CSQ CERTIFICATION
The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards were built around ISO/IEC 17067
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Unlock Global Markets with GFSI Certification
Navigating the world of food safety standards can be complex. A GFSI-recognized certification is your passport to brand protection, customer trust, and new business opportunities. This guide will help you understand what GFSI is, which certification is right for you, and how to begin your journey.
SQF CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A comprehensive farm-to-fork food safety and quality program.
Best For: All sectors of the food industry, from primary production (farms) to manufacturing, distribution, packaging, and retail. It's particularly popular in North America and Australia.
Key Feature: SQF is unique because it includes a quality component (the "SQF Quality Code"). This allows businesses to get certified for both food safety and quality in a single audit.
BRCGS CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A leading global standard focused on product safety, quality, and legality.
Best For: Especially strong for companies that supply food products to UK and European retailers, but it is globally recognized and respected. They also have specific standards for Packaging, Storage & Distribution, and Agents & Brokers.
Key Feature: BRCGS is known for being highly prescriptive, providing detailed requirements for processes, site management, and hazard control.
FSSC 22000 CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A flexible and internationally recognized standard that uses the ISO 22000 framework.
Best For: Food manufacturers of all sizes. Its ISO-based structure makes it easy to integrate with other management systems like ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental).
Key Feature: FSSC 22000 is based on the widely-accepted ISO 22000 standard, combined with specific technical specifications for Prerequisite Programs (PRPs) and additional FSSC requirements. This provides a robust and flexible framework.
IFS CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A standard focused on ensuring suppliers produce safe, compliant products according to customer specifications.
Best For: Widely used by German, French, and Italian retailers, it's a key standard for businesses aiming to enter the European market.
Key Feature: IFS has a strong focus on compliance with customer specifications and features a unique scoring system that provides a clear measure of performance.
GLOBALG.A.P. CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A globally recognized standard for safe and sustainable agricultural production.
Best For: Primary producers—farms, growers, and aquaculture operations—who want to demonstrate responsible farming practices to retailers and buyers worldwide. It is a key standard for exporting fresh produce to Europe and other international markets.
Key Feature: Its comprehensive approach goes beyond food safety to cover environmental sustainability, traceability, and worker health and welfare. It also features a system of "add-on" modules (like GRASP for social practice and SPRING for water management) that allow producers to customize their certification to meet specific market demands.
PRIMUSGFS CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A private food safety auditing scheme specifically for the fresh produce sector, from the farm to storage and distribution.
Best For: Growers, harvesters, packinghouses, and coolers of fresh fruit and vegetable products. It is especially prominent and widely required by retailers throughout the Western Hemisphere (North, Central, and South America).
Key Feature: PrimusGFS is highly focused on the fresh produce supply chain with distinct, modular audits for different operations (e.g., Farm, Indoor Agriculture, Harvest Crew, Packinghouse). Its audit results and compliance data are managed through the online Azzule platform, providing supply chain transparency for buyers.
CANADAGAP CERTIFICATION
In a Nutshell: A Canadian-developed food safety program for the production and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Best For: Canadian growers and packers who need to meet domestic retailer requirements and achieve a GFSI-recognized certification. It is the leading G.A.P. standard for producers primarily serving the Canadian market.
Key Feature: Developed "by Canadians, for Canadians," it is tailored specifically to Canadian regulations and production environments. It serves as Canada’s domestic G.A.P. standard and provides a clear, accessible pathway for Canadian producers to achieve GFSI recognition and demonstrate due diligence to their customers.
Find Your GFSI Scope and Scheme
GFSI scopes define which parts of your operation are covered under (GFSI scheme) certification, ensuring all relevant activities are assessed for compliance.
Have Question? We are here to help
GFSI: SCHEMES + SCOPES
A GFSI scheme is a recognized food safety certification program like:
- SQF | BRCGS | FSSC 22000 | IFS
that meets the rigorous standards set by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
GFSI defines a series of scopes that target various stages within the:
- food supply chain
- including farming of animals and plants
- food manufacturing
- animal conversion
- catering
- distribution
- food safety services
- production of food packaging
- production of food-grade chemicals
This scope-based structure allows businesses in diverse areas of food production to choose a certification that aligns with their specific operations, ensuring comprehensive and relevant food safety measures at each link in the supply chain.
Schemes like SQF (Safe Quality Food), BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards), FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification), and IFS (International Featured Standards) are examples of GFSI-recognized programs, each offering specific requirements for food safety that address different parts of the supply chain, such as farming, manufacturing, packaging, and storage.
GFSI SCOPE: AI - Farming of Animals for Meat / Milk / Eggs / Honey
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Raising of animals (other than fish and seafood) used for meat production, egg production, milk production or honey production.
- Growing, keeping, trapping and hunting (slaughtering at point of hunting)
- Associated temporary farm packing without modification or processing of the product.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: AII - Farming of Fish and Seafood
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Raising of fish and seafood used for meat production.
- Growing, trapping and fishing slaughtering at point of capture.
- Associated temporary farm packing without modification or processing of the product.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: BI - Farming of Plants (Other Than Grains and Pulses)
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Growing or harvesting of plants (other than grains and pulses), including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food.
- On farm storage of plants (other than grains and pulses), including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: BII - Farming of Grains and Pulses
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Growing or harvesting of grains and pulses for food
- On farm storage of grains and pulses for food.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: BIII - Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Activities on harvested plants, including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food, that keep the products whole and integral.
- Cleaning, washing, rinsing, fluming, sorting, grading, trimming, bundling, cooling, hydro-cooling, waxing, drenching, packing, repacking, staging, storing, loading / or any other handling activity that does not significantly transform the product from its original harvested form.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: C0 - Animal Primary Conversion
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Conversion of animal carcasses intended for further processing.
- Including Lairage, slaughter, evisceration, bulk chilling, bulk freezing, bulk storage of animals and game Gutting, bulk freezing of fish, storage of game.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: CI - Processing of Perishable Animal Products
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production and packing of animal products including fish and seafood, meat, eggs, dairy and fish products, perishable pet food from animal products only.
- Deboning, cutting, washing, trimming, grading, pasteurisation, cooking, curing, fermentation, smoking, chilling, freezing, packed in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: CII - Processing of Perishable Plant Products
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of plant products, including fruits and fresh juices, vegetables, grains, nuts, pulses and perishable pet food from plant products only.
- Washing, slicing, dicing, cutting, shredding, peeling, grading, pasteurisation, cooking, chilling, juicing, pressing, freezing, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing or any other activity that significantly transforms the product from its original whole state.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: CIII - Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of mixed animal and plant products, including ready to eat and perishable pet food.
- Mixing, cooking, chilling, freezing, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: CIV - Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of food products from any source that are stored and sold at ambient temperature, including canned food and ambient stable pet food.
- Aseptic filling, baking, bottling, brewing, canning, cooking, distilling, drying, extrusion, fermentation, freeze drying, pressing, frying, hot filling, irradiating, milling, mixing and blending, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing, pasteurising, pickling, roasting, salting and refining.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: D - Production of Feed
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of feed from a single or mixed food source, intended for food-producing animals.
- Cooking, milling, mixing and blending and extrusion.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: E - Catering
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Preparation, storage and, where appropriate, delivery of food products for consumption at the place of preparation or at a satellite unit.
- Cooking, mixing and blending, preparation of component products.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: FI - Retail / Wholesale
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Buying and selling of food, feed and/ or packaging products to a customer, including minor processing activities in counters when this is not the main activity of the business.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: FII - Food Broker / Agent
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Buying and selling of food, feed and/ or packaging products, excluding the production, storage and any physical handling of the product.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: G - Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Storage facilities and distribution vehicles for the storage and transport of food, feed and/ or packaging products.
- Note: any packing with labelling activities are excluded.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: H - Provision of Food Safety Services
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Provision of services related to the safe production of food, feed and/ or packaging, including water supply, pest control, cleaning services, waste disposal.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: I - Production-of-Food-Packaging
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of food and feed packaging materials.
- Packaging components in the form of raw materials, part processed, semi converted, converted or fully finished packaging materials and products for use in the supply chain.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: JI - Hygienic Design (Equipment and Building Providers)
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Manufacturers of equipment, including any components necessary to link them together, and their utilities and utensils necessary for their operation, for farms food production facilities, food retail and wholesale operations, and packaging dedicated to food; Architects, Engineers and Designers of food handling facilities, including farm, food manufacturing, storage and retail buildings; The builders of above facilities.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: JII - Hygienic Design (Food Businesses)
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Specifying, purchasing, design and construction of buildings or refurbishments by farmers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and packaging manufacturers for their own use; specifying, purchasing, design and construction of equipment, including any components necessary to link them together, and their utilities and utensils necessary for their operation, and facilities by farmers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and packaging manufacturers for their own use.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
GFSI SCOPE: K - Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
SCOPE DEFINITION:
- Production of food and feed additives, vitamins, minerals, bio- cultures, flavourings, enzymes and processing aids.
- Note: pesticides, drugs, fertilizers and cleaning agents are excluded.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:
WHAT IS GFSI CERTIFICATION?
GFSI stands for The Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI).
GFSI DOES NOT PROVIDE FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION.
Rather GFSI is a coalition of food manufacturers, distributors and retailers the Consumer Goods Forum manages, and its goal is to standardize food safety and operations across the food supply chain.
GFSI acts as an adviser by providing a set of benchmark requirements for third-party certification organizations. The GFSI's gold-standard recognition provides a universal benchmark for food safety audits.
IS CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZED BY GFSI MANDATORY?
While pursuing GFSI certification is a voluntary practice, many food and beverage companies seek the accreditation as a demonstration of their commitment to proactive risk mitigation.
Food and beverage companies are increasingly seeking third-party certification to achieve greater visibility and credibility within their supply chains. They want to ensure that they are sourcing products that meet the highest quality standards, while also mitigating potential risks associated with product recalls or consumer dissatisfaction.
