Storage and distribution is the link between all stages of the product supply chain and retail. The introduction and the implementation of this Standard represents the efforts made to ensure product safety and integrity through the supply chain. The Standard contains separate modules for the different sectors within the supply chain, namely storage, distribution, wholesaling and contracted specialist services offered by storage companies such as: product inspection/sorting; contract packing (repacking, assembly packing); quantity control inspection; contract chilling/freezing/defrost operations. EU Regulations (No. 178/2002, No. 852/2004) legally oblige food storage and distribution companies to ensure systems are in place to supply safe and legal products. Meeting the requirements of the BRC Storage and Distribution Standard ensures best practice standards are developed, implemented and maintained for any organisation involved in the storage and/or distribution of goods. Storage and distributor companies can be certified against this Standard to demonstrate their competence in maintaining product safety and integrity. The Standard is equally relevant to companies storing and/or distributing food, consumer goods and packaging. The Standard is applicable to all forms of transportation.