Reviewed and Approved by Justin Derington, Director of Audit Services, FSNS Certification & Audit
<1-Minute Summary
- GFSI’s December 2024 update affects SQF, BRCGS Food Safety, and FSSC 22000, adding new audit criteria for food safety culture, hygienic design, and data management.
- No immediate re-certification is needed, but future audits may have stricter multi-site rules and increased transparency.
- Prepare now by monitoring updates, strengthening food safety culture, and updating compliance records.
GFSI Benchmarking Requirements December 2024 Update
If your facility is certified under a GFSI-benchmarked food safety scheme like SQF, BRCGS Food Safety, or FSSC 22000, the December 2024 update to the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements will affect your certification. These changes strengthen food safety and improve global alignment with international standards like Codex Alimentarius and ISO 22003.
How These Changes Affect Your Certification
Your facility’s certification scheme, whether SQF, BRCGS Food Safety, FSSC 22000, or another GFSI-benchmarked scheme, will update its requirements to maintain GFSI recognition. This means…
- New or Revised Audit Criteria – Expect potential updates related to food safety culture, hygienic design, and data management.
- Adjustments to Your Food Safety Program – You may need to review and update training, risk assessments, and compliance documentation.
- More Stringent Multi-Site Certification Rules – If you operate multiple sites under one certification, oversight and audit requirements may become stricter.
Do I Need to Get Re-Certified?
The short answer: Not immediately.
If you are currently certified under a GFSI-recognized scheme, your certification remains valid until your next scheduled audit. However…
- Certification Program Owners (e.g., SQFI, BRCGS, FSSC) will update their own requirements based on the new GFSI benchmark.
- When your next re-certification audit occurs, it will include updated audit criteria reflecting these GFSI changes.
- Your certification body (e.g. FSNS Certification & Audit) will provide details on any new requirements before they take effect.
For now, monitor the website of your Certification Program Owner for news about impending updates to their standards so you can stay well ahead of upcoming changes.
Will It Be More Difficult to Pass My Next GFSI Audit?
That depends on the preparation of your site.
Some key updates in GFSI’s 2024 benchmarking requirements may affect your next audit and include the following:
1. Stronger Emphasis on Food Safety Culture
- Facilities must demonstrate continuous improvement in food safety culture (employee training, leadership involvement, etc.).
- GFSI now requires a structured assessment of food safety culture, measuring communication, training, and performance over time.
2. Changes to Multi-Site Certification
- If your company operates multiple sites under one certification, GFSI has introduced stricter criteria for defining and auditing the “central function.”
- Expect more scrutiny over multi-site management, internal audits, and risk-based sampling.
3. Expanded Data Management & Transparency
- GFSI now requires certification program owners to track and report on the number of audits, certificates issued, and suspensions.
- This increased transparency may mean more scrutiny and stricter oversight of auditing practices.
When Do These Changes Take Effect?
The GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) v2024 were released in December 2024. However, Certification Program Owners (CPO) like SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 will require time to incorporate these updates into their schemes.
Here is an estimated timeline for sites; remember – this is an estimate, so monitor your CPO’s website for updates:
Estimated Timeline for Sites
2024 – GFSI published their new benchmarking requirements in December.
2025-2026 – Certification Program Owners (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC, etc.) update their standards to align with GFSI.
2026+ – Sites begin seeing the new requirements reflected in audits.
FSNS Certification & Audit will notify our customers about any changes to the standards as soon as they are announced.
What Should Your Facility Do Now?
Thankfully, GFSI and your CPO provide plenty of time to digest benchmarking requirements and prepare for scheme updates. But you can never be too prepared. Here are a few steps to ensure your site stays on top of upcoming changes:
- Follow announcements from your certification program owner (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000) to understand when these changes will affect your audits.
- Focus on your Food Safety Culture Program – this is a major component of food safety today and continues to be emphasized with each new scheme update.
- Make sure your food safety records, risk assessments, and compliance documentation are up to date.
- Work with FSNS Certification & Audit to understand any new audit expectations.
Final Takeaway: Start Preparing Now
GFSI’s BMRs v2024 update will not immediately change your certification, but it will shape future audits and compliance expectations. By staying informed and proactively adjusting your food safety systems, you can ensure a smooth transition and continued audit success.
If you need help preparing for these changes, our experts are here to assist you. Contact us today to ensure your facility remains compliant with the latest food safety certification requirements.
