GFSI Certification; what is it?

In the ever-evolving landscape of the global food industry, ensuring food safety and quality has become more crucial than ever. One of the leading frameworks in this endeavor is the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification. Recognized worldwide, GFSI certification plays an important role in enhancing food safety standards, ensuring trust between producers and consumers, and facilitating global market access for businesses. But what exactly is GFSI certification, and how does it relate to other certifications such as Fair Trade certification, Halal certification, and Kosher certification? This article delves deep into the essence of GFSI certification and its significance in the food industry.

GFSI History

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was established in 2000 by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global industry network of retailers and manufacturers. Its primary objective is to ensure food safety throughout the supply chain by benchmarking and recognizing existing food safety management schemes. Rather than creating its own certification, GFSI sets stringent benchmarking criteria that various food safety standards must meet to achieve recognition. This process ensures that certified companies adhere to globally accepted best practices in food safety management.

Key takeaway: GFSI certification is not a stand-alone certificate but rather benchmarks existing food safety standards ensuring they meet specific criteria. These standards include:

• BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard)
• FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)
• IFS (International Featured Standards)
• SQF (Safe Quality Food)

These recognized schemes cover every aspect of food production, processing, packaging, and distribution, ensuring comprehensive safety management across the food supply chain.

GFSI Recognized Standards

GFSI benchmarks and recognizes a variety of globally acknowledged food safety standards to ensure high levels of food safety compliance. These include:

• BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard)
• FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)
• IFS (International Featured Standards)
• SQF (Safe Quality Food)
• GLOBALG.A.P. (Good Agricultural Practices)
• CanadaGAP (Good Agricultural Practices for Fruits and Vegetables)
• PrimusGFS (Global Food Safety Initiative for Agricultural Sector)

These standards cover diverse sectors of the food industry, from farming and production to processing and packaging, ensuring end-to-end food safety management.

GFSI Certification vs. Other Certifications

While GFSI certification focuses on food safety management, it intersects with various other certifications that cater to different aspects of food production and ethical standards.

Fair Trade Certification

Fair Trade certification emphasizes ethical sourcing, fair labor practices, and environmental sustainability. Although Fair Trade certification does not directly address food safety, it complements GFSI certification by promoting responsible sourcing practices that contribute to overall product integrity.

Halal Certification

Halal certification verifies that products and production processes comply with Islamic dietary laws. While GFSI certification ensures food safety, Halal certification focuses on religious compliance. However, integrating both certifications ensures that Halal products are also produced under stringent safety standards.

Kosher Certification

Kosher certification confirms that food products meet Jewish dietary laws. Like Halal certification, Kosher certification targets religious dietary compliance. Pairing Kosher certification with GFSI-recognized food safety standards ensures products are both religiously compliant and safe for consumption.

How do I get a GFSI certification?

Achieving GFSI certification involves a structured approach to implementing and maintaining high food safety standards within your organization. Below are a few steps to help you navigate the process:

1. Select a GFSI-Recognized Scheme: Begin by evaluating which GFSI-recognized food safety scheme best fits your business operations. This choice depends on your industry sector, product types, and customer requirements. Popular options include BRCGS for manufacturers, FSSC 22000 for food safety systems, and SQF for end-to-end supply chain management.
2. Conduct a Gap Analysis: Assess your current operations against the selected standard’s requirements. This analysis identifies gaps in existing food safety procedures, documentation, and practices, providing a roadmap for necessary improvements.
3. Implement Food Safety Practices: Develop and integrate the required food safety management systems, procedures, and controls. This stage often involves updating equipment, refining production processes, and enhancing hygiene and sanitation protocols to meet compliance standards.
4. Employee Training and Engagement: Educate and train staff on the importance of food safety and the specific requirements of the chosen scheme. Employee involvement is critical, as compliance depends on consistent execution of food safety procedures at all levels.
5. Internal Audits and Pre-Assessment: Conduct regular internal audits to evaluate compliance and identify areas needing improvement. A pre-assessment audit, often performed by a consultancy or internal quality team, prepares the organization for the official certification audit.
6. Certification Audit by an Accredited Body: Engage an accredited certification body to perform an official audit. The auditor will assess the implementation and effectiveness of your food safety management system. Any non-conformities must be addressed to achieve certification.
7. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Achieving certification is not the endpoint. Maintain compliance through regular reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives. Regular surveillance audits ensure ongoing adherence to the standards and foster a culture of food safety excellence.

FAQ's

Is GFSI the same as ISO?

No, GFSI is not the same as ISO. GFSI is a benchmarking organization that recognizes various food safety standards, while ISO (International Organization for Standardization) develops international standards, including ISO 22000 for food safety management. Some GFSI-recognized standards incorporate ISO principles.

What is the difference between GFSI and HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a food safety system focused on identifying and managing food safety risks. GFSI, on the other hand, benchmarks and recognizes comprehensive food safety management systems, many of which include HACCP principles within their frameworks.

How long does it take to get GFSI certified?

The timeline varies based on business size and readiness. It typically takes 6 to 12 months to implement necessary systems and pass the certification audit.