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"GFSI certification" is one of the most requested things in the food industry, and one of the most misunderstood. You cannot actually get certified to GFSI. Instead, GFSI recognizes a family of food safety schemes, and you certify to one of them. This guide explains what that means, which schemes qualify, and how to pick the right one.
Key Takeaways
- GFSI is a benchmark, not a certificate. The Global Food Safety Initiative recognizes food safety schemes that meet its requirements; you get certified to a recognized scheme such as SQF or BRCGS.
- Any recognized scheme satisfies a "GFSI certification" request. SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS, PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P., and CanadaGAP are all GFSI-benchmarked.
- Buyers drive it. Most major retailers and manufacturers require a GFSI-recognized certification to onboard a supplier.
- Choose by sector and market, not by which name sounds most rigorous. They share the same GFSI foundation.
- It is built on prevention. Every recognized scheme requires HACCP or preventive controls, traceability, training, and verification.
What Is GFSI?
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a private-sector coalition launched in 2000 by The Consumer Goods Forum to address fragmented food safety requirements across regions and reduce audit duplication. GFSI does not write its own standard. Instead, it benchmarks and recognizes food safety certification programs that meet its stringent requirements, driving global consistency and trust in food safety systems.[1]
Think of GFSI as the body that audits the auditors. When a scheme earns GFSI recognition, a certificate under that scheme is accepted by retailers and manufacturers around the world, in more than 180 countries, as proof of a credible food safety system.
GFSI-Recognized Certification Programs
GFSI recognizes more than a dozen programs. These are the ones most food and produce businesses in North America encounter, all of which Kiwa ASI audits:
| Program | Best for | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| SQF | Manufacturing, storage, and packaging; the most widely held scheme in North America | SQF certification |
| BRCGS | Retailer-driven; UK, US, and Canadian grocery and private label | BRCGS certification |
| FSSC 22000 | ISO-based; global manufacturers already running ISO systems | FSSC 22000 certification |
| IFS | European retailer standard; exports into the EU | IFS certification |
| PrimusGFS | Produce: farms, harvest crews, and packing operations | PrimusGFS certification |
| GLOBALG.A.P. | Primary production and farming | GLOBALG.A.P. certification |
| CanadaGAP | Fruit and vegetable production and handling, especially in Canada | CanadaGAP certification |
Because they share the same GFSI foundation, any one of them satisfies a buyer who asks for "GFSI certification." For a deeper comparison of the three big manufacturing schemes, see our guide to IFS vs FSSC 22000 vs BRCGS.
Why GFSI Matters: Key Benefits
GFSI-recognized certification has become a widely accepted requirement in the global food supply chain. It helps organizations reduce risk, gain market access, and prove their commitment to food safety.
- Retailer and buyer recognition: required by many of the world's largest retailers and manufacturers before they will onboard a supplier.
- Risk reduction: certified facilities run strong preventive controls that lower the likelihood of recalls and foodborne illness.
- Global market access: recognized schemes are accepted in more than 180 countries, streamlining supply chain approvals.
- Industry collaboration: GFSI brings together industry, academia, and government to share best practices.
How GFSI Works
GFSI recognition rests on a few core principles that every benchmarked scheme has to meet:[2]
- Harmonization: benchmarking many schemes to a common bar eliminates redundancy and lets one audit satisfy many customers.
- Prevention: programs must include HACCP or preventive controls, training, traceability, and verification.
- Continuous improvement: schemes and sites are expected to evolve with new risks, science, and technology.
- Collaboration: requirements are shaped by food companies, regulators, and academic experts through GFSI's technical working groups and benchmark committee.
The practical effect is that a GFSI certificate signals a facility operating well beyond minimum compliance, with real hazard analysis, preventive controls, traceability, and documentation behind it.
How to Choose Your Scheme and Get Certified
The right scheme is almost always decided by two questions: what does your customer require, and what sector are you in? A produce packer looks at PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P.; a manufacturer selling to US retail looks at SQF or BRCGS; an exporter to Europe looks at IFS. Once you have chosen, the path is the same: assess your gaps, build the system, and complete the certification audit with an accredited certification body. Our guide on how to pass your SQF audit shows what that preparation looks like in practice.
Whether you are launching a new product or expanding into global markets, a GFSI-recognized certification helps your business stand out. Kiwa ASI audits all the major schemes, so we can help you choose the one that fits your buyers rather than the only one we offer.
Ready to start? Explore GFSI certification with Kiwa ASI, or request a quote to learn more about becoming GFSI-certified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you actually be "GFSI certified"?
A: Not directly. GFSI benchmarks and recognizes schemes; you become certified to a recognized scheme such as SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000. In everyday use, "GFSI certified" is shorthand for holding certification under one of those recognized programs.
Q: Which GFSI scheme should I choose?
A: Let your customers and your sector decide. If a buyer names a scheme, that settles it. Otherwise, manufacturers selling to US and Canadian retail usually choose SQF or BRCGS, European exporters choose IFS, ISO-driven companies choose FSSC 22000, and produce operations choose PrimusGFS or GLOBALG.A.P.
Q: Is GFSI certification mandatory?
A: Not by law, but it is effectively required to sell to most major retailers and food manufacturers, who make a GFSI-recognized certification a condition of supply.
Q: How many GFSI-recognized programs are there?
A: More than a dozen. The ones most common in North America are SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS, PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P., and CanadaGAP.
Related reading
- What's the Difference Between IFS, FSSC 22000, & BRCGS?
- What Is BRCGS Certification? Requirements, Audit Grades, and Cost
- How to Pass Your SQF Audit
- Walmart Food Supplier Requirements
Sources
[1] Global Food Safety Initiative. Who We Are (The Consumer Goods Forum).
[2] Global Food Safety Initiative. Recognition of Certification Programme Owners.