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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

Institute of Brewing and Distilling

General Certificate in Beer Packaging
(GCP)
Section 6 Empty / Full Container
Inspection and Labelling / Coding.
6.1. Empty Inspection
Empty Returnable Bottle and Non-returnable Bottle Inspection.
Purpose Features Notes
To check that the Inspection is either ‘manually’ The need for the bottler to
empty bottles from by eye or electronically. demonstrate due diligence in
the washer or rinser Electronic bottle inspectors protecting the customer means that
meet the throw a beam of light through inspection is essential.
requirements of:- the bottle vertically or Modern systems incorporate side wall
• Clean inside & out. horizontally and reject bottles inspection, base inspection, neck
• Contain no foreign that display shadows or give inspection and residual liquid
objects. an abnormal light pattern. inspection.
• Are undamaged.

Empty Can Inspection.

Purpose Features Notes
To check that the Inspection is either Empty can inspection is not in
empty cans from the “manually” by eye or widespread use.
rinser meet the electronically.
requirements of:- Electronic can inspectors
• Clean inside & out. scan into the can
• Contain no foreign vertically and reject cans
objects that give an “abnormal
• Are undamaged picture”.

Empty Keg Inspection.

Purpose Features Notes
To check that the empty kegs Inspection is either ‘manually’ by The need for the
meet the following eye or electronically. container racker to
requirements:- Electronic keg inspectors scan the demonstrate due
• Are clean on the outside. top of the keg and compare the diligence in protecting
• Are empty. image to a reference pattern. the customer means
• Are undamaged. Spear tightening, de-ullaging and that inspection is
• The spear is intact. pressure checking can be essential.
incorporated into the inspection
system.

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)
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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

Empty container inspection and recording of data is required to ensure

that Consumer Safety requirements (such as “U.K. Environmental
Health Authority”) are met.

Package Procedure.
type.
Returnable • Ensure that empty bottle inspection and the reject system is effective and that
bottle & the relevant records are kept.
Non- • Ensure that bottle washing/rinsing and plant hygiene procedures are effective.
returnable • Maintain a system of handling customer complaints.
bottle.
Can. • Ensure that empty can inspection and the reject system is effective and that
the relevant records are kept.
• Ensure that can rinsing and plant hygiene procedures are effective.
• Maintain a system of handling customer complaints.
Keg. • Ensure that empty keg inspection and the reject system is effective and that
the relevant records are kept.
• Ensure that keg washing and plant hygiene procedures are effective.
• Maintain a system of handling customer complaints.

Please note that national law and local regulations will vary in different
countries and that various authorities may differ in their interpretation of the
law.

6.2.Full Container Inspection

Full Bottle (RB and NRB) inspection.

Purpose Features Notes

To check that Inspection is either The need for the bottler to demonstrate due diligence
the full bottles ‘manually’ by eye in meeting the requirements of both the national
from the or electronically. taxation (Excise)* and Trading Standards* means that
filler/crowner Electronic bottle inspection is essential.
meet the inspectors throw a Often a coarse inspection will take place after filling
requirements beam of light or and a more accurate one after pasteurisation.
of:- radiation through Inspection is backed up with accurate volume
• Filled with the the bottle at the measurement for individual packages. In the case of
right volume beer level. bottles this means emptying the contents into a
of beer. Incorrectly filled measuring cylinder.
• Are bottles are Records of inspection are kept for the relevant
undamaged. rejected. authorities.
Details of correct filling procedures are given in the
appropriate codes of practice.

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)
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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

Full can inspection.

Purpose Features Notes

To check that Inspection is The need for the canner to demonstrate due
the full cans electronically. diligence in meeting the requirements of both the
from the Electronic can national taxation (Excise)* and Trading Standards*
filler/seamer inspectors throw a means that inspection is essential.
meet the beam of radiation Often a coarse inspection will take place after filling
requirements through the can at the and a more accurate one after pasteurisation.
of:- beer level. Inspection is backed up with accurate volume
• Filled with the Other methods are by measurement for individual packages. In the case of
right volume bouncing sound off cans this means emptying the contents into a
of beer. the top of the can to measuring cylinder.
• Are sense its pressure or Records of inspection are kept for the relevant
undamaged. by measuring authorities.
distortion in the can Details of correct filling procedures are given in the
base. appropriate codes of practice.
Incorrectly filled cans
are rejected.

Full keg inspection

Purpose Features Notes

To check that the Inspection is by The need for the keg racker to demonstrate due
full kegs from the weighing the kegs diligence in meeting the requirements of both the
filler are filled with as they travel national taxation (Excise)* and Trading Standards*
the correct along the outlet means that inspection is essential.
volume of beer. conveyor. Inspection is backed up with accurate volume
To check that the measurement for individual packages. In the case of
keg is not leaking kegs this means weighing in specially tared
containers.
Records of inspection are kept for the relevant
authorities.
Details of correct filling procedures are given in the
appropriate codes of practice.

* Or other national Excise and regulatory bodies.

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)
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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

Full container inspection and recording of data is required to ensure

that taxation (Excise) requirements are met.

Package Procedure.
type.
Returnable • Ensure that bottles are not over filled.
and non • Ensure that the label states the correct contents and alcohol level.
returnable • Ensure that alcohol levels are analysed in package and that the relevant
bottle. records are kept.
• Ensure that full package level inspection is effective and that the relevant
records are kept.
Can. • Ensure that cans are not over filled.
• Ensure that the can states the correct contents and alcohol level.
• Ensure that alcohol levels are analysed in package and that the relevant
records are kept.
• Ensure that full package level inspection is effective and that the relevant
records are kept.
Keg. • Ensure that kegs are not over filled.
• Ensure that alcohol levels are analysed in package and that the relevant
records are kept.
• Ensure that full package contents inspection is effective and that the relevant
records are kept.

Full container inspection and recording of data is required to ensure

that the appropriate “Trading Standards” requirements are met.

Package Procedure.
type.
Returnable • Ensure that bottles are not under filled.
and non • Ensure that the label gives the correct information.
returnable • Ensure that full package inspection and analysis is effective and that the
bottle. relevant records are kept.
Can. • Ensure that cans are not under filled.
• Ensure that the can label gives the correct information.
• Ensure that full package inspection and analysis is effective and that the
relevant records are kept.
Keg. • Ensure that kegs are not under filled.
• Ensure that the keg label gives the correct information.
• Ensure that full package inspection and analysis is effective and that the
relevant records are kept.

Please note that national law and local regulations will vary in different
countries and that various authorities may differ in their interpretation of the
law.

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)
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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

6.3 Labelling and Coding

(a) Package Labelling.
The information required on a package label is:-
• Product name for customer identification.
• Volume of beer in the package for customer information (and for duty
calculation in some countries such as the United Kingdom.
• Alcohol content (by volume) for customer information (and for duty
calculation in some countries such as the United Kingdom.
• ‘Best before’ date for customer information. This is calculated from the date
of packaging and the product’s shelf life.
• Barcoding is used for:
- retailing by automatic reading machines at checkout counters,
using Article Numbering system (e.g EAN); each selling unit
(individual bottle/ can or multipack) has a unique code.
- warehouse identification (e.g ITF system); applied to outer
packs and pallets.
• Packaging code so that the batch can be identified by the producer. The
information to be derived from the code normally includes the date of
packaging, the source of the beer and the packaging line used. This
information is necessary in case there needs to be of an investigation into a
problem.

Audit trails enable the history of a packaged beer to be unravelled and require
detailed accurate records in a standard format, of each of the production and
packaging processes.

(b) Labeller.
Purpose Features Notes
To put a label or labels onto Labelling machines comprise A labelling machine has many
the bottle that:- the following parts:- moving parts and needs to be
• Informs the customer • A magazine to hold stacks of carefully set up.
about the product giving labels. Points to take into consideration
details about name, • A glue system that transfers are bottle temperature and
alcohol content, volume, glue from a reservoir onto a dryness, label paper quality,
best before date etc. revolving drum which then glue consistency and
• Advertises the product by glues profiled palettes. temperature.
presenting an attractive • The revolving palettes to The glue migrates all over the
appearance when which the labels are machine and a cleaning regime
displayed. transferred face up. is required.
• Provides information for • A gripper cylinder which A diagram of a labelling
the manufacturer giving collects the glued labels and machine is shown in the
details about the code, transfers them to bottles. previous section on returnable
date, bottling line, bright • A revolving carousel that bottling
beer tank etc. holds the bottles so that the
glued labels can be attached.

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)
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GCP (All Containers):Sect 6: Empty/full container inspection & Labelling/coding

Non-returnable bottles may be screen printed, in which case paper labels

would not be used.

(c) Labelling and Coding; Legal Impact

Labelling of packaged product needs to achieve several objectives these are:

Communicate legal information to the purchaser

Enable good stock rotation and control throughout the supply chain

Provide information to enable the producer to troubleshoot and identify the
causes of any product quality issues as easily and efficiently as possible.

Legal information which needs to be communicated varies from country to

country according to legislation and codes of practise in force at the time. This
information can include product name, producer company name and address
in case of complaint, container target average contents, alcohol by volume and
best before date.

Stock rotation and control information can include a batch code to be used in
conjunction with the best before date.

Information to facilitate investigation of any quality issues can include the time
of labelling (plus a sequential number for large containers from the start of the
filling batch).

© The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (GCP Revision Notes Version 1 2008)