New Position Statement (P708) for BRCGS Packaging Materials Version 7 Published

BRCGS, one of the leading organizations in the field of global food safety and packaging standards, has shared a new Position Statement (P708) with the public and industry stakeholders that contains a critical update to the Packaging Materials Standard Version 7 (Issue 7). This strategic step was taken to make BRCGS standards more integrated and fully compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) 2024 Benchmarking Requirements.  

The packaging industry is one of the most fundamental links in a secure supply chain and product integrity. Acting with this awareness, BRCGS aims to continuously elevate food safety culture and quality management systems to the highest level. The published P708 Position Statement is designed to meet the latest GFSI 2024 expectations, with the vision of enhancing packaging manufacturers’ reliability, competitiveness, and operational transparency in the global market. 

The new Statement of Position requirements, which mark a significant milestone for packaging manufacturers, quality professionals, and certification bodies, will be mandatory for all BRCGS Packaging Materials Version 7 audits conducted on or afterAugust 10, 2026. The standard’s governing body has established a reasonable transition period to facilitate the compliance process for facilities that are already certified and to prevent operational disruptions. 

To ensure a successful transition, businesses are advised to take the following steps: 

• A detailed review and understanding by the relevant teams of the published P708 Position Statement, 

• Conducting a comprehensive gap analysis between the current Quality and Product Safety Management Systems and the new requirements, 

• Developing action plans to address the identified shortcomings and promptly integrating the revisions into operational processes, 

• Informing facility staff and internal auditors about these new updates. 

These updates to the standard should be viewed not only as a requirement of the certification process, but also as an important opportunity for organizational development on the path to continuous improvement and operational excellence. 

You can access technical details, guidance documents, and the full text of the P708 Position Statement through BRCGS’s official information platforms. We strongly urge you to begin the transition process now to keep your systems up to date and ensure you are prepared for audits.