BRCGS (BRC) FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION

BRCGS is a certification scheme that provides a framework for managing product safety and quality. There are 4 BRCGS standards for certification for food manufacturing, package manufacturing and storage and distribution. The BRCGS Food, Packaging and Storage Distribution standards are all GFSI Benchmarked as equivalent to FSSC, IFS, and SQF standards. 

The benefits of BRCGS Certification are:

New business opportunities

Improve your ability to work with the many organizations for which BRCGS certification is a contractual obligation or expectation. 

Customer confidence in your brand 

The standard helps you protect your brand, giving customers confidence in your production programs and supply chain management. 

Supply chain access

The Global Standard for Food Safety is accepted and specified by many global retailers, manufacturers, ingredients companies, food service organizations and raw material processors as part of their supplier approval process. 

Competitive advantage 

Certification against one of the leading standards in your sector sets you apart from uncertified competitors. 

The certification is valid for a year from the date of issue. To maintain certification, the organisation must pass an annual audit.

Some certification bodies may conduct unannounced audits during the certification period. These audits will take place at any time without prior notice. 

The cost of BRCGS certification varies depending on multiple factors such as the size of the organization, the organization structure, and the scope of the certification. To request a quote based on your specific needs contact us here.

The path your organisation takes to achieve BRCGS certification depends on your business's size, maturity, and existing approach to managing risk, amongst other factors. But the standard process to becoming IFS certified includes three main steps. 

Your organization can request a voluntary BRCGS pre-audit as preparation for the initial BRCGS certification audit. When your organization is ready, request the initial certification audit. The auditor will go on-site to review your product safety and quality systems, products and production processes in line with relevant BRCGS requirements. The auditor will issue an action plan listing all the findings and your company will have to complete it detailing the implemented corrections and the proposed corrective actions. The report and action plan released by the auditor is the subject of an independent technical review. Based on the result of the technical review, the certificate issuance is recommended or not. 

BRCGS Food Safety version 9 includes several updates and changes to the standard. The new version looks at risk with importance given to food safety culture, hazard and risk analysis, and supplier management. In addition, a number of changes have been introduced to bring the standard in line with the GFSI Requirements. 

BRCGS Food Safety audits are graded on a scale from AA to Uncertified. The grading is determined by the number and type of non-conformances and unannounced audits are marked by a ‘+’ after the grade e.g. A+.