With the improvements introduced in production control and by ensuring that the packages sold are 100% safe and fit to contain products for human consumption the company Cartonajes La Plana has obtained the BRC-IOP certification from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for its production plant in Betxí in the Spanish province of Castellon. With this, the company strengthens its position in the food sector as one of the leaders in the corrugated cardboard sector in Spain.
The firm was one of the first Spanish companies devoted to the production of corrugated cardboard to obtain the food safety certificate Good Manufacturing Practice Standard (GMP) of the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO).
Now the company expands this focus on the production of safe packaging for the food industry by obtaining the BRC-IOP certification, which is the most widespread standard in the international markets. Currently, the production plants in Onda (Castellón) and Cenicero (La Rioja) are also in the process of obtaining the certification, which will add to the already granted ISO-9001 and 14001, about quality and environmental management, respectively.
The BRC-IOP protocol (Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials) is a special version of the BRC standard intended for manufacturers and suppliers of materials in contact with food and packaging, and which is now also beginning to be demanded by manufacturers of medical and pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and baby products, among other sectors.
The global food security protocol aims for product suppliers to comply with a series of requirements to ensure food safety, forcing food businesses to have the necessary systems in place to be able to identify and control hazards that may adversely affect the safety of these products through a system of hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).
By obtaining the BRC-IOP certification for all its plants, Cartonajes La Plana aims to consolidate as the leading supplier for the food sector in the Mediterranean and north of the peninsula. Juan Ignacio Piquer, CEO of the company, also states that these certifications provide a clear competitive advantage for Spanish food companies exporting to markets of central and northern Europe.