Better process control school (BPCS) live online, tutor-led training course

Are you exporting heat processed foods into the USA market?

If so, staff will be required to complete the Better Process Control School (BPCS) training course.

The BPCS training, as developed by the Consumer Brand Association (CBA) and delivered by Campden BRI, aims to help companies comply with the relevant federal regulations, whether that’s compliance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS).

This training gives an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of heat processing and container integrity, delivered by our Campden BRI experts.

The GMA SEF Better Process Control School has been recognised by the FDA.   Campden BRI has been approved by GMA SEF and the FDA to deliver the Better Process Control School programme both as a scheduled course and in-house to companies. 

The course will be delivered live online over the course of two days (0900 - 1700 approx), participants will be sent log in details for a Microsoft Teams session.

Who should attend

Content is aimed at personnel responsible for the management of heat processed foods and compliance to FDA & USDA regulations. In particular those in supervisory or management roles that are directly related to the delivery of heat processing and maintenance of container integrity. Individuals from teams such as:

• Engineering departments 
• Quality/Food safety/technical departments 
• Production/operations 

We follow the 11^th edition BPCS programme which aligns with the course textbook (see below). There are three different certificates; retort certificate, aseptic certificate and acidified certificate. Content will be tailored to ensure that, within the two days available, attendees achieve at least one of the certificates in the area that is most relevant to them. General topics include:

• Microbiology of Thermally Processed Food
• Food Plant Sanitation
• Thermal processing fundamentals
• Equipment, Instrumentation, and Operation for Thermal Processing Systems (for retort, pasteuriser and/or aseptic processing)
• Containers and Container Closures (for flexible, glass and/or metal cans)

Exactly which modules to be included will depend on the group attending and the requirements for the relevant certificate. The training programme will include time to take the module examinations.

Course Text

Participants will receive  a copy of the CBA publication, Canned Foods: Principles of Thermal Process Control, Acidification, and Container Closure Evaluation (9th Edition), the only approved text in the instruction of Better Process Control. 

In-house/Bespoke courses:

For companies who have many potential attendees a tailored training course may be most appropriate. This can be delivered online or face to face depending on location.