC certification.

The workshop is designed for food company corporate and plant management personnel, including production managers, quality assurance managers, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) teams, plant managers and consultants.

BRC North American Technical Director John Kukoly will be the trainer, providing information about the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety and offering a detailed study of the BRC North American Standard (published as BRC Issue 5). Through lectures, case studies and assigned work, participants will be given practical tools to develop a food safety and quality program that qualifies for certification by the BRC.

Participants will receive a copy of the standard and the interpretation guideline. Those who successfully pass a written exam will be awarded with a BRC training certificate.

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Agenda

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

1:00 - 1:45 p.m.	Introduction An opportimity to meet the instructors and your fellow participants
1:45 - 3:00 p.m.	The BRC Global Standards - Overview Explore the origins of the four BRC Global Standards and the events that influenced their formation. Historical perspective Accreditation and the GFSI program Further information about the standards
3:00 - 3:15 p.m.	Break
3:15 - 5:00 p.m.	Measuring Your Plant against the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Cover the "nuts and bolts" of the Global Standard for Food Safety, including: Background to the standard and its dynamic nature Structure of certification bodies (CB) Guidelines, position statements, FAQs and the BRC Web site Structure of the standard Importance of senior management commitment, HACCP and food safety in the standard Introduction to fundamental requirements Self assessment, CB selection and contracts

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.	Planning and Preparing for an Audit What you need to know to prepare for an audit by a BRC Certification Body Audit preparation Audit duration What happens onsite
10:00 - 10:15 a.m.	Break
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.	Raising and Closing Non-conformities What to do if your food plant does not conform to BRC Standard for Food Safety and how to respond. Non-conformities Further action
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Audit Reporting and Documentation Learn what the BRC CB auditors look for and how they grade a food plant Grading Certification Appeals Reporting Audit frequencies Unannounced audits Communication with CBs and CB monitoring Types of documentation required
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.	Requirements for Management Commitment The BRC Standard for Food Safety includes a number of fundamental requirements that must be maintained and monitored by a company. This session will present the BRC requirements for your company's management team. Structure of the requirements clauses First four fundamental requirements and all clauses that relate to them Senior management commitment
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.	Requirements for HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a process established to help prevent food borne illness. This session will discuss the HACCP requirements your food plant must meet to qualify for BRC certification. The Food Safety Plan - HACCP Internal audits Corrective and preventive action
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.	Break
2:45 - 3:30 p.m.	Requirements for Quality Management Systems There are three additional fundamental BRC requirements pertaining to Quality Management Systems: Traceability Layout product flow and segregation Housekeeping and hygiene
3:30-5:00 p.m.	Requirements for Site Standards This session will review BRC requirements for the facility, surroundings and personnel. Construction and maintenance of facility and surroundings Handling requirements for specific materials Training of personnel

Thursday, February 25, 2010

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:30- 10:00 a.m.	Operational Requirements - Safety and Quality Product control Process control Personnel activity
10:00 - 10:15 p.m.	Break
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.	How to Gain Certification Learn how to obtain BRC certification through a BRC-recognized CB to show that your food plant meets internationally recognized standards of the BRC, as well as the third-party certification system principles of GFSI.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Examination Participants who successfully pass this written exam will be awarded a BRC training certificate. This certificate indicates that you have passed this training; it does not certify that your company is in compliance with the BRC Global Food Safety Standard for Food Safety - North America.

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Hotel Information

Please make your own reservations at one of the hotels within walking distance of the Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) offices. Some of these hotels have special rates if you mention you are participating at a meeting at DMI. All hotels listed below have free shuttles that run from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to the hotel:

Holiday Inn Suites
DMI Rate:
1 King-$139 plus tax,
2 Queens - $149 plus tax.
Free high-speed wireless service.

Address:
10233 W Higgins Road,
Rosemont, IL 60018 (Located directly next to the DMI building.)
847-954-8600
hotel website

Sheraton Gateway Suites
DMI Rate: $139/night

Address:
6501 N. Mannheim Road,
Rosemont, IL 60018 (Across the parking lot from DMI, a 5-minute walk)
847-699-6300
hotel website

Holiday Inn Express
DMI Rate: $159/night
Free hot breakfast buffet and wireless Internet
Parking fee: $16 parking charge per night

Address:
6600 N. Mannheim,
Rosemont, IL 60018 (1 block from DMI. You will cross a very busy street.)
847-544-7500

Best Western
DMI Rate: $69.99/night
Free high-speed wireless Internet

Address:
10300 W Higgins Road,
Rosemont, IL 60018 (1 block from DMI. You will cross a very busy street.)
847-296-4471

 

Getting to Rosemont

By Air

Rosemont is served by the O'Hare International Airport. We are pleased to announce discounts with American Continental, Delta/Northwest, JetBlue and United Airlines for 2010 BRC Workshop. The following discounts are available:

American Airlines offers a 5% discount off published fares. The discount applies to all applicable fares that are available for your date and time of travel. To make a reservation, visit www.aa.com and use the authorization number A3220AF as the aa.com promotion code or please call the American Airlines Meeting Services Desk at 800-433-1790

Continental Airlines offers discounts off published fares of 2% to 15% or Zone Fares. Book your reservations online at www.continental.com for maximum savings and receive an additional 3% discount off the published fares. Click on www.continental.com and choose your flight times and access your meeting discounts by inserting ZG1KAW5HQS in the Offer Code box.

Or, you may call your travel professional or Continental MeetingWorks at 800-468-7022. Refer to Z Code ZG1K and Agreement Code: AW5HQS

Delta and Northwest Airlines are pleased to offer discounted airfares. Use WorldFile/Ticket Designator NY295 to purchase your tickets online and discounts from 2% - 7% will be applied. Individuals should go to www.nwa.com, and travel agents should go to www.worldagentdirect.com. Northwest will provide reservations and ticketing assistance at 1-800-328-1111.

JetBlue Airways offers a 5% discount on the lowest available fare by simply booking online! To make a reservation, visit www.jetblue.com/promo and use BRC2010 as the promotion code.

If you have any questions just contact our dedicated Meetings Desk at 1-888-JETBLUE (538-2583), option 4 or jetblueconventions@jetblue.com.

United Airlines offers a 5 to 10 percent discount off published fares. To make a reservation, please visit www.united.com and use the meeting ID 586MT as the united.com promotional code.

Or call the Meetings Plus reservation service at 800-521-4041

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants being held?
The IDFA-sponsored BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants will be held Tuesday, February 23, through Thursday, February 25, 2010.

2. Why should I attend the BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants?
The IDFA-sponsored BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants will allow attendees to learn practical tools to develop a food safety program that will meet or surpass customer requirements and be recognized by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety - North America. Such recognition also identifies the food plants as having achieved conformance to the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative's (GFSI) for benchmarking third-party certification systems on food safety.

3. Who attends the BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants?
This workshop is designed for employees responsible for food safety and quality management systems at the corporate level, including production managers, quality assurance managers, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) team, plant managers and consultants.

4. Which hotel has been reserved? What is the rate?
You may make your reservations at one of several hotels within walking distance of the Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) offices. Some of these hotels have special rates if you mention you are attending a meeting at DMI, includeing Holiday Inn Suites, Sheraton Gateway Suites, Holiday Inn Express and Best Western. Visit the hotel section for more information.

5. What is the schedule for the BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants?
The agenda with program and activities schedule is available online. Please note that the program schedule is subject to change.

6. How do I register for the BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants?
The fastest and easiest way to register is online.
You may also download a registration form and email it to registrar@idfa.org, fax it to 202-331-7820 or mail it to: IDFA Registrar, 1250H St, NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20005.

7. What is the registration fee?
The BRC Implementation Workshop for Food Plants registration fee is based on membership. If you are a member, the registration fee is $795; if you are not a member, the fee is $995. If you have questions about membership, send an email to membership@idfa.org.

8. What does my registration fee include?
Your registration fee includes continental breakfast on days 2 and 3, lunch on day 2 and all coffee breaks. You will also receive conference materials with printed PowerPoint presentations from the workshop.

9. Will I receive a confirmation of my registration?
Yes, you will receive a confirmation with detailed information about your registration via email or fax.

10. What is the registration cancellation/refund policy?
Full refunds will be granted for written cancellations received up to three weeks before the meeting. Cancellations received one to three weeks before the meeting will be eligible for a 50 percent refund. No registration refunds will be granted after February 16, 2010. All cancellations must be received in writing. Substitutions may be made without penalty.

11. Are there any airfare discounts?
Yes IDFA has partnered with four different airlines to offer discounts to attendees. We are pleased to announce discounts with American, Continental, Delta/Northwest, JetBlue and United Airlines. Visit the hotel and travel section for more information.

12. What is the dress code?
Business casual attire is recommended.

13. My question is not here! Who should I contact?
If you have other questions, please contact Kellie Bland, meetings assistant and registrar at (202) 220-3557 or kbland@idfa.org.

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How to Register

Registration for this event is closed.

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