BRCGS certification is a globally known standard established to help companies attain food safety, packaging, storage, distribution, and other sectors. It gives complete guidelines to make sure that food production and handling processes comply with the highest food safety standards. If you want to achieve the BRCGS certification, then it is important to understand the costs associated with this certification, this will help you to make a better decision. This blog will find the different factors that influence the cost of BRCGS certification and provide a breakdown to help you plan your budget.
What Is BRCGS Certification Cost
The Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS), is a main set of requirements which are GFSI’s (Global Food Safety Institute) a good mark for food safety, products, packaging materials, storage and distribution, and more. They set some standards for companies to bring their products to market internationally while checking consistently product safety, quality, hazard and operation control, and legality, all while having standard multi-purposes for manufacturers, distributors, or supply chain contributors alike.
Read More: What Is BRCGS? Everything You Need To Know
Preparation Steps for BRCGS Certification
Before starting your journey to get BRCGS certification, it’s important to have a good management system in place. This will help your brand grow. Focus on the food safety edition of the BRCGS standards. You need to have a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) based food safety program. This program should include certain requirements like:
➜ Processes for transportation and storage
➜ Maintenance procedures
➜ Staff training
➜ Cleaning and pest control
➜ Handling customer complaints
➜ Managing allergens and foreign materials
It’s also important that your food safety plan has the full support of senior management. They need to be dedicated to following all the principles or standards of the BRCGS standards.
Costs for Preparing for BRCGS Certification
➜ Purchasing the Standard: To get started, you need to buy the BRCGS standard, which costs depending on the version and additional guidance documents. A free-locked version is also available on the BRCGS food safety website.
➜ Training Costs: Proper training is essential for BRCGS food safety compliance. Key team members need HACCP training, which can cost up to CAD 2500 for a 2-day course. Additional training, like Internal Auditor certification, costs around CAD 1500. Online training options are available at lower prices.
➜ Facility Upgrades & Implementation: Your facility must meet BRCGS standards, covering aspects like product flow, hygiene, safety measures, and equipment maintenance. Costs depend on necessary upgrades, such as fixing doors, improving segregation, and replacing fragile materials. Even small details like using the right pens and managing knives matter.
➜ Consulting & Gap Analysis: If needed, a consultant can help identify gaps in your system before the audit. Consultant fees range from $200 – CAD 350 per hour. A gap analysis ensures your facility is fully prepared, helping avoid compliance issues later.
➜ Audit Costs: Once your system is ready (after at least 3 months of implementation), a certification body will conduct the audit. This includes an on-site inspection, report writing, technical review, and certification decisions. Costs vary based on brc audit type and do not include the auditor’s travel expenses. Your certification body will provide a cost estimate in advance.
Factors Influencing The Cost Of BRCGS Certification
The first step is to get a copy of the BRCGS standard. You can buy the standard and guidance documents from the BRCGS website. The cost ranges from £140.00 to £455.00, depending on whether you want to buy the extra guidance documents. These prices are in British Pounds (GBP). You can also download a free, locked version of the BRCGS Food standard from the same website.
➜ Scope of Certification: The first thing that can impact your cost for this certification. This includes your facility, the number of employees, and operational terms. A larger, more complex operation will require more time and resources to audit, leading to higher costs similarly smaller operations require less time, and thus, cost will determined accordingly.
➜ Consulting and Training Fees: Getting the BRCGS certification often requires consulting and training services for which you need to pay. These services can help your team understand the standards and implement necessary changes. The cost of these services can depend on the consultant’s expertise and the level of support they provide to you.
➜ Audit Fees: The audit itself is a major part of the certification cost. This includes the fees for the auditor’s time, travel charges, and any review of the audits that may be required. The audit fee can vary based on the certification body you choose and the exact requirements of your industry.
➜ Documentation and Record Keeping: To get this certification proper documentation and record-keeping are important. This may include creating new documents, updating the previous ones, or applying the new record-keeping systems. These activities can collect additional costs, especially if you need to hire external help.
➜ Corrective Actions and Improvements: After the audit, you may need to make the required changes or make improvements to meet the BRCGS standards. These costs can vary widely depending on the nature and extent of the changes required. It’s important factor fit the potential costs into your budget.
Breakdown of BRCGS Certification Costs
While the exact cost of BRCGS certification can be tricky to define because it depends on your industry. But still, here’s a general breakdown to help you understand the expected expenses:
| Cost Component | Estimated Range (USD) |
| Consulting & Training | $2,000 – $10,000 |
| Audit Fees | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Documentation & Record Keeping | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Corrective Actions & Improvements | Variable |
| Annual Recertification | Percentage of initial audit fee |
How to Manage and Optimize BRCGS Certification Costs?
➜ Choose the Right Certification Body: The most important tip is to choose the right certification body for you. Different certification bodies may have different fee structures. Compare options to find the one that gives the best as per your specific needs.
➜ Prepare Complete Analysis: Spend your time in thorough preparation, including staff training and internal reviews, which can reduce the need for costly corrective actions.
➜ Use Internal Resources: Whenever possible, use internal resources for documentation and improvements to save on consulting fees.
➜ Plan for Recertification: BRCGS certification requires annual recertification. Plan for these costs in your budget to avoid any issues.
Read More: BRCGS Certification In Food Safety
Legal4sure Consultation Process for BRCGS certification
➜ Starting with Powerful consultation & Gap Analysis – This involves a complete analysis of the processes you were working on, where gaps are found and correction actions are used for a smooth transition to BRCGS requirements.
➜ Checking Your Complete Documents – Our team members review relevant documents, policies, and records that you currently have, making sure they comply with BRCGS packaging standards.
➜ Helping You Put It in Place (Implementation) – We take you step-by-step through how to implement BRCGS standards in your packaging operations for a successful transition.
➜ Training to Spot and Manage Risks– Equips your team to find/manage/minimize risks in packaging production in compliance.
➜ Fixing Issues and Improving Processes – In the case of finding issues, we quickly work to implement appropriate corrective actions to bring the certification up to standard.
➜ Working with the Certification Team – We help in selecting and coordinating with an accredited certification body for a hassle-free audit process.
➜ Ongoing Support After Certification – Even after certification, we offer ongoing support to maintain compliance and prepare for future audits.
Get BRCGS Certified with Legal4sure – Your Success Starts Here
Legal4sure in India has an excellent rating on the Google review. Joins hands with us on your BRCGS Certification; What we offer:
➜ Audit reports that are detailed so that you can trust.
➜ Follow all the rules.
➜ Experienced auditors can make a big impact.
➜ Quick and trustworthy service.
➜ Focus on your requirements.
➜ Send us your inquiry or call anytime.
Are you looking for a BRCGS certification consultant who can maintain the right cost expenses? Check out our website for the latest details. We are just a call away to find out how we can help you get the required BRCGS certification for you while maintaining your cost concerns.
Contact us at +91 9310655040 now to get started!
FAQs
1. What is the total cost of getting BRCGS certified?
The cost depends on your company’s size and industry. On average, it ranges from ₹1,64,000 – ₹8,20,000 for audits, plus additional costs for training, documentation, and any required improvements.
2. Why does BRCGS certification cost vary?
The cost varies based on factors like company size, number of employees, operational complexity, and audit scope. Larger facilities with complex operations usually pay more than smaller businesses.
3. Are there ways to reduce BRCGS certification costs?
Yes! You can lower costs by training your team in advance, using internal resources for documentation, and choosing an affordable certification body that fits your needs.
