Can a food manufacturer obtain a standalone 'GFSI certificate'?

No, a standalone 'GFSI certificate' does not exist. GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) sets the benchmarking criteria and formally recognizes independent certification schemes. To satisfy a buyer's requirement for GFSI certification, a plant must earn certification under one of the GFSI-recognized schemes: FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS Food, SQF, or GLOBALG.A.P.

Why is ISO 22000:2018 not recognized by GFSI on its own?

Standalone ISO 22000:2018 contains only high-level framework requirements for Prerequisite Programmes (Clause 8.2) and lacks detailed sector-specific sanitary rules as well as mandatory GFSI modules for Food Fraud (VACCP), Food Defense (TACCP), Food Safety Culture, and unannounced audits. FSSC 22000 bridges this gap by combining ISO 22000 with ISO/TS 22002 (ISO 22002-100) and FSSC Additional Requirements, earning full GFSI recognition.

Which food safety standards are officially recognized by GFSI in 2026?

The primary globally recognized GFSI schemes include FSSC 22000 (food processing, packaging, feed), BRCGS (Food Safety, Packaging Materials, Storage and Distribution, Agents and Brokers), IFS (IFS Food, IFS Logistics, IFS Broker), SQF (Safe Quality Food), GLOBALG.A.P. (Integrated Farm Assurance GFS edition and Produce Handling Assurance), PrimusGFS, CanadaGAP, and GAA BAP (for aquaculture and seafood).

Which GFSI scheme should an exporter choose: FSSC 22000, BRCGS, or IFS Food?

For retail-ready consumer products (especially Private Label) sold to supermarket chains in Germany, Poland, France, and Italy, IFS Food v8 is preferred. For retail chains in the UK, Scandinavia, and North America, BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 is the primary choice. For B2B food ingredient manufacturers (edible oils, flour, sugar, dairy ingredients, packaging) and facilities operating existing ISO systems, FSSC 22000 v6 is the optimal fit.

How do retail buyers verify the authenticity of a GFSI-benchmarked certificate?

Every GFSI-recognized scheme owner maintains a public online database: the FSSC Public Register on fssc.com, the BRCGS Directory, the IFS Portal on ifs-certification.com, and the GLOBALG.A.P. database searchable by GGN number. If a certificate is not listed as valid in the respective directory, buyers reject it.

What are Knock-Out (KO) requirements in IFS Food and how do they compare to BRCGS Fundamental Clauses?

IFS Food Version 8 designates 10 Knock-Out (KO) clauses covering senior management responsibility, CCP monitoring, personal hygiene, raw material specifications, recipe compliance, foreign material mitigation, traceability, internal audits, withdrawal/recall procedures, and corrective actions. Failing any single KO clause (a 'D' score) deducts 50% of the total score and blocks certification, functioning similarly to the 12 Fundamental Requirements in BRCGS.

Are unannounced audits mandatory across all GFSI-recognized schemes?

Yes. Under GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2020, all recognized schemes (including FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and IFS Food) require every certified manufacturing facility to undergo at least one fully unannounced audit every three years (the 1-in-3 unannounced audit rule).

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The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI): How Benchmarking Works Across FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, and GLOBALG.A.P.

Engineering guide to GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative): v2020 benchmarking rules, why ISO 22000 is not GFSI-recognized, and how exporters pick a scheme.

Published February 16, 202614 min read

By: Denys Honchar

CEO of Ekontrol

Comparison of GFSI-benchmarked food safety certification schemes FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS Food, and GLOBALG.A.P.

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What GFSI Is and Why a Standalone 'GFSI Certificate' Does Not Exist
How GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2020 Work: The Three Mandatory Pillars
Why Standalone HACCP or ISO 22000 Certification Is Not Recognized by GFSI
Matrix of GFSI-Recognized Certification Programmes (CPOs): FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, SQF, and GLOBALG.A.P.
How a Food Manufacturer Selects the Right GFSI Scheme for Its Target Export Market
Five Practical Stages of Upgrading from National HACCP to GFSI-Level Certification
Five Common Pitfalls During a Plant's First GFSI Certification Audit

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The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI): How Benchmarking Works Across FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, and GLOBALG.A.P.

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The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI): How Benchmarking Works Across FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, and GLOBALG.A.P.

On This Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a food manufacturer obtain a standalone 'GFSI certificate'?

Why is ISO 22000:2018 not recognized by GFSI on its own?

Which food safety standards are officially recognized by GFSI in 2026?

Which GFSI scheme should an exporter choose: FSSC 22000, BRCGS, or IFS Food?

How do retail buyers verify the authenticity of a GFSI-benchmarked certificate?

What are Knock-Out (KO) requirements in IFS Food and how do they compare to BRCGS Fundamental Clauses?

Are unannounced audits mandatory across all GFSI-recognized schemes?

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Related resources

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