What is GFSI?

GFSI stands for The Global Food Safety Initiative and the highest level of food safety compliance comes with GFSI-recognized certifications. GFSI is an international industry body that aims to harmonize food safety standards by setting stringent norms. Their most widespread certification programs include BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, and IFS. If you want to reach new customers and keep existing customers, a GFSI audit and GFSI Certification will help them to know that they aren’t likely to face food safety problems with your product.

What does GFSI do?

GFSI standards review three primary things:

• Does the supplier say what they do? (Reviewing policies and procedures)
• Does the supplier do what they say? (Observing processes while they run, interviewing employees, inspecting the facility)
• Does the supplier track that they do what they say? (Reviewing records)

By assessing these aspects of how a company operates, a GFSI audit ensures that a supplier is producing safe food year round.

What are GFSI schemes?

A food safety scheme is recognized by GFSI when it meets the food safety requirements defined in the GFSI Guidance Documents. GFSI is an organization that benchmarks and approves different auditing standards. The primary standards that are GFSI-benchmarked include: BRCGS Global Standard, Canadagap, FSSC 22000, Global Aquaculture Alliance Seafood, Global Gap, Global Red Meat Standard, IFS International Featured Standards, Japan Food Safety Management Association, Primus GFS, and SQF.

How do I know which GFSI scheme to pick?

GFSI schemes are not one size fits all and you need to choose the one that is right for you. If you are a food producer or manufacturer in the United States you can choose any of the applicable GFSI schemes, but BRCGS and SQF audits are the most common. 

How does implementing a food safety management system help with GFSI certification?

Achieving GFSI certification is vital for product safety, brand reputation, global market access, and business growth. Yet many compliance programs are still paper-based, resulting in slowness, non-conformances, and lack of preparedness for GFSI certification. Food safety management systems allow companies to swap paper-based routines for digitized SOPs, checklists, and internal audits designed for always-on GFSI compliance. These systems often provide additional functionality for product quality management, product recalls, and partner management.