Framework Quality & Manufacturing
BRCGS
BRCGS (formerly the British Retail Consortium Global Standards) is a family of GFSI-benchmarked certification standards for food safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, agents and brokers, and consumer products. The flagship is the Global Standard Food Safety, currently Issue 9, published in August 2022 with audits against it mandatory from February 1, 2023.
Issue 10 is in development: a public consultation closed in February 2026 and a technical working group has been meeting since April 2026, but no publication date has been announced (verify).
In writing, the food standard expects senior management commitment evidenced by a policy and objectives, a HACCP-based food safety plan, a documented quality management system (document control, records, internal audits, supplier approval, specifications, corrective action, traceability, complaint handling, incident and recall management), site and hygiene standards, product control (allergens, authenticity, labeling), process control, personnel training, and food safety culture plans.
Audits are graded (AA through D) and grade drives the audit frequency.
Who has to comply
Voluntary, but many retailers, foodservice brands, and manufacturers in the UK, Europe, and North America require it of suppliers. Certification is site-specific.
What the assessor asks to see
Senior management commitment: policy, objectives, management review, food safety culture plan; HACCP study and plan with hazard analysis, CCPs, and validation; QMS documentation and document control; internal audit program; supplier and raw material approval and monitoring; specifications; traceability test results; complaint handling and trend analysis; incident management and recall test; site standards and hygiene records; allergen management and validation; product authenticity and vulnerability assessment; labeling and pack control; process control records and calibration; personnel training and competence records; pest control, cleaning, and maintenance records; previous audit report and corrective action closure.
Where the requirement sits: BRCGS Food 1.1 senior management commitment; 3.2 document control; 3.3 records; 7.1 training
Issue 9 to Issue 10
Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 has been the audit basis since February 1, 2023. BRCGS opened Issue 10 to public consultation (closed February 2026) and convened a technical working group in April 2026. As of September 2026 no Issue 10 publication date has been confirmed; sites continue to be audited against Issue 9.
Expect a lead time of roughly six months between publication and mandatory audits, as happened for Issue 9.
What AllyMatter does here
Document control layer.
AllyMatter publishes this site.
Assessors
Who assesses BRCGS
BRCGS-approved certification bodies accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 for the specific BRCGS standard, using BRCGS-registered auditors. Accredited by National accreditation bodies recognized by BRCGS (for example UKAS, ANAB, and other Global ACI signatories), with BRCGS running its own compliance and auditor competence oversight on top.
Public register of assessors: https://directory.brcgs.com/certification-body-search
No firm has claimed a BRCGS assessor listing yet. Claim yours →
Consultants
Who helps with BRCGS
A very active consultant ecosystem exists, including BRCGS-registered consultants and approved training providers. Implementers run gap audits, build the HACCP plan and QMS, write prerequisite programs, run mock audits, and support corrective action closure after the audit. Engagements typically run four to nine months.
Firms that name this framework in their own material. Listings we have not verified yet come from public filings and partner lists. Each firm can confirm its own.
No firm has claimed a BRCGS consultant listing yet. Claim yours →
Software
Tools for BRCGS
Tools that name this framework in their own material.
Related reading
- Behind the scenes of Food Safety Issue 10The standard owner on how Issue 10 is being drafted and which areas the technical working group is reopening.BRCGS
- Top BRCGS Food Safety non-conformities 2025-2026Audit data on the clauses sites actually fail, which is the fastest way to work out where your documentation is thin.LRQA
- Comparing GFSI-benchmarked certifications for your businessExplains BRCGS grading and unannounced audit rules against the rival schemes, useful before committing to one.NSF
Independent third-party explainers, chosen by hand. Not affiliated with this site and not paid placements. All links are nofollow.
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From the publisher
Run the Policy Side of BRCGS in AllyMatter
Approve the policies BRCGS asks for, keep every version, and record a named acknowledgment from each person who has to read them.