Blog04 Feb 2020GFSI
4 GFSI Myths, Busted: The Truth About Auditors, CPOs and Regulations There is always more to learn about GFSI! In the months since stepping into the role of Director last October, I’ve been focused on truly understanding the all facets of the critical and unique role GFSI plays in the global food safety ecosystem. As part of this process, I’ve encountered a few misconceptions […]
News Update12 May 2025Benchmarking
Dublin Meeting Sharpens GFSI’s Mission and Sets Key Priorities for Food Safety The city of Dublin played host to an energising gathering of the GFSI Steering Committee (29-31 March 2025). The meeting was a powerful demonstration of the dedication of GFSI’s food industry leaders and team to reinforcing the foundations of global food safety. Aligning on the Future of Food Safety Assurance The meeting kicked off with […]
News Update05 Sep 2023Technical Equivalence
GFSI Steering Committee Sets Course for Change PARIS, 1 September 2023 – The GFSI Steering Committee meeting in April recharged its mission to bring new life to the Race to the Top. The framework dominated the two-day meeting held prior to the GFSI Conference in Atlanta. Steerco discussion looked at ways to refine priorities for 2023 and beyond, including engagement with CPOs […]
News Update08 Apr 2020GFSI
Update on Temporary Audit Measures During Covid-19 Pandemic Editor’s note: The Global Food Safety Initiative is monitoring the evolving Covid-19 situation on a daily basis and is committed to publishing timely updates and announcements in this space. Please check back here regularly and ensure you are subscribed to receive GFSI News. Food operations everywhere are feeling the effects caused by COVID-19. Around […]
News Update09 Apr 2021GFSI
GFSI Hosts First Steering Committee Meeting as CGF Coalition of Action on Food Safety Following the success of the first-ever virtual GFSI Conference on 23rd-25th March, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) hosted its first Steering Committee meeting as a Coalition of Action (CoA). The new Steering Committee and its 18 members were announced on the 23rd March, just days ahead of this first meeting on 26th March. The […]
News Update10 May 2022Governance
GFSI SteerCo Meeting Summary: Stronger Relationships, Stronger Food Safety Systems Trust is undisputedly a fundamental ingredient in the recipe for food safety progress, so it comes as no surprise that it held such a prominent place at the recent GFSI Conference. The topic of trust was the guest of honour, referenced throughout the conference week in nearly every plenary speech, every breakout session and every […]
News Update13 Aug 2020GFSI
One Standard for the Food Industry? | Ask GFSI GFSI has recently received some questions around the opportunity to converge towards a unique standard for food safety. In today’s post, we respond to these questions and explain the GFSI position on this topic. For those who know GFSI well, you know that we provide a framework for harmonising food safety Certification Programmes, while leaving […]
News Update05 Oct 2023
GFSI Call for Evidence: Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Audits PARIS, 5 October 2023 The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated new methods and tools to conduct remote assessments such as audits in agricultural and food supply chains using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). GFSI wishes to explore the benefits and implications associated with the use of ICT tools and methods in audit activities and assessments, pursuing evidence […]
News Update14 May 2025Certification
Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships: GFSI Relaunches G2B Forum The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) convened the Government-to-Business (G2B) Forum on 3 April 2025 to reinvigorate the assembly as a platform for strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors in food safety. The Forum is intended to serve as an important venue for exchanging insights and experiences, contributing to regulatory innovation and aligning […]
News Update21 May 2021Consultation
GFSI Hosts Webinar on Securing the Future of Food Safety Auditors – a Review of Race to the Top Feature 1 GFSI recently held a webinar on securing the future of food safety auditors; a review of Race to the Top Feature 1. GFSI Senior Technical Manager Marie-Claude Quentin began the session by introducing the two panelists: Jon Poole, Chief Executive of IFST, and Andrew Clarke, Senior Director of QA at Loblaw Companies Ltd. Marie-Claude first […]
News Update20 Dec 2024Certification
Global Collaboration, Enhanced Food Safety: The Benchmarking Requirements 2024 Unveiled The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is excited to announce the much anticipated release of its revised Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) version 2024. This significant milestone represents a commitment to enhancing food safety programmes worldwide and safeguarding consumer health. Aligned with Codex Alimentarius and ISO 22003, these science-based requirements enable a common understanding and mutual trust in […]
News Update10 Dec 2024Certification
Important Update on Certificate Recognition Status Background GFSI has received feedback from stakeholders expressing uncertainty about the recognition status of certificates issued following an audit undertaken against programmes during the period that such programmes were “undergoing recognition“. Certificates issued against audits undertaken during this period are not yet GFSI-recognised. This lack of clarity has created challenges for many certified sites in […]
News Update08 Mar 2023
International Featured Standards (IFS) reinstated as a GFSI recognised CPO On 8th December 2022, GFSI announced the suspension of International Featured Standards (IFS) a GFSI recognised CPO for a period of 3 months following identified breaches of GFSI benchmarking requirements, GFSI Governance Rules and the GFSI and CPO Benchmarking agreement. On 12th December 2022, GFSI clearly set out to IFS the grounds for the suspension […]
News Update27 Feb 2023
GFSI Statement Regarding the Suspension of International Featured Standards (IFS) On 8th December 2022, GFSI announced the suspension of International Featured Standards (IFS) a GFSI recognised CPO for a period of 3 months following identified breaches of GFSI benchmarking requirements, GFSI Governance Rules and the GFSI and CPO Benchmarking agreement. The GFSI Steering Committee decided those breaches, touching on the implementation of a GFSI recognised […]
Standard: BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety issue 9 with audit programmes: Announced, Blended Announced, Unannounced – voluntary, Unannounced – mandatory 1 in 3 years
Scopes: BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products C0 – Animal Conversion
CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products
CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products
D – Production of Feed
K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals (Additives, Vitamins, Minerals, Bio-Cultures, Flavourings, Enzymes and Processing Aids)
Standard: Global Standard for Packaging Materials issue 6 only with audit programme announced, unannounced, blended announced Scope:
I – Production of Food Packaging
Standard: Global Standard for Agents & Brokers issue 3 Scope:
FII – Food Broker / Agent
Standard: Global Standard for Storage and Distribution issue 4 only with audit programme announced, unannounced (option 1 and 2), blended announced Scope:
G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
CanadaGAP Food Safety Manuals v10.0 – audit options B Group Certification, C Annual Audit and D Repacking and Wholesaling Operations Scopes: BI – Farming of plants (other than grains and pulses)
BIII Pre-Process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard – Edition 4.2 Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses) BIII Pre Processing Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Freshcare Supply Chain Edition 2 Scopes: BIII Pre-process Handling of plant products
FI Retail / Wholesale
FII Food Broker / Agent
G Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
Standard: FSSC 22000 version 6 Scopes: BIII – Pre-process Handling of plant products CO – Animal Primary Conversion CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
D – Production of Feed
G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
I – Production of Food Packaging K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
Standard: Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) Version 1.2 Scopes:
BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses)
BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Integrated Farm Assurance GFS – Principles and Criteria for Aquaculture – Finfish, Crustaceans, Molluscs, Seaweed – version 6.0 Scope:
AII – Farming of fish and seafood
Standard: Integrated Farm Assurance GFS Plants – Principles and Criteria for Fruit and Vegetables – version 6.0 Scopes:
BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses)
BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) Standard Version 1.2 Scopes:
BI – Farming of Plants (other than grains and pulses)
BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
Standard: IFS Food v 8 Scopes:
BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
CO – Animal Primary Conversion
CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products
CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) K- Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
Standard: JFS-C Standard Version 3.1 Scopes:
CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products
CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products) CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
Standard: PrimusGFS version 3.2 Scopes: BI – Farming of Plants
BII – Farming of Grains and Pulses
BIII – Pre-Process Handling of Plant Product
CII – Processing of Perishable Plant Products
CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
Standard: SQF food safety codes edition 9 (level 2) Scopes: AI – Farming of Animals for Meat/ Milk / Eggs / Honey
BI – Farming of Plants (Other Than Grains and Pulses)
BIII – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products
CO – Animal Primary Conversion
CI – Processing of Perishable Animal Products
CII – Processing of perishable plant productsI Production of Food Packaging
CIII – Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
CIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)
D – Production of Feed
G – Provision of Storage and Distribution Services
K – Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production
GLOBALG.A.P.
Standard: Integrated Farm Assurance Aquaculture Standard version 5.3-GFS Scope:
AII – Farming of Fish
Standard: PrimusGFS Standard Version 3 Scopes:
EIII – Processing of Animal and Plant Perishable Products (Mixed Products)
EIV – Processing of Ambient Stable Products