Audits & Certifications

GFSI: What It Is and Which Standard Is Right for You

By Claudia · · 7 min read

GFSI: what it is and which standard is right for you

GFSI: what it is and which standard is right for you

If you've spent any time working in food quality, chances are you've heard people talk about GFSI without being entirely sure what it actually is or why it matters so much to your customers. In this article, we explain what this acronym stands for, how the recognition system behind it works, and, above all, how to decide which scheme is the best fit for your company based on your market and your supply chain.

What GFSI is — and why it isn't a certification in itself

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) (GFSI, n.d.) is an initiative driven by the global food industry, managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, whose goal is to harmonize food safety requirements around the world. Its mission is simple but powerful: reduce the cost and complexity suppliers face when they have to go through multiple audits for different customers.

Here's the key point a lot of people get wrong: GFSI doesn't certify anyone. There's no such thing as a "GFSI certificate." What the initiative actually does is evaluate and recognize the various certification schemes already on the market, checking that they meet a set of reference requirements (the so-called Benchmarking Requirements). Once a scheme passes that evaluation, it becomes a GFSI-recognized scheme.

What does this mean for you in practice? If your company gets certified under one of these recognized schemes, many of your customers — especially large distributors and supermarket chains — will accept it as sufficient proof that your food safety system meets international standards. It's the principle of "certified once, accepted everywhere."

If you want to dig deeper into the technical definition, check out our glossary entry on GFSI.

Schemes recognized by GFSI: BRCGS, IFS Food, and FSSC 22000

There are currently several schemes recognized by GFSI, but the three most widespread in the European food industry are BRCGS, IFS Food, and FSSC 22000. Below, we explain what each one involves and their key differences.

BRCGS (formerly BRC Global Standard)

The BRCGS (BRCGS, n.d.) scheme was born in the UK in the late 1990s, driven by the British Retail Consortium. It's the go-to standard for suppliers looking to access UK retail and, by extension, many English-speaking markets. It's organized into modules and offers different grading levels (C, B, A, AA) based on the audit result.

Its strengths are the high technical specificity of its requirements, the robustness of its audit system (with both announced and unannounced audit options), and its wide acceptance in English-speaking markets. If your main market is the UK, Ireland, or you export to Commonwealth countries, BRCGS is usually the most in-demand option. You can find more details in our definitive guide to BRC certification.

IFS Food

The IFS Food (IFS, n.d.) standard was developed by German and French retailer associations, which explains its huge footprint across continental Europe, especially Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. It's the scheme most requested by major retailers in central and southern Europe.

IFS Food stands out for its strongly performance-oriented approach: every requirement is scored on a compliance scale that generates a final numerical score. That allows for objective comparisons between suppliers and makes life easier for procurement teams. If your business is geared toward large-scale European retail, IFS Food is probably your most natural path. We cover all the details in our essential guide to IFS Food certification.

FSSC 22000

FSSC 22000 (FSSC 22000, n.d.) is the newest of the three schemes and the one with the most academically grounded framework: it combines the ISO 22000 standard (food safety management system) with sector-specific prerequisite programs (ISO/TS 22002-x) and additional scheme-specific requirements. That makes it the preferred choice for companies already working under ISO management frameworks, or those with a more international, multi-regional focus.

Unlike BRCGS and IFS, FSSC 22000 wasn't built with a specific geographic market in mind — it was designed from the outset as a global standard. It's especially well regarded in North America, Asia, and among ingredient or packaging material companies that supply multiple industries.

How to choose a scheme based on your customers and your market

Choosing between these schemes shouldn't come down to "which one is easiest to get" — it should be based on what your market requires and what your customers value. Here are some practical guidelines to help you decide:

  • Ask your current and prospective customers directly. Many retail chains publish their own certification requirements. Before starting the process, find out which scheme or schemes they accept.
  • Look at your target market. If you sell mainly in Germany, France, or Spain, IFS Food carries more weight. If you export to the UK or English-speaking countries, BRCGS is more recognizable. If you have a global expansion strategy or work across several industrial sectors, FSSC 22000 offers more flexibility.
  • Consider your starting point. If you've already implemented ISO 22000, the jump to FSSC 22000 can be easier. If you're starting from scratch, BRCGS and IFS have very well-developed supporting documentation.
  • Factor in maintenance costs. All schemes require periodic audits and documentation updates. Weigh not just the cost of the initial certification, but the ongoing effort of maintaining it.

Keep in mind that in some cases it's possible — and strategic — to hold more than one scheme. Some companies maintain both BRCGS and IFS at the same time because they work with customers in different markets. Either way, having digital quality management tools makes this kind of multi-standard management far easier.

What documentation and records any of these schemes will ask for

Although each scheme has its own specifics, every GFSI-recognized scheme shares a common documentation core. As a quality manager, you can expect any audit to ask for at least the following:

  • A documented HACCP system, with hazard analysis, decision tree, critical control points (CCPs), and monitoring and corrective action procedures.
  • Prerequisite programs (PRPs): cleaning and disinfection plans, pest control, water management, facility maintenance, allergen control, personnel hygiene, among others.
  • A food safety policy signed by management, with measurable objectives attached.
  • Traceability records that demonstrate the ability to trace a product from raw material to end customer, as required by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Regulation [EC] 178/2002, 2002).
  • A non-conformity management procedure, covering customer complaints and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
  • An internal audit plan and records of its execution.
  • Supplier management: approval, periodic evaluation, and agreed specifications.
  • Training records for staff on food safety and hygiene.

Keeping all this documentation centralized, accessible, and up to date is one of the biggest challenges for quality teams. Quality management software like Solved lets you organize all these records in a single environment, makes audit preparation easier, and cuts down the time you spend on admin tasks — so you can focus on what really matters: keeping your products safe.

Ultimately, understanding how GFSI works and what sets each recognized scheme apart is the first step toward making an informed decision about which certification to pursue. There's no universally best scheme — there's the one that best fits your company, your customers, and your business goals.

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