What Is BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS (formerly BRC Global Standards) is a portfolio of food safety and quality schemes owned by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The schemes are GFSI-recognised and are designed to provide a consistent, auditable framework for managing food safety risk across the supply chain.
QIMA conducts BRCGS audits as an accredited certification body. Our auditors evaluate whether an organisation's food safety management system meets the requirements of the applicable BRCGS Standard, resulting in a graded certificate that communicates conformance level to buyers and retailers.
Do You Need BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS certification is primarily driven by buyer requirements. For US-based manufacturers, processors, and distributors, the most common trigger is a direct requirement from a retail buyer, foodservice customer, or importer. You likely need BRCGS certification if any of the following apply:
| ✓ A US retailer — such as Costco, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's — has requested BRCGS certification as part of their supplier approval or vendor compliance programme |
| ✓ A broadline foodservice distributor such as Sysco or US Foods requires GFSI-recognised certification and has specified BRCGS as an accepted or preferred scheme |
| ✓ You are a US importer bringing food products from EU or UK brands stateside, and those brand owners require their supply chain to hold BRCGS certification |
| ✓ You supply food-contact packaging materials, and your US food manufacturer customers require BRCGS Packaging Materials certification from their packaging suppliers |
| ✓ You operate a third-party warehouse or distribution facility and a food manufacturer or retail customer requires BRCGS Storage & Distribution certification |
| ✓ You supply UK or EU retailers directly or through an importer, and those buyers specify BRCGS as a condition of supply |
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BRCGS Grading System
BRCGS audits result in a graded certificate. The grade reflects the number and classification of nonconformities identified during the audit. Grades are determined by the BRCGS scheme rules — not by the certification body.
| AA Outstanding Zero Major or Critical; minimal Minors | A Excellent No Majors; limited Minors | B Good No Majors; moderate Minors | C Satisfactory Minor Majors; addressed in CAPA | D Conditional Significant findings; 28-day re-audit | F Fail Critical NC or Grade D re-audit failure |
Many buyers and retailers specify a minimum grade (typically A or B) as a supplier approval condition. An 'AA' or 'AA+' (Unannounced) grade is increasingly required by premium retailers. Grade D and F outcomes result in suspension or withdrawal of certification.
Unannounced Audits
The BRCGS Unannounced option allows organisations to voluntarily opt into an audit conducted without advance notice of the specific date. Successful unannounced certification results in an 'AA+' or 'A+' grade, which is increasingly valued by major UK and EU retailers as a higher-assurance credential. Unannounced audit requirements and eligibility criteria are defined by the BRCGS scheme rules.
Why Choose QIMA for BRCGS Certification?
Protect your certifications and market access with one partner across food safety, organic, and sustainability
Responsive, expert support throughout your certification journey, trusted by clients with a 72 NPS
Manage your certification journey in myQIMA, from application and audits to renewal
Reduce audit fatigue with combined audits that save time and cost
Pay faster with QIMA Click & Pay, using instant quotes and secure online payments to keep audits and certification timelines on track
What is Assessed During BRCGS Certification?
The following criteria are assessed during certification under the respective BRCGS standard:
BRCGS Food:
Senior management commitment and the development of a culture of product safety
Significant food safety hazards for products and processes, to ensure the safety of products based on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and a food safety plan
Quality management systems for the documentation of organizational and management policies and procedures
Environmental and operational conditions necessary for the production of safe food
Development of food fraud prevention systems to protect the site from purchasing fraudulent materials
Encouraging sites to develop robust systems for product security and food defense
Requirements for high-risk, high-care, and ambient high-care production risk zones
BRCGS Plant-Based
Ensures the absence of animal inputs in plant-based products, in the manufacturing, processing, and packing of:
Processed foods, both own-brand, and customer-branded
Ingredients for use by food service companies, catering companies, and food manufacturers
Pet foods (GFSI benchmarked schemes only)
Natural health products
BRCGS Packaging Materials:
Senior management commitment to provide adequate human and financial resources, and an environment that facilitates continual development
Hazard analysis and risk assessment-based product safety program
Robust quality management systems to ensure that sites work in a systematic way
Implementation of good manufacturing practices within the production areas while recognizing the diversity and breadth of the packaging industry, and the skills required to audit it
Establishment of a microbiological environmental monitoring program based on risk. The importance of product safety and quality culture in the drive to improve transparency and coherence across the supply chain
BRCGS Storage and Distribution:
Comprehensive scope covering areas of quality, hygiene, and product safety; providing a benchmark for best practice in storage and distribution industries
Reduction of damage, waste and, therefore costs to the business
'Due diligence' requirements of both the certification body and the customers using their service
Providing a report and certification that customers can trust, no need for their own audits
Ongoing surveillance and follow-up corrective actions to ensure the establishment of self-improving quality, hygiene and product safety systems
Frequently Asked Questions — BRCGS Certification
The following questions reflect the most common concerns raised by food safety and quality managers preparing for BRCGS audits. Answers reflect BRCGS scheme rules and QIMA's certification process.
UNANNOUNCED AUDITS
| We are concerned about unannounced audits. Do we have to choose the unannounced option? |
| No. The BRCGS Unannounced audit option is voluntary. Organisations can choose to be certified under the standard announced audit programme, which provides advance notice of the audit date. The Unannounced option is an additional credential — it results in an 'AA+' or 'A+' grade and is increasingly requested by premium UK and EU retailers as a higher-assurance requirement. If your buyer requires unannounced certification, that requirement is communicated through your supply chain relationship, not imposed by QIMA. |
| If we opt into unannounced audits, how much notice will we receive? |
| Under the BRCGS Unannounced scheme, organisations are not given the specific audit date in advance. QIMA is authorised to arrive on site within a defined window period set by BRCGS scheme rules. Organisations opting into this programme agree to be audit-ready throughout the entire window. Specific rules governing notice periods and window duration are set by BRCGS and confirmed during the application stage. |
| What happens if the auditor arrives on an unannounced visit and key personnel are unavailable? |
| BRCGS scheme rules define the conditions under which an unannounced audit can be rescheduled or aborted without penalty. These rules are site-specific and based on the nature of unavailability. QIMA communicates the relevant scheme provisions during application. Organisations on the unannounced programme are expected to have documented contingency arrangements to maintain audit-readiness regardless of personnel availability. |
READINESS & TIMING
| How do we know if we are ready for a BRCGS audit? |
| Readiness is the organisation's responsibility to assess. BRCGS scheme rules require that the food safety management system has been implemented and operational for a defined minimum period before the initial audit. Auditors evaluate implementation and effectiveness — not just documentation. Signs that an organisation is audit-ready typically include: HACCP plan fully developed and reviewed by the HACCP team Prerequisite programmes documented and operating records available Internal audit programme completed for all applicable BRCGS sections Management review conducted and documented Corrective actions raised through internal audit process have been addressed |
| Can QIMA help us assess readiness before the audit? |
| QIMA is a certification body. Our role is to conduct independent, impartial audits — not to provide consulting advice or pre-audit gap assessments that could compromise our independence. If your organisation wants an independent gap assessment before applying, we recommend engaging a qualified food safety consultant who is not associated with QIMA's certification function. We can confirm scope, duration, and process requirements during the application stage. |
| How long does the BRCGS audit take? |
| Audit duration is determined by site size (measured in total employees and operational complexity), scope of products and processes, and the number of BRCGS Standard sections applicable. BRCGS publishes audit duration guidance as part of its scheme rules, which QIMA applies when confirming your audit plan. As an indicative range: small sites may complete in one day; larger, more complex operations typically require two days. Duration is confirmed at the application stage based on your specific site profile. |
| We have already invested in another food safety system. Do we have to start from scratch for BRCGS? |
| Not necessarily. Organisations with existing GFSI-recognised certifications (such as SQF, FSSC 22000, or IFS) will find significant overlap in the underlying food safety management requirements — HACCP, prerequisite programmes, internal audit, and management review requirements are common across GFSI-recognised schemes. However, BRCGS has scheme-specific structural requirements and grading criteria. Auditors evaluate conformance against the BRCGS Standard specifically — not against equivalent requirements from another scheme. |
NONCONFORMITIES & CAPA
| What happens if we receive Major nonconformities during the audit? |
| Major nonconformities do not automatically result in certification failure. Under BRCGS rules, Major nonconformities require the organisation to submit documented corrective action evidence within 28 days of the audit report being issued. QIMA's certification committee reviews the corrective action evidence before making a certification decision. The grade awarded reflects the total number of Major and Minor nonconformities recorded during the audit. If corrective action evidence is not submitted within the required timeframe or is assessed as inadequate, certification may be refused. |
| What is a Critical nonconformity, and what does it mean for our certification? |
| A Critical nonconformity under BRCGS is defined as a finding that poses an immediate risk to food safety, legality, or product integrity — or represents a fundamental breakdown of the food safety management system. A single Critical nonconformity results in a Grade F (Fail). Certification cannot be granted for that audit cycle. The organisation must address the root cause and may apply for a new audit. Critical nonconformity definitions and examples are published in the BRCGS Standard. |
| What is the difference between a Major and Minor nonconformity? |
| The BRCGS Standard defines nonconformity classifications based on severity and risk: Critical — Immediate food safety, legality, or integrity risk. Results in Grade F. Major — A significant failure that could affect food safety or could result in a non-safe product. Requires documented CAPA within 28 days. Minor — A partial failure against a BRCGS requirement. Accumulation of Minors determines grade level. Must be addressed by the next audit. |
| What format does corrective action evidence need to be in? |
| BRCGS requires objective evidence that the root cause of each Major nonconformity has been identified and addressed. This typically includes a documented root cause analysis, evidence of the corrective action taken, and evidence of verification that the action is effective. QIMA provides the nonconformity report in the audit documentation. Corrective action responses are submitted through QIMA's certification management system within the 28-day window. |
| Can we appeal a nonconformity finding or our audit grade? |
| Yes. QIMA has a formal appeals process for organisations that wish to challenge a certification decision or specific audit findings. Appeals must be submitted within the timeframe defined in QIMA's appeals procedure and are reviewed independently by the appeals team. BRCGS scheme rules also include provisions related to complaints about the certification process. QIMA's appeals procedure is provided to all applicants as part of the certification agreement. |
