The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is introducing a unique food safety and quality management programme for its members with a target to help at least 500 brewers gain the accreditation within two years.
The SIBA Certificate is based around independent assessment of brewers’ adherence to the organisation’s Manual of Good Brewing Practice which contains detailed quality requirements for members.
The SIBA Certificate is regarded as a step towards the new SALSA Plus Beer standard. SIBA will employ its own Food Technologist to administer the scheme and the one-day audits will be carried out by independent inspectors. The certificate has been designed to be affordable, so all SIBA member breweries can participate in the scheme. The cost will be £600, which will give the brewer a certificate for two years. Members can pay the cost in one lump sum or in ten monthly installments.
SIBA managing director Mike Benner said, “With so many brewers in the market it is important that we respond to the increasing demand from retailers for an independently assessed quality management scheme which is specifically geared towards smaller independent brewing businesses.
“SIBA has a strong reputation with retailers and we are confident that our scheme fills a gap in the marketplace and provides members with an important first step towards the widely recognised SALSA Standard. The new scheme provides an important new practical benefit to SIBA membership and we are pleased to be offering it at a price that makes it affordable to even the smallest brewer.”
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Notes to editors
SIBA was founded in 1980 by 20 pioneering microbrewers. Today, it has more than 820 brewer members, the majority of them classed as micro or local brewers. SIBA’s growing credibility and campaigning success – particularly achieving the introduction of Small Breweries’ Relief in 2002, and its role in the scrapping of the beer duty escalator in 2013 and consecutive cuts in beer duty in 2013, 2014 and 2015 – have established it as one of the most authoritative bodies in the brewing industry.
Issued on behalf of: Society of Independent Brewers
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel