Today’s food supply chain presents complex challenges, and many of the world’s largest food retailers are mandating supplier certification to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) schemes. In this webinar SAI Global's Food Safety Consultant Dr Bob Strong gives an overview The webinar will provide you with an overview of GFSI schemes, their key differences, how to select the right standard for your organization, and tips on becoming certified.

1. WEBINAR
An Overview of GFSI Standards for Food Processors & Manufacturers
Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 | 2pm BST

2. Welcome!
• Participants will be on mute during the webinar
• Q&A session at the end – please use the ‘Question’ button on the
right hand side of your screen, click ‘Ask’ to submit.
• The webinar will be recorded and the link sent out after the webinar
with the slides.
• Our presenter today – Dr. Bob Strong

3. • Driving force behind our food safety operations in the
areas of Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and supplier
assurance programs (GFSI), including SQF, BRC and FSSC 22000.
• 46 years of experience in the food industry, while working for
national and international companies in quality assurance, product
development and auditing. He is an often requested seminar
speaker in the areas of GMP, HACCP and HARPC.
• Ph.D. and BSC in Chemistry and an accomplished food safety
trainer for numerous food safety manager certification courses
• In addition, he is a GMP/HACCP/HARPC instructor, a Lead Auditor
trainer, and is also certified to consult on the Global Food Safety
Initiative. He is certified in 21 SQF product categories
Welcome!
Dr. Bob Strong, Food Safety Expert and Trainer, SAI Global

4. • Background of GFSI
• GFSI Standards Requirements
• Why consider GFSI certification
• Overview of GFSI schemes and categories
• Tips for selecting the right standard for your organization
• Most common GFSI standards and global presence
• Additional considerations
Agenda

5. Founded in 2000, GFSI is one of the four strategic pillars of The Consumer Goods Forum1.
The Global Food Safety Initiative is the result of a collaborative effort from the world’s food safety
experts including service providers, retailers, manufacturers and food service companies across the
food supply chain2.
GFSI benchmarking of standards is completed through a process that is:
✓ Independent
✓ Unbiased
✓ Technically proficient
✓ Transparent
GFSI’s Mission is “Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere”
What is GFSI?
Sources
1 https://www.mygfsi.com/files/Information_Kit/GFSI_Benefits_Infographic_2017.pdf
2 https://globalfoodsafetyresource.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/pdf_overview-gfsi-accredited-certification.pdf

6. Global Food Safety Initiative
(GFSI).
Origins Dates Purpose Why Motto
Food Business
Forum
Paris, France
May 2000
To develop criteria to
benchmark Globally
acceptable food safety
standards against
Give Retailers confidence in
the food safety of food
products no matter where
made or grown.
“Once Certified
recognized everywhere”
Initial schemes
approved
2004
Four (4) schemes approved
for certifying food
manufacturers
Food products, packaging
materials and ingredients.
Some schemes involve
farming.
Dutch HACCP lost
approval due to lack of
use by industry.
Additional
scheme approved
2012 Based on ISO 22000
Major international
manufacturers who had
embraced ISO 9001 in late
1980s wanted a scheme that
related much closer to ISO
standards.
“Safe Food for
consumers everywhere”
GFSI History

7. GFSI requirements
• Based on Food Safety only
• All schemes need to be Codex Alimentarius HACCP based
• Basis is ISO standards that require:
• Say what you do in writing
• Do what you say
• Prove it with records
• Each scheme can add additional requirements for Quality,
Environmental Issues, Sustainability, etc.
• All also require compliance with:
• Local regulations in country of operation
• Regulations of countries in which products are sold
and consumed
• Customer requirements

8. Benefits of GFSI food safety programs
8
Reasons become certified to a GFSI benchmarked standard
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
A fully GFSI-compliant operation and
supply chain can open up global market
opportunities to expand your operation
and a market requirement by many
retailers.
GFSI certification eliminates the burdening
cost of undergoing multiple individual audits.
More retailers every day are accepting
certified GFSI benchmarked standards as
sufficient proof of your food safety system.
COST SAVINGS REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
GFSI-recognised standards help to ensure
your organisation meets regulatory
requirements, safeguarding your business
against non-compliance and helping to
preserve your brand.
Adopting a GFSI benchmarked Food Safety Certification Program is critical to establishing and maintaining access to global food markets,
while adequately managing the risks and liabilities inherent with the food and beverage business

9. GFSI Updates
• Requirements are reviewed for benchmarking every 4
years
• Each scheme has to re-submit for approval against
updated criteria
• Recent additions:
• Food Fraud
• Comparison to FSMA for companies selling
products to US consumers
• Added Food Retail audit requirements
• Added Food Service audit requirements

10. Tips for selecting the right GFSI certification
Does your
customer give
you a choice?
Are you looking to
include quality as
well as food
safety?
Do you or your
customer wish to
have a graded
audit?
Would you prefer
more time to
correct non-
conformances?
Would you like to
use the same
auditor annually
without
restrictions?
Do you want to
avoid
unannounced
audits?

11. GFSI Approved Schemes.
GFSI Approved Schemes
Schemes Approved Origins Food Safety/Quality Additions
SQF 2004
1994 University of Western
Australia, Perth.
Owned since 2003 by FMI in
USA.
Food Safety Code with Quality
as an optional additional audit.
Offers from farm-fork
certification.
BRC 2004
Founded in 1996 by british
retailers looking to harmonize
food safety Standards.
Food Safety Standard with
quality requirements
incorporated.
Does not include farms,
orchards, raising animals,
fishing, etc.
IFS 2004 2003 Germany
Food Safety Standard with
quality requirements
incorporated.
Does not include farms,
orchards, raising animals,
fishing, etc.
FSSC
22000
2010
FSSC Foundation,
Netherlands,
owns the scheme.
Based on ISO 22000 and for
quality ISO 9001 standards.
Food Safety Code with Quality
as an optional additional audit.
Offers from farm-fork
certification.

12. Schemes Initial Certification Recertification Unannounced
SQF
Separate audits
- Document audit
- Facility audit
Annually
(1 combined audit)
One in every 3 audits has to be unannounced.
Offers a choice to have all audits unannounced.
BRC One audit
Annually
Offers a choice to have all audits unannounced.
IFS One audit Annually Offers a choice to have all audits unannounced.
FSSC
22000
Separate audits
- Document audit
- Facility audit
- Transitioning no
Document audit
Every 3 years
combined audit with
annual surveillance
audits in between
One of the two surveillance audits has to be
unannounced.
Audit Schedule Differences

13. GFSI Schemes - Grading.
Schemes Graded Grading criteria Failure criteria Length of Certification
SQF
Scored and
graded out
of 100
Minor nonconformity minus 1 pt.
Major nonconformity minus 10 pts.
Critical nonconformity minus 50 pts.
Excellent 96-100.
Good 86-95.
Conforms 70-85.
1. Critical finding
2. Score <70
Critical on recertification 12
months suspension
1 year
BRC
Graded
only
Based on number of minor and/or major
nonconformities.
1. Critical finding
2. Major given against a
Fundamental
3. >31 minors
4. Combination of
majors/minors
1 year
IFS
Graded and
scored
Based on Deviations, Major findings and
“Knock Out” element compliance.
Somewhat complicated scoring formula.
1. Score <75%
2. >1 major
3. Knock Out element not
implemented
1 year
FSSC 22000
Not scored
or graded
Only a Critical nonconformity results in
immediate action.
1. Critical
3 years
Surveillance audit during
in-between years
Differences in Grading

14. Schemes
Grading criteria
also includes Critical
Time to
correct
Grading re-audit criteria
SQF
Minor nonconformity
Major nonconformity
30 days
30 days
Score 70-85 re-audited in 6 months
BRC
Minor nonconformity
Major nonconformity
28 days.
28 days.
90 days
initial audit
6 month audit required if 1 major and >17 minors.
IFS
Major nonconformity.
“Knock out” not
implemented.
14 days
1 Major non-conformity re-audited in 6 months.
>1 major the certificate suspended re-audit between 6
weeks and 6 months
FSSC
22000
Minor nonconformity
Major nonconformity
12 months
14 days
Critical on a Recertification – 6 month suspension.
If minors still there after 12 months made a Major.
Major if still there after 12 months made a Critical.
Non-conformities - Similarities and Differences

15. GFSI Schemes - Categories
Schemes
Total
Manufacturing
Categories
Critical audit line items Auditor changed Additional categories
SQF 14
Mandatory elements (8)
(Involves 22 sub-
elements)
After 3
consecutive
audits
Farming
Slaughter /
Fabrication
Food Packaging
Materials
Storage and
Distribution
Retail
Animal Feed
Pet Food
BRC 18 Fundamentals (12)
After 3
consecutive
audits
Food Packaging
Materials
Logistics
Broker
IFS 11 Knockouts (10)
After 3
consecutive
audits
Food Packaging
Materials
Logistics
Broker
FSSC
22000
4
Based on auditor
judgement of a food
safety threat more than
just a potential
After 6
consecutive
audits
Farming/Fishing
Biochemicals
Food Packaging
Materials
Transportation
Catering
Retail
Animal Feed
GFSI Schemes - Categories

16. GFSI Schemes - Categories
Schemes
Manufacturing Food
Sector Categories
Additional categories
SQF 30
Farming
Food
Packaging Materials
Storage and Distribution
Catering
Retail
Animal Feed
Pet Food
BRC 18
Food
Packaging Materials
Storage and Distribution
Agents/Brokers
Retail
Consumer Products
Animal Feed
Pet Food
IFS 11
Food
Packaging Materials
Logistics
Broker
FSSC 22000 5
Farming
Biochemicals
Food Packaging Materials
Transportation
Catering
Retail
Animal Feed
GFSI Schemes - Categories

17. GFSI Food Certificates issued Globally (2017)
6735
SQF
16,689
IFS
19,985
BRC
17,700
FSSC 22000

18. Additional considerations
Does your customer require an addendum audit?
Perhaps. This depends on your organisation’s needs and/or strategic objectives. Several
retailers are adding addendums to be audited against at the same time as the GFSI audit.
Should you consider specifying which GFSI standard your suppliers should become
certified to?
This depends on whether there are requirements within a particular scheme that are more
important to your business. Ex. Quality parameters.
What if my customer wants to use their own audit?
This is less common, however your organisation may determine their audit checklist is
equivalent to the audit by a GFSI recognized scheme. The end goal is to have an audit that
addresses your food safety concerns.
?

19. Auditor Considerations
What exactly is a qualified auditor?
An auditor who by means of education,
experience and training is knowledgeable to
know what food safety hazards are and what
food safety controls need to be in place. GFSI
asks scheme owners to qualify auditors to do
certain audits based on their documented
credentials that they understand the different
processes.
Why should I be considered as to whether
the audit was performed by a Qualified
Auditor?
This is more critical these days when auditor’s
credibility and/or experience may be
questioned.
The FDA recognises this definition for
Suppliers of food for consumption in
the US but also strongly recommends
that the auditor also attend Preventive
Controls for Human Foods training so
as to become a PCQI.
US Retailers who accept GFSI audits are
generally looking for certificates that
the auditor attended PCQI training.
?

20. What if my customer does not accept my Corrective Actions yet my auditor and CB
did?
Remember your customer is the one that buys your product and they have every
right to demand more of you than the GFSI scheme, auditor and CB.
Discuss with your customer why they do not accept your Corrective Actions and
the accompanying Root Cause Analysis and then come up with an acceptable
Corrective Action.
What else do I need to consider?
?

21. What else do I need to consider?
Will a Regulatory Agency accept my GFSI audit as a replacement for a regulatory
audit?
This is a question that needs to be answered at the Country level where the site is
located or to where you are selling.
• UK - Currently the Food Standard Agency will not accept a GFSI audit in replacement of a regulatory
audit. There is a programme being run by the FSA “Regulating our Future” where they have run pilot
audits using various audit programmes (eg. BRC Global Standard for Food, Tesco). The aim is to have
transparency on audit data between certification/standard owners, the food manufactures, retail etc so
that the Local Authorities can assess the food production site an decide on the frequency that the site
will need to be audited by the Local Authority. This will not fully take effect until after Brexit.
• Canada - CFIA is on record as accepting GFSI certification as an indication that a company has good
food safety programs and has indicated they will decrease their regulatory visits to these facilities that
are not Meat and Poultry processors.
• US - FDA has indicated that at this time they are reviewing the status of the GFSI certifications but is not
willing to reduce their regulatory visits. USDA in the US has made no official statement.
?

22. How to GMPs and ISO 9001 fit in?
GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practice) have for years been recognised as the
basis on which companies build their food safety programs.
• These are generally considered the Pre-requisite or Fundamentals for
supporting HACCP/Food Safety Plans.
• On their own they are not sufficient to ensure safe food products are
produced consistently.
ISO Standards were introduced in 1987 by British Standards Institute (BSI) to
establish a more structured approach to developing, implementing and
maintaining processes to do that. These standards require a more rigid approach
by requiring
• Documentation for all programs (Say what you do);
• Implementation of these documented programs (Do what you say);
• Records of implementation (Prove it).
GFSI approved schemes incorporate GMPs, HACCP and ISO standards.
?

23. Tips to become certified
1. Select a GFSI scheme (BRC, SQF, IFS or FSSC 22000)
2. Obtain a copy of the scheme’s requirements to read, learn and understand them
3. Acquire Management commitment to support implementation of the chosen scheme
4. Attend training to learn about the requirements and how to prepare your FSMS
5. Develop your written programs, policies and procedures
6. Implement #5 and conduct an internal audit to identify gaps toward compliance
7. Ensure your facility and equipment are in good condition and sanitary
8. Register with the Scheme owners
9. Select a Certifying Body and request a pre-assessment
10. Plan your certification audit

24. Where to find help
Participate in Training - each GFSI scheme
has approved Training Centers that offer
training through:
• Public classes
• In-house classes
• Informational Webinars
SAI Global training courses :
www.saiglobal.com/en-gb/training_courses/
Food safety Audits:
www.saiglobal.com/assurance/food-safety/
Contact us: information@saiglobal.com

25. www.saiglobal.com