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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 meeting supply chain assurance requirements.
Certificates issued against programmes undergoing recognition are not considered GFSI-recognised until the benchmarking process is complete. Certification bodies (CBs) are required, under the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs), to clearly communicate the recognition status of such certificates to certified sites.
To address these challenges and provide greater clarity and support to stakeholders, the GFSI Steering Committee has agreed a solution to ensure continuity in recognition during recognised programme transitions.
Certificate Extensions
Certified sites now have the option to request an extension of their previously recognised certificates. This extension will cover the period between the expiration of a previously recognised certificate and the issuance of a certificate following an audit undertaken against the newly recognised programme version.
Unlike during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a risk assessment was required for certificate extensions, no risk assessment is necessary in this case as the following conditions must apply for the extension to be granted:
- The certified site has undergone an audit against the same programme during the period it was undergoing recognition.
- The site can demonstrate no interruption in audit frequency, even though the audit was conducted against a programme that was not GFSI-recognised when the site was audited.
Programmes for Which Extensions May Be Requested
Extensions may be requested only for certificates issued against the following recently updated and GFSI-recognised programmes:
- BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety issue 9 – GFSI-Recognised 23rd August 2024
- FSSC 22000 V6 – GFSI-Recognised 23rd August 2024
- GLOBALG.A.P. Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) Version 1.2; Integrated Farm Assurance GFS – Principles and Criteria for Aquaculture – Finfish, Crustaceans, Molluscs, Seaweed – version 6.0 – GFSI-Recognised 6th August 2024
- GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance – GFS Plants – Principles and Criteria for Fruit and Vegetables – version 6.0; Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) Standard Version 1.2 – GFSI Recognised 6th August 2024
- IFS Food Standard version 8 – GFSI-Recognised 12th September 2024
What This Means for Stakeholders
Certified Sites: Sites should:
- Review their certification status and, if necessary, contact their CB to request an extension of their previously recognised certificate.
CPOs (Certification Programme Owners): CPOs should:
- Ensure timely communication with CBs about the recognition status of their programme versions.
- Collaborate with GFSI and CBs to ensure certified sites understand the recognition status of their certificates
- Provide any necessary guidance or resources to CBs and certified sites to facilitate the extension process.
Certification Bodies: CBs must:
- Clearly communicate the recognition status of certificates issued following audits undertaken against programmes undergoing recognition and facilitate extension requests from certified sites.
Retailers and Manufacturers: Supply chain stakeholders should:
- Encourage their suppliers to verify their certification status and, where necessary, request extensions to ensure alignment with GFSI-recognised requirements.
Supporting Resources
GFSI has created a set of FAQ resources to help stakeholders understand and implement this solution.
You can access the FAQs here or contact GFSI directly for more information.
Next Steps
GFSI will continue working with the Benchmarking and Harmonisation Working Group to address long-term challenges in the recognition process and ensure smoother transitions in the future. Required updates to the Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) will be implemented in v2024 or shortly thereafter.
We thank you for your cooperation in addressing this matter and maintaining trust in the GFSI-recognised certification process. Should you have any questions or need additional guidance, please reach out to GFSI or your respective certification body.
