1-Minute Summary
- A Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification is crucial for food manufacturers aiming to sell to large retailers, confirming their commitment to food safety and effective risk management.
- The top three GFSI certifications – BRC Global Standard (BRCGS), Safe Quality Foods Institute (SQF), and Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 – each have unique focuses and missions, requiring an independent third-party GFSI audit.
- BRCGS is globally prevalent and product-focused; SQF is recognized for its flexibility and HACCP compliance; FSSC 22000, based on ISO 22000, offers flexibility in food safety planning but can be challenging to audit.
- Businesses should consider their size, type, and customer requirements when selecting a GFSI certification. Annual GFSI audits are required to maintain the certification regardless of the chosen standard.
Choosing the Right GFSI Certification
Attaining a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification says a lot about your commitment to food safety and it opens doors for selling your products to larger domestic and international retailers. A GFSI certification confirms awareness and management of food safety risks and use of effective mitigation strategies for addressing them.
If you want to join the retailer big leagues, a GFSI food safety certification is a must.
But which of the top three internationally recognized GFSI certifications, each requiring a GFSI audit, is right for you?
- Brand Reputation through Compliance (BRC)
- Safe Quality Foods (SQF)
- Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000)
Each has a unique focus and mission. One commonality among these GFSI certifications is the requirement for an independent third-party GFSI audit of your facilities and food safety processes to ensure specific standards are met as well as annual audits that confirm good practices remain in place to maintain the certification.
Unpacking the “Big Three” GFSI Certifications
BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) Certification
BRCGS is broad, covering food safety, quality, operational controls, and legal requirements across a global supply chain. It’s one of the most common GFSI certifications worldwide:
- Accepted by 70% of the top 10 retailers.
- Accepted by 60% of the top 10 quick-service restaurants.
- Adopted by more than 22,000 sites in 130 countries.
A BRCGS audit is product-focused, meaning the GFSI certification assessment will focus more on process controls versus systems management for the following:
- Food safety
- Storage and distribution facilities
- Plant-based claims
- Gluten-free claims
Once you have created an effective program that meets BRCGS food safety standards, you choose an authorized BRCGS Certification Body to conduct an in-facility audit. This BRCGS audit will focus largely on the effectiveness of your processes to assure safe food throughout the supply chain.
We take a deep dive on BRCGS certification and audits here.
Safe Quality Foods Institute (SQF) Certification
The foundation of SQF certification is compliance with USDA FSIS and FDA food safety hazard assessments. Demonstration of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) development is an important component of SQF certification. It is recognized by retailers, brand owners, and food service providers worldwide.
While SQF offers five different programs, not all of them are GFSI-benchmarked food-safety certifications. (Learn more about SQF programs here.)
A prerequisite of eligibility for SQF food safety certification is completion of a HACCP-based training course by a full-time employee who will also act as the site’s SQF practitioner. Additionally, they must also have SQF implementation training.
Once the prerequisites are met, companies will choose an SQF authorized certification body, such as FSNS C&A, to conduct their onsite assessment.
An SQF assessment will focus heavily on documentation reviews and demonstrations that operations meet the SQF standards defined in those standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Learn more about SQF certification and audits here.
Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 Standard
FSSC 22000 is an internationally recognized, three-part standard that encompasses ISO 22000, applicable ISO 22002 PRP, and additional FSSC requirements.
Certification against FSSC 22000 standards demonstrates safe food production, including farms and fisheries, packaging and transportation of human and animal food and feed. It also addresses caterers and retailers who sell these products.
Large corporations and those with an international presence most frequently seek certification in the FSSC 22000 standard. It offers more flexibility in designing your food safety plan compared to SQF or BRCGS, but it can also be more difficult to audit.
Read more about FSSC 22000 here.
How Do I Know Which GFSI Certification is Right for Me?
An important first step when choosing a GFSI certification is to check with the retailers, suppliers, further processors, or other potential customers with which you are seeking to do business. In many cases, they’ll dictate their required and/or accepted certifications.
Next, consider your business, including size and type. Because the FSSC 22000 standard is a management system certification, smaller companies may not want the administrative requirements associated with obtaining this GFSI certification. Larger companies with an international focus, however, may decide the FSSC 22000 certification is suited to their broad reach. BRCGS and SQF are more product-focused certifications.
Regardless of which GFSI food safety certification you choose, an annual audit will be required to maintain it.
If you are unsure which GFSI food safety certification is right for you, our GFSI Food Safety Certification Quiz can help you decide.
GFSI Certification Comparison
This table helps compare the three main GFSI certifications – BRCGS Food Safety, SQF, and FSSC 22000. It highlights key aspects of each standard, which should aid in understanding their differences and suitability for various industry needs.
| BRCGS Food Safety | SQF | FSSC 22000 | |
| Global Prevalence | Most common standard globally. | Most common standard in the U.S. | Fastest-growing standard globally and in the U.S. |
| Standards & Specificity | “One-size-fits-all” across various sectors. | Specific Programs based on your goals. | Based on ISO 22000; more of a management system. |
| Pros | Easy to read and understand; requirements considered “reasonable” by most. | Different Programs allow for flexibility to suit your business needs. | Highly flexible; ISO standards are well-respected. |
| Cons | Very prescriptive; limited flexibility. | Standards can be vague and prescriptive. | Depends on self-developed, effective programs; subjectivity in auditing. |
| Flexibility & Development | Limited due to prescriptive nature. | Some flexibility within Programs. | High flexibility in program development. |
| Validation & Auditing | Clear but rigid; may not fit all industries. | Industry-specific but can be vague, complicating audits. | Heavy reliance on in-plant validations; subjectivity in effectiveness. |
What are the Benefits of GFSI Certification?
All this information may seem intimidating if you’re new to food safety certifications. But the up-front work is worth the cost for your business when you consider the benefits of achieving certification:
- Global Recognition: GFSI certification is internationally acknowledged, facilitating market access and global business opportunities.
- Supply Chain Trust: Demonstrates a commitment to food safety, building trust among customers, suppliers, and stakeholders.
- Risk Reduction: Helps identify and mitigate potential food safety hazards, decreasing the likelihood of costly foodborne incidents.
- Consumer Confidence: Increases consumer trust by ensuring adherence to rigorous food safety standards.
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlines processes and improves resource management, leading to cost savings and enhanced productivity.
- Market Advantage: Provides a competitive edge in an industry where safety and quality are paramount, attracting new business and retaining existing customers.
- Continuous Improvement: Encourages ongoing enhancement of food safety practices through regular GFSI audits and reassessments.
Why Choose FSNS C&A for Your GFSI Certification?
Once you are ready to begin the certification and audit process, the FSNS Certification & Audit team can help.
- Accredited by ANSI and ANAB to conduct certification and renewal audits against the top three GFSI food safety certifications.
- Each of our auditors has an average of 14 years of experience working in food manufacturing.
- We visit your facility and assess your compliance with pertinent food safety schemes based on the certification(s) you seek.
- Our team helps facilities prepare for their GFSI food safety certification through pre-assessments or mock audits that provide a realistic expectation of what to expect.
- In a survey of FSNS C&A customers, 99% said they were satisfied or extremely satisfied with our auditors.
The FSNS C&A team conducts annual audits to help companies stay in compliance with their certification schemes. Contact FSNS C&A about our certification process and to discuss your plans to become certified against GFSI standards.
