Food safety is becoming more important, as consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality and safety of the products they buy. Step in BRCGS, the gold standard in global food safety certification. Consumer trust enhanced by BRCGS standard compliance allows businesses to establish safe high-quality standards and improve operational work processes while reducing their challenge.
This blog will provide in-depth insights about BRCGS Certification, go through it, and resolve all your queries.
- Who Needs BRCGS Certification?
- How do I get a BRC Certification?
- What are the types of BRCGS Standards?
- What are the BRCGS Food Safety Standard – Key Clauses?
- What are the benefits of BRCGS? And much more.
By the end of the reading of this blog, you will have a clear picture of BRCGS Certification. Secure your BRCGS Certification today. Book a consultation with our experts and take the first step!
What is BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards) is a global quality and safety certification. It sets some boundaries or criteria for BRCGS food safety, production, packaging, storage, and distribution to make sure product safety and quality. A BRCGS certification shows dedicated businesses that deliver safe products with high standards of quality. Small or large organizations in all industries can use BRCGS certification to improve their business operations.
The BRCGS Food Safety Standard has set the benchmark for nearly 25 years. With over 22,000 sites in more than 130 countries. This standard is accepted by 70% of the top 10 global retailers, also, 60% of the top 10 quick-service restaurants, and 50% of the top 25 manufacturers. (Source).
The (BRC) British Retail Consortium was founded in 1996 by retailers who wanted to spread food safety standards across the supply chain. In 2019, BRC was rebranded as BRCGS to reflect its global reach to set high standards in food safety and quality. BRCGS has evolved into a broad expansion that now handles food as well as packaging storage and distribution along with consumer products and retail.
Who Needs BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS certification helps businesses prove their products are safe and meet industry standards. Here’s who benefits:
➜ Food Producers: Ensures food is safe and meets quality standards, boosting trust with retailers and customers.
➜ Plant-Based Food Producers: Confirms products are free from animal ingredients, meeting consumer demand.
➜ Packaging Manufacturers: Verifies packaging materials are safe for food and other products.
➜ Logistics Providers: Ensures safe storage and transport of goods, reducing risks.
How do I get a BRC Certification?
Getting the BRCGS certification includes various steps:
➜ Gap Analysis: The foremost thing for a BRC audit is to analyze the gaps, and the different factors in which the brand is lagging, before the official BRC audit, companies often conduct a gap analysis to find the areas of improvement. BRCGS consultants analyze the gaps and help businesses prepare for the certification audit by fulfilling the gaps accurately.
➜ Establish Food Safety Systems
- Define your BRC Food Safety Policy and Objectives.
- Assign roles and responsibilities to a core team.
- Appoint a Team Leader to oversee the process.
➜ BRCGS Documentation: Documentation is important for BRC certification. Companies are required to maintain complete documentation of their processes, procedures, and controls. This documentation is crucial for showcasing compliance with BRCGS food safety standards.
- Food Safety Plan (HACCP Plan)
- Prerequisite Programs (PRPs & Operational PRPs)
- Validation & Verification Plans
- Risk Assessment for raw materials, packaging & outsourced processes
- Food Defense & Security Risk Assessment (VACCP & TACCP).
➜ BRCGS Training: Training can make a good impact thus, it is the major aspect of BRCGS certification. Employees must be trained on BRCGS requirements and understand their roles in maintaining compliance.
➜BRCGS Audit: A certification body conducts an audit or thorough research to assess the company’s compliance with BRCGS standards. The BRC audit includes a thorough review of documentation, processes, and practices.
➜ BRCGS Corrective Actions: If any issues are found during the BRC audit, the company needs to fix them. These fixes are required to get the BRC certification.
➜BRCGS Final Certification: Once the company fulfills all the BRCGS requirements, it gets the BRC certification, which is applicable for a specified period. Regular audits are conducted to make sure ongoing compliance.
Types of BRCGS Standards
➜ BRCGS Food Safety Certification: In this standard the focus is on food safety management systems, making sure that food products are safe, legal, and of high quality.
➜ BRCGS Packaging and Packaging Material: In this the focus is on all the manufacturers for their packaging materials, making sure that packaging is safe and suitable for the users.
➜ BRCGS Storage and Distribution: In this standard main focus is on various aspects such as logistics operations, making sure that products are stored and transported safely.
➜ BRCGS Consumer Products: This standard highlights safety, quality, and legality for a wide range of consumer products.
➜ BRCGS Retail: This standard is designed for retailers, focusing on product safety, quality, and operational criteria.
➜ BRCGS Agents and Brokers: This standard applies to companies that buy, sell, or ease the trade of products, making sure they maintain high standards of safety and quality.
➜ BRCGS Gluten-Free Certification Program – Makes sure that products are safely manufactured for those with gluten sensitivities.
➜ BRCGS Plant-Based Certification Program – Validates plant-based products for authenticity and safety.
BRCGS Food Safety Standard – Key Clauses
| Clause No. | Clause Title | Description |
| 1 | Senior Management Commitment | Ensures top management is committed to food safety, quality, and continuous improvement. |
| 2 | The BRC Food Safety Plan – HACCP | Implementation of a HACCP-based system to identify, evaluate, and control food safety hazards. |
| 3 | Food Safety & Quality Management System | Establishes documented policies, procedures, and records for food safety compliance. |
| 4 | Site Standards | Covers facility layout, maintenance, cleaning, pest control, and waste management to ensure hygiene and safety. |
| 5 | Product Control | Ensures raw materials, packaging, and finished products meet safety and quality standards, including allergen control. |
| 6 | Process Control | Covers production and process management, including traceability, calibration, and foreign body detection. |
| 7 | Personnel | Focuses on staff hygiene, training, and health monitoring to maintain food safety. |
| 8 | High-Risk, High-Care & Ambient High-Care Production Risk Zones | Defines additional controls for areas handling ready-to-eat or high-risk foods. |
| 9 | Requirements for Traded Products | Ensures safety and compliance for products bought from suppliers and resold without further processing. |
Benefits of BRCGS Certification
➜ Global Recognition: This certification is recognized worldwide, which can help companies expand their market reach and set an image globally. This recognition makes sure that certified companies have international standards and maintain all food safety and production practices healthily, which makes them trustworthy brands across the world.
➜ Consumer Trust: In a business, the most important thing is consumer trust. Brands work hard to gain their customer’ trust. As concerns are growing about food safety, consumers are more observant about the products they buy. BRCGS certification company keeps safety and quality on top and ensures trust and loyalty.
➜ Compliance with Regulations: BRCGS helps businesses follow legal requirements in different markets. This compliance is important to save yourself from legal issues and potential recalls, which can be costly and damaging to a brand’s reputation.
➜ Improved Business Performance: Applying BRCGS standards can lead to improved operational workflow, reduced waste, and increased product quality. This improvement translates to better business performance and profitability.
What are the 12 fundamentals of the BRCGS Food Certification?
➜ Commitment from Management: Business owners and managers must actively support food safety, provide necessary resources, and regularly review processes for improvement.
➜ Regular Internal Checks: Businesses must conduct routine internal inspections to make sure food safety procedures are effective and followed properly.
➜ Supplier Approval & Monitoring: Raw materials and packaging should come from trusted suppliers who meet BRCGS food safety standards.
➜ Fixing Issues & Preventing Problems: If something goes wrong, businesses should find the root cause, correct it, and take steps to prevent future issues.
➜ Tracking Products: A system should be in place to trace ingredients from suppliers to finished products, making it easy to track and recall if needed.
➜ Factory Layout & Workflow: The factory setup should help maintain cleanliness and prevent contamination.
➜ Cleanliness & Hygiene: Work areas, equipment, and staff must maintain high hygiene standards to avoid food contamination.
➜ Managing Allergens: Special care should be taken when handling allergenic ingredients to prevent accidental mixing with other foods.
➜ Safe Operations: Machinery and processes must function correctly to maintain food safety.
➜ Correct Labelling & Packaging: Labels should be accurate to prevent mislabeling, which is a major reason for food recalls.
➜ Employee Training: All staff handling food should be properly trained to understand food safety and hygiene requirements.
How to Check Your BRCGS Certification Status Online
If your business is BRCGS certified, you can check your certification status easily online. BRCGS provides login details via email when you get certified. You can use these credentials to log in to the BRCGS Directory website, where you’ll find details like:
- Your company name and address
- Certification scope and products covered
- Any exclusions (if applicable)
- Contact details
- Certificate issue date and validity
- Geolocation of your certified site
Simply visit the BRCGS Directory, enter your login details, and access your certification information anytime.
We promise you that all your queries will be resolved after reading this. However, if you still have more queries or want in-depth information, please request a BRCGS audit enquiry to Legal4sure and just the business growth together.
Download Your Free BRC Audit Checklist
A BRC audit can feel stressful, but good preparation makes it easier. Our free BRC Audit Checklist helps you understand the key requirements, spot gaps, and get ready for a successful audit. Download it now and make your BRCGS audit process smooth and hassle-free!
Get the Complete BRC Audit Checklist
Ready To Schedule An Audit? Get BRCGS Certification Solutions with Legal4sure
Legal4sure helps you to complete all the required steps with perfection and effectiveness to make sure that your food business or business related to food follows all the BRCGS food safety standard rules. Having served 5000+ clients with BRCGS implementation with 50+ BRCGS certifications, we at Legal4sure, the top BRCGS consultant In India, have enhanced our skills and attained expertise. Get in touch with us right now to find out how we can help you get the required BRCGS certification in your company in the most efficient way possible.
