BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety

1. What Is the BRCGS Standard?

BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards) is a globally recognized food safety and quality management standard designed to help organizations identify, control, and manage risks throughout the production, processing, packaging, and distribution of food products.

Originally developed as BRC (British Retail Consortium), the standard was rebranded as BRCGS in 2019 to reflect its global scope and expanded application across multiple industries. Despite the name change, many organizations still refer to it as the BRC Standard, BRC Certification, or BRC Food Safety.

Today, BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and widely accepted by retailers, brand owners, and international buyers as a benchmark for supplier approval and food safety management.

Unlike many food safety management systems, BRCGS Food Safety goes beyond food safety by addressing Quality, Legality, and Authenticity, providing organizations with a comprehensive framework for product integrity and regulatory compliance.

Relationship Between BRCGS, HACCP, GMP, and GFSI

These four terms are frequently used together in the food safety industry. However, each serves a distinct purpose within a food safety management system.

The relationship between these concepts can be illustrated using a simple “building” analogy:

• GMP forms the foundation by establishing appropriate manufacturing conditions.
• HACCP provides the risk control system for identifying and managing food safety hazards.
• BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety represents the complete management framework, integrating GMP, HACCP, and additional management requirements.
• GFSI acts as the benchmarking organization that recognizes certification programs such as BRC against internationally accepted food safety criteria.

Through this integrated approach, BRCGS goes beyond end-product inspection by promoting a preventive food safety management system based on risk assessment, continuous improvement, and supply chain control.

2. Latest Edition (Issue 9) and Key Updates

Since its first release in 1998, the BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety has undergone nine editions (Issues). Each edition has been updated to reflect changes in regulatory requirements, emerging food safety risks, industry best practices, and the evolving expectations of retailers and brand owners worldwide.

The latest edition, BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9, was published in August 2022 and became effective for certification audits on 1 February 2023, replacing Issue 8.

==> Download the BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 here.

Key Changes in BRCGS Issue 9

Compared with Issue 8, Issue 9 places greater emphasis on risk management and the effectiveness of food safety management systems through several key enhancements:

• Strengthened Food Safety Culture requirements, requiring organizations to demonstrate implementation and measure effectiveness.
• Enhanced Food Fraud requirements, with greater emphasis on risk assessment, regular review, and supply chain vulnerability management.
• Increased responsibilities for Senior Management in establishing, maintaining, and continually improving the food safety management system.
• Clearer requirements and audit criteria, promoting greater consistency among certification bodies and reducing variations in audit outcomes.
• Enhanced control of monitoring and measuring equipment to ensure the accuracy and reliability of activities that affect food safety.

The updates introduced in BRCGS Issue 9 reflect the growing importance of proactive risk management, organizational culture, and continual improvement in food safety management. Organizations should regularly review new requirements and assess the effectiveness of their existing systems to maintain compliance and prepare for certification audits.

==> Learn more about SQS Global’s BRCGS consulting and certification support services.

3. BRCGS Standards for the Food Industry

BRCGS has developed a range of specialized standards designed to ensure food safety, product quality, and supply chain integrity across different stages of the food industry. Each standard is tailored to specific sectors or business activities, including:

• BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety – For food manufacturers and food processing facilities.
• BRCGS Global Standard Packaging Materials – For manufacturers of food packaging and packaging materials intended for food contact.
• BRCGS Global Standard Storage and Distribution – For organizations involved in the storage, warehousing, transportation, and distribution of food products.
• BRCGS Global Standard Agents and Brokers – For trading companies, agents, and brokers that do not manufacture food products directly.
• BRCGS Global Standard Retail – For food retail businesses.

Among these, BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is the core standard and the most widely adopted by food manufacturing and processing organizations worldwide.

4. Which Organizations Should Implement BRCGS?

Although BRCGS certification is not a legal requirement in most countries, it is widely required by retailers, brand owners, and international buyers as part of their supplier approval process.

Organizations that should consider implementing BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety include:

• Food manufacturing and processing facilities (fresh food, processed food, beverages, dairy products, confectionery, seafood, meat, seasonings, frozen foods, etc.).
• Manufacturers producing private label food products for retail brands.
• Organizations providing OEM/ODM food manufacturing services.
• Food preparation, packing, and repacking facilities before products are placed on the market.
• Food exporters supplying markets where BRCGS certification is preferred or required by customers.
• Organizations seeking to become approved suppliers for retailers, importers, or international food brands.

Note:BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is not a mandatory legal requirement. However, many retailers and brand owners recognize BRCGS certification as a key benchmark for supplier evaluation and approval.

5. Benefits of the BRCGS Standard in the Food Supply Chain

The BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is one of the most widely recognized food safety management standards in the global food supply chain. Implementing the standard not only helps organizations establish a robust management system but also provides a common framework for communication and evaluation among manufacturers, certification bodies, retailers, and importers.

Key benefits of implementing BRCGS include:

• Standardizing food safety and quality management systems in line with international best practices.
• Establishing a risk-based approach built on GMP, HACCP, Food Safety Culture, Food Fraud, and Food Defense.
• Strengthening traceability, supplier management, and supply chain control.
• Supporting integration with other management systems, including HACCP, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000.
• Providing a common benchmark for retailers and brand owners to evaluate supplier capability.
• Driving continual improvement through regular audits and risk-based management.

6. Core Requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety

The BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is built on a comprehensive set of requirements designed to control factors that affect food safety, from leadership and hazard management to production conditions, supply chain control, and continual improvement. These requirements also form the basis of certification audits.

The core requirement sections include:

• Senior Management Commitment and Food Safety Culture
• Hazard and Risk Management (HACCP)
• Food Safety and Quality Management System
• Site Standards
• Product Control
• Process Control
• Personnel
• Supplier and Supply Chain Management
• Traceability, Product Recall, Food Fraud, Food Defense, Internal Audits, and Continual Improvement

For detailed requirements, organizations should refer to the official BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 publication.

The BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety is one of the world’s leading food safety standards, providing organizations with a structured framework for managing food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and supply chain risks. Understanding its scope, core requirements, and the latest updates enables organizations to strengthen their management systems, improve operational performance, and meet the expectations of customers and international markets.