On 28 August, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), The Consumer Goods Forum’s Coalition of Action on food safety, announced that BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 has successfully achieved recognition against GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2020.
The BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard has set the benchmark for nearly 25 years. Adopted by over 22,000 sites in more than 130 countries, and now in its ninth edition, the standard has constantly evolved to protect the consumer. Developed with input from industry, it provides a framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality and quality, and the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing and packing industry.
For BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9, the recognition encompasses GFSI scope:
- BIII – Pre-process Handling of plant products
- C0 – Animal Conversion
- CI – Processing of perishable animal products
- CII – Processing of Plant Perishable Products
- CIII – Processing of Animal and Plant Perishable Products (Mixed Products)
- CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Products
- D – Production of Feed
- K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals (Additives, Vitamins, Minerals, Bio-cultures, Flavourings, Enzymes and Processing aids)
Amanda McCarthy, BRCGS Director said, “BRCGS is thrilled to once again to be recognised by GFSI through their benchmarking mechanism. Our long-standing relationship and mutual support with GFSI is part of our vision to use science to create a safer world by providing world class assurance solutions to supply chains globally. Through this partnership BRCGS has long been recognised as a leading provider of certifications in the food industry, sought out by brands recognising both the value of a GFSI-benchmarked programme and the rigour of BRCGS.”
Lalaina Randriamanantsoa, GFSI Senior Technical Manager said, “We are pleased to congratulate BRCGS on their successful attainment of GFSI recognition. Their commitment to aligning with GFSI Benchmarking requirements v2020 and their mission to improve brand confidence through rigorous supply chain assurance highlights their dedication to upholding the highest standards in food safety. Congratulations to the team on this significant accomplishment.”
About the GFSI Benchmarking Process
Benchmarking is a procedure by which a food safety Certification Programme Owner (CPO) has the programme(s) they have applied to have recognised by GFSI compared to the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) for evidence of alignment. The process is designed to be executed in an independent, unbiased, technically proficient and transparent manner. A programme is ‘recognised’ by GFSI when it has been verified that it meets all every single requirement of the GFSI BMRs, i.e. both procedurally and operationally. A GFSI benchmark leader assesses whether the application meets GFSI requirements, followed by a public consultation period that is open to all GFSI Stakeholders. Recognition of a programme is subject to an affirmative vote by the members of the GFSI Steering Committee. The full process is defined in the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements document.
About the Global Food Safety Initiative
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI; the Coalition) is a CEO-led Coalition of Action from The Consumer Goods Forum, bringing together 42 retailers and manufacturers and an extended food safety community to help oversee food safety standards for businesses and help provide access to safe food for people everywhere. As one of the world’s largest networks to help achieve safe food, GFSI is committed to making food safety everyone’s business and the Coalition members are addressing challenges facing food safety systems in their supply chains and the markets they operate in, and are helping to raise the food safety bar globally. Its ambition is to strengthen and harmonise food safety systems so they are able to feed the growing, global population and develop markets that can deliver food safely, no matter where in the world the consumer is. To learn more, visit www.mygfsi.com.