Getting Started with GFSI-Recognised Certification
Retailers and manufacturers increasingly ask suppliers for a GFSI-recognised certificate. This guide explains what GFSI is, which schemes it recognises and how to choose one.
Key points
- GFSI does not certify companies. It benchmarks and recognises certification programmes.
- BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS and SQF are among the recognised programmes.
- Choose the scheme your customers accept and that fits your products and markets.
What is GFSI?
The Global Food Safety Initiative is an industry collaboration that sets benchmarking requirements for food safety certification programmes. A programme that meets them is “GFSI-recognised”. The aim is that a certificate from one recognised programme is accepted by many buyers, which reduces duplicate audits.
Which scheme should you choose?
- Ask your customers first. Some retailers specify a scheme.
- BRCGS Food Safety is a prescriptive standard with detailed site and process requirements, widely requested by UK and international retailers.
- FSSC 22000 is built on ISO 22000 and sector prerequisite programmes, and integrates easily with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
- IFS and SQF are common in parts of Europe and in North America respectively.
The route to certification
- Gap analysis against the chosen standard
- Senior management commitment and a food safety team
- Prerequisite programmes and the HACCP-based plan
- Food defence, food fraud and food safety culture plans
- Internal audit and management review
- Certification audit by an approved certification body, then closing any nonconformities
Common pitfalls
Starting documentation before the site standards are fixed, underestimating the time needed for records to build up before the audit, and treating culture and fraud requirements as paperwork. Plan for several months of operating the system before the certification audit.