BRCGS Food Safety certification: your questions answered

“BRCGS is technically rigorous, with a long list of requirements covering product safety, legality, quality and personnel controls,” says Arne. Being certified is highly valuable, though. “The standard was written largely by retailers, so they know it and recognize it, which gives it strong commercial appeal in the market.”

BRC Global Standards was set up in 1996 by UK retailers who wanted to reduce duplicate audits. The Food Safety standard followed in 1998, and in 2000 it became the first food safety standard recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

Are BRCGS and BRC the same thing?

Many people use the terms interchangeably. Arne notes that companies often ask for a ‘BRC certificate’ as a shortcut, since it’s quicker to say than BRCGS. However, BRCGS is the current, correct name. The standard was created by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), and in 2019 the organization rebranded as BRCGS.

Who is BRCGS for?

BRCGS is most commonly used by food manufacturers, but there are also BRCGS standards for packaging, storage and distribution, and agents and brokers. Which one is right for you depends less on your sector than on your market. “What a company must ask itself before choosing a standard is really this: what does its market require?” says Arne. Depending on the retailers or regions you’re targeting, another scheme may be more relevant. “It’s really the market that decides.”

Arne says many first-time clients come to certification because a customer has asked for it, or because a new market, such as the United Kingdom, has opened up.

Is BRCGS legally mandatory?

BRCGS is a commercial standard and is not a legal requirement. “It’s voluntary from a legislative perspective, but sometimes not from a commercial perspective,” says Arne. Some buyers expect their suppliers to be certified. Without certification, you may miss out on contracts, which gives it a clear competitive edge.

What are the benefits of BRCGS?

One of the main benefits of BRCGS certification is strong market access. Today’s retailers want suppliers they can trust, and certification against a globally recognized standard such as BRCGS can demonstrate a company’s commitment to food safety and product quality. 

BRCGS certification can also drive continuous improvement. “You can never rely on what you’ve just done,” says Arne. Companies are pushed to keep reviewing their processes and to make them better each day.

How does BRCGS compare to other standards?

For Arne, the best standard is the one that matches your activities and your market. BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000 and SQF are all recognized schemes, but they have different strengths. SQF, for example, is used mainly for the US market. ISO 22000 certifies a food safety management system, while BRCGS and IFS are commercial schemes shaped by what retailers and buyers expect.

Much of the audit takes place on the production floor, with the auditor observing operations and interviewing staff throughout the factory. Documentation is then used to cross-check what’s been seen, to verify that what the company says it does is described in its procedures, and that those procedures are applied in practice. Leadership also takes part: management is expected to be available at least at the start and end of the audit.

How long does BRCGS certification take?

“It depends on whether they’re ready or not,” says Arne. The maturity of your management system is the biggest factor. Many companies only start the process once they’re confident they’re ready, because the cost of an audit is significant and they can’t afford to do one just to try it.

Auditor availability also matters, and it depends on location and sector. It’s easier for an individual bakery to find an auditor, for instance, than for a company that cracks eggs. Once the audit is complete, the certification body has up to 42 calendar days from the first day of the audit to issue the certificate, provided the requirements for certification have been met. This timeframe is set by BRCGS and applies across certification bodies.

How much does BRCGS certification cost?

Several factors shape the price:

• The hourly fee: each certification body sets its own
• Audit duration: set by a BRCGS table that every certification body applies, based on the size of the site, the number of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, the number of employees, and the complexity of the process
• Optional modules: any additional BRCGS modules you choose
• Travel costs

Arne also points out that internal investment can be well above the audit fee itself: budget for the quality team, training, infrastructure improvements, and taking steps forward. These costs can be hard to anticipate and measure. The most reliable way to get a figure is to request a quote based on your site.

How important is food safety culture for BRCGS?

“Almost everybody struggles with the food safety culture element of BRCGS certification,” says Arne. Developing a strong food safety culture takes time, consistent leadership and the right working environment. “Food safety culture exists when, during a production run, an operator who notices something wrong trusts that they can stop the line, even though that means lost productivity and profit. For that to work, people on the floor need to know they won’t be punished for stopping it.”

Once established, it puts your company in an excellent position. “Everybody will be moving in the same direction,” says Arne. “To get there, leadership is fundamental. Leaders have to make the culture drip from top to bottom and allocate the resources so everyone can do their job properly, including enough capacity for corrective actions.”