CSQ CERTIFICATION
The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards were built around ISO/IEC 17067
Audit Finder
Which food safety audit does your business need?
Answer a few quick questions about what you do and who is asking. We'll show the audits and certifications that fit your operation, and explain each one.
Question 1
Loading the Audit Finder… If it doesn't appear, call 1 (800) 477-0778 or request a quote and we'll help you choose.
What Kinds of Food Safety Audits Are There?
The Audit Finder sorts the audits Kiwa ASI offers into four groups. Which one you need depends mostly on who is asking for it and what your site does.
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Certification
GFSI-Recognized Certification
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Audit
GMP and GDP Audits
An audit against good manufacturing or distribution practices, such as FDA's cGMP rules for food (21 CFR 117) or dietary supplements (21 CFR 111), food packaging, storage and distribution or ISO 22716 for cosmetics. These audits aren't GFSI-benchmarked or accredited.
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Second-party audit
Customer Program Audits
Audits run to one buyer's own requirements, such as a retailer's supplier audit program, a private label audit or McDonald's DQMP for distribution centers.
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Cannabis and hemp
CSQ Cannabis Certification
A GMP certification standard written for cannabis and hemp, with standards for cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, and retail, at three levels. See cannabis GMP rules by state.
Kiwa ASI doesn't offer GLOBALG.A.P., BRCGS Packaging Materials, IFS PACsecure, organic (USDA NOP), MSC, ASC or RSPO certification, or laboratory testing.
How to Choose a Food Safety Audit
The Audit Finder follows the same four steps a Kiwa ASI specialist would.
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Step 1: Ask Who Needs It
Find out exactly what your customer, retailer or regulator asks for: a GFSI certificate, a named standard, their own program or a GMP audit.
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Step 2: Match Your Activities
Pick a standard that covers what your site does, such as manufacturing, growing or packing produce, storage and distribution, or packaging.
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Step 3: Check Your Readiness
A certification audit needs a written food safety system that's in place and kept up. If you're starting out, close the gaps first.
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Step 4: Confirm the Scope and Quote
A specialist confirms the standard, scope and audit length, and which Kiwa certification body would issue your certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Food Safety Audit
Which food safety audit do I need?
Start with what your customer asks for. If they want GFSI-recognized certification, choose a scheme recognized for what your site does, such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS or SQF for food manufacturing. If a buyer has its own program, you'll need their program audit. If no certificate is required, a cGMP audit checks you against FDA's good manufacturing practice rules.
What's the difference between GFSI certification and a GMP audit?
GFSI certification is a certificate to a scheme benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative, issued by an accredited certification body. A GMP audit checks your site against good manufacturing practice rules, such as FDA's 21 CFR 117 for food. Kiwa ASI's cGMP audits aren't GFSI-benchmarked or accredited, so they're the lighter option when a buyer doesn't require a certificate.
Which GFSI scheme is best?
None is best for everyone. Some buyers accept any GFSI-recognized scheme and some name one, so check with your customer first. Then choose a scheme recognized for what your site does. SQF is more common in the U.S. Kiwa offers BRCGS, CanadaGAP, FSSC 22000, IFS, PrimusGFS and SQF.
Which GFSI schemes can Kiwa ASI certify?
SQF and CanadaGAP are certified under ASI Food Safety, LLC's ANAB accreditation. BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000 and PrimusGFS certificates are issued by Kiwa group certification bodies, and Kiwa ASI is the U.S. office for BRCGS and IFS. Kiwa ASI doesn't certify GLOBALG.A.P., BRCGS Packaging Materials or IFS PACsecure.
Which CSQ level does my cannabis operation need?
Start with the level your state or customers expect. Level 1 proves GMP. Level 2 adds a HACCP plan and is required before the Dietary Supplement Addendum. Level 3 adds an advanced quality management system and unannounced recertification audits.
Can one CSQ audit cover several activities?
Yes. One CSQ audit and one certificate can cover several CSQ standards, such as extraction and manufacturing. Modules the standards share, such as Module 1, are audited once.
What if I'm not ready for an audit yet?
A certification audit needs a written food safety system that's in place and kept up. A gap assessment shows what's missing, and training helps your team close the gaps. Kiwa ASI training and consulting is provided by ASI Training and Consulting, LLC, which operates separately from the certification body and has no effect on audit outcomes.
Is the Audit Finder's answer final?
No. It gives general guidance based on a few answers. Always confirm with your customer which standard and scope they accept. When you request a quote, a Kiwa ASI specialist confirms the exact scope with you.
Still not sure which audit fits?
Tell us what you make and who is asking. A Kiwa ASI specialist will confirm the right audit and scope, and send a quote if you'd like one.
Standards & Trust
ASI Food Safety, LLC (Kiwa ASI) is accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17065 (ID 1222) for the SQF Edition 9 codes and CanadaGAP Version 11. BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000 and PrimusGFS certificates are issued by Kiwa group certification bodies. Kiwa ASI training and consulting is provided by ASI Training and Consulting, LLC, which operates separately from the certification body and has no effect on audit outcomes.