GFSI recognition offers a passport to the global market, both for the recognised CPOs (certification programme owners) and the companies that they certify. In order to be recognised by GFSI, CPOs must verify that they meet the Benchmarking Requirements, one of the world’s most widely-accepted benchmark documents for food safety programmes.
The GFSI Benchmarking Requirements were first created in 2001 by a group of retailers motivated by the necessity of harmonising food safety standards across the global supply chain. These requirements are frequently updated with input from food safety experts around the world to keep up to date with food safety trends. They do not constitute a food safety standard in their own right, nor can food businesses be audited or certified against them. For these roles, we rely on our recognised CPOs.
To learn more about the CPOs that have earned GFSI recognition, please see our Recognised CPO Module below and consult the list of CPOs undergoing benchmarking. This comprehensive guide can be filtered by industry scopes. Food businesses may find this tool useful for determining which internationally-recognised certification programme best fits their needs. CPOs Undergoing Benchmarking Against V2020
For food companies, achieving GFSI certification can open doors to new markets and customers worldwide. GFSI recognition has become the global benchmark for food safety excellence. Major retailers like Walmart, Costco, and McDonald’s now require their suppliers to hold a GFSI-recognised certification like SQF, BRC, IFS or FSSC 22000.
But embarking on the path to GFSI certification can seem daunting for food businesses who are new to third-party audits This comprehensive guide breaks down the step-by-step process for successfully attaining and maintaining GFSI-recognised certification,
What is GFSI?
First it’s helpful to understand what GFSI is and why their certification standards matter. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an international collaboration between food retailers manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders. Their mission is to harmonize and strengthen food safety management systems around the world.
GFSI provides a benchmarking framework that certification programme owners (CPOs) like BRC, SQF, GLOBALG.AP, and others must meet to be “GFSI recognised” Once certified by an accredited GFSI CPO, food companies can assure customers that their processes meet the highest food safety standards.
Choosing a GFSI Certification Programme
The first step is selecting which GFSI-recognised certification programme is right for your operations. Review the major scheme options like BRC, SQF, IFS, FSSC 22000, GLOBALG.A.P., and PrimusGFS. Compare the:
- Industry scopes – Which food sectors does the standard cover?
- Geographic adoption – Is the scheme widely requested by your potential customers?
- Level of prescriptiveness – Does the standard align with your management system?
- Audit rigour – Announced vs. unannounced?
- Cost – Audit fees plus any supplies or upgrades needed.
- Language availability – Available in your region’s languages?
Choose the programme that best fits your needs and customer expectations. Larger corporations often prefer SQF or BRC, while producers and agricultural companies frequently choose GLOBALG.A.P. or PrimusGFS.
Select a Certification Body
Once you’ve selected your certification programme, the next step is choosing an accredited certification body (CB) to perform your audit. Search the programme owner’s website for their approved CB list covering your location. Request quotes from 3-4 certification bodies to compare service options and pricing.
Key factors when selecting a CB include:
- Accreditation – Ensure they are accredited to audit your chosen standard.
- Auditor expertise – Do they have auditors experienced in your specific manufacturing processes and food sector?
- Language capabilities – Available auditors who speak your native language.
- Service options – Remote or in-person audits? Unannounced or semi-announced audits?
- Reputation – Reviews from existing clients on services and audit consistency.
Prepare for Your Certification Audit
The audit preparation phase is when most of the work happens – reviewing the standard, documenting your systems, and implementing any gaps that need improvement.
Thoroughly read the requirements of your chosen GFSI standard. Conduct a gap assessment against the scheme’s clauses. Identify any areas that need enhancement to meet the certification criteria. Make upgrades like strengthening food safety controls, employee training, sanitation, hazard analysis, traceability programmes, and management systems.
Have detailed documentation available describing your food safety policies, programmes, procedures, records, specifications, and operational controls. Organize records to provide auditors with evidence of system implementation.
The Certification Audit
When audit day arrives, be prepared to demonstrate how your food safety systems meet the standard’s expectations. The audit will include:
- Opening meeting – The auditor will explain the audit plan, scope, and timeline.
- Facility inspection – The auditor will tour processing areas, observe practices, and interview employees.
- Document review – They will examine your written policies, procedures, records, and documentation.
- Non-conformities – If gaps are identified, you will need to provide corrective actions.
- Closing meeting – The auditor will summarize major findings and discuss next steps.
Tip: Be honest about any shortcomings – auditors look more favorably on transparency than denial. Demonstrate you are committed to making the necessary enhancements.
Achieving Certification
Once you successfully complete your audit with no major non-conformities, the CB will grant your GFSI certificate! Certification is typically valid for 1 year for food manufacturing facilities and 2-3 years for lower risk categories like produce farming.
Make sure to promptly address any minor non-conformities cited at your audit. This shows your commitment to continuous improvement. Your CB will issue your certificate once corrective actions are satisfactorily implemented.
Maintaining Your Certificate
To maintain GFSI certification, you must undergo periodic re-certification audits by your CB. Timing varies by programme, but is typically annual for high-risk manufacturing sites. Renewal audits ensure you continue to uphold the standard’s requirements.
Between audits, food companies should:
- Perform internal audits to identify any slippage.
- Provide ongoing employee training on procedures and best practices.
- Review audit trends and food safety data to target improvements.
- Update programmes based on changes to the GFSI scheme requirements.
Benefits of GFSI Certification
Achieving that first GFSI certificate requires diligence, but the benefits are considerable and lasting:
- Enhanced food safety – Reduced contamination risks and product recalls.
- Global marketability – Meet buyer demands for GFSI-recognised certification.
- Regulatory acceptance – Smoother inspections and imports/exports.
- Increased efficiency – Improved processes, less waste, higher quality.
- Customer trust – Demonstrate your commitment to food safety.
- Risk reduction – Decreased liability, lower insurance rates.
- Employee engagement – Unified company-wide focus on food safety.
While attaining GFSI certification takes time and resources, the ROI can be significant in terms of risk reduction, operational excellence, customer retention, brand reputation, and access to new buyer partnerships. GFSI recognised certification delivers value that lasts well beyond audit day.
Explore Certification Programmes – Version 2Select your scope below to browse related certification programmes.
The following Certification Programme Owners are currently recognised against Version 7.2 of the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. Click on the logo to see which standards have been benchmarked.
Standard: Global Standard for Food Safety issue 8 only with audit programme announced, unannounced, blended announced Scopes: BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products C0 – Animal Primary Conversion CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
Standard: Global Standard for Packaging Materials issue 6 only with audit programme announced, unannounced, blended announced Scope: I – Production of Food Packaging
Standard: Global Standard for Agents & Brokers issue 3 Scope:
FII – Food Broker / Agent
Standard: Global Standard for Storage and Distribution issue 4 only with audit programme announced, unannounced (option 1 and 2), blended announced Scope: G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
Standard: CanadaGap Version 9.1 Option B,C,D Scopes: BI – Farming of plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII Pre-Process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard – Edition 4.2 Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII Pre Processing Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Freshcare Supply Chain Edition 2 Scopes: BIII Pre-process Handling of plant products FI Retail / Wholesale FII Food Broker / Agent G Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
Standard: FSSC 22000 version 5.1 Scopes: BIII – Pre-process Handling of plant products CO – Animal Primary Conversion CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) D – Production of Feed G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services I – Production of Food Packaging K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
Global Red Meat Standard
Standard: Global Red Meat Standard v 6.1 Scopes: C0 – Animal Primary Conversion CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
- Standard: Seafood Processing Standard 5.1 Scope: CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
Standard: Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) Version 1.2 Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Integrated Farm Assurance All Farm Base – Crop Base – Fruit and Vegetables Version 5.4.1-GFS
Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) Standard Version 1.2 Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Integrated Farm Assurance Aquaculture Standard Version 5.4.1-GFS Scope: AII – Farming of fish and seafood
Standard: Global Retailer & Manufacturer Alliance, Inc. (GRMA) Certification Program Version 1.2. NSF/ANSI 455-2 for Dietary Supplements
Scope: K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
GFSI Certification 101
What is GFSI certification?
Learn more about how they keep you safe, resulting benefits, and what is needed to get GFSI certified. GFSI stands for Global Food Safety Initiative. It is an industry-driven initiative. It offers guidance about food safety management systems. Management systems are very important for food safety along the supply chain.
Why do food manufacturers need GFSI certification?
That’s why more and more food manufacturers are prioritizing GFSI certification.This internationally recognized certification is the gold standard for food safety, and it’s essential for food manufacturers who want to ensure the safety of their products.
What does GFSI stand for?
What is GFSI? GFSI stands for The Global Food Safety Initiative. It is a business-driven initiative for the development of food safety management systems to ensure food facilities are processing safe food for consumers. The GFSI is a private organization that oversees and approves different auditing platforms as meeting their criteria.
What is a GFSI scheme?
GFSI schemes are a universally-recognized standard by which food companies are judged for food safety during third-party inspections. While agencies such as the FDA and USDA help to regulate practices and enforce food safety, compliance with these laws is mandatory.
