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Join the Discussion
GFSI invites all stakeholders to participate in its continuous improvement journey. As the largest entity in its field, GFSI aims to remain pertinent and relevant to its members and the wider food industry community. The Benchmarking Requirements (BMRs) serve as the foundation of GFSI’s benchmarking activities and must be fit for purpose in driving harmonisation in food safety systems management.
The BMRs also aim to clearly communicate GFSI’s expectations by setting out tangible and objective criteria for the benchmarking process, leading to GFSI recognition and ensuring that this recognition is maintained. With this in mind, the Benchmarking Harmonization Working Group (BHWG) has been working diligently to meet tight deadlines and share the outcomes of their discussions.
There is no expectation for consultees to provide a comment against each GFSI benchmarking requirement. For more instructions on how to use the file, see below.
As a reminder, “…in the year prior to the publication of a new version of the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, no new application will be accepted.” – see GFSI BMR v2020 Part I.
Applications for recognition against GFSI BMR v2024 will commence as soon as the document is published.
BMR 2024 Development Context
The GFSI Benchmarking Harmonization Working Group (BHWG) faced an unprecedented challenge but rose to the occasion with remarkable expertise, delivering the necessary content for stakeholder consultation. The objective is to share the output of the Working Group’s discussions on the specific requirements targeted for changes.
Where the group reached a consensus, a clear proposal was made in lieu of the existing requirement. Conversely, where consensus was not reached, the output of the debate is shared against the requirement in question and opened for further discussion, considering additional comments gathered during the stakeholder consultation process.
A key reminder of the objectives for this review of the GFSI BMRs, which includes incorporating relevant updates, such as those from Codex, since the last publication of the GFSI BMRs in 2020.
Zoom in: BMR v2024 Improvements
The revision incorporates several key changes to clarify the intent behind the modifications, addressing feedback from stakeholders involved in GFSI Benchmarking activities. These changes include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- GFSI Benchmarking Process: Enhancements to the eligibility criteria, overall process duration, roles and responsibilities, escalation process, and sanctioning process.
- Allergen Management: Introduction of an element of systematic validation to strengthen allergen management plans.
- Food Safety Culture: Emphasis on incorporating “food safety culture” terminology into food safety management systems, with a specific call-out to its importance.
- Multi-Site Certification: Clear distinction between head office central functions and a multi-site approach in certification audits, improving the clarity, and effectiveness of the certification process.
- Alignment with Codex: Updates to align with the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene, ensuring that the revisions are consistent with international food safety standards.
These improvements aim to enhance the precision, efficiency, and robustness of the GFSI Benchmarking process, responding directly to the needs and feedback of the food safety community.
Why a Stakeholder Consultation?
GFSI stays true to its commitment to transparency and collaboration. Stakeholder consultations allow us to best involve the GFSI Community in the development of this multi-stakeholder document, which impacts the entire food industry.
To participate, please follow the steps indicated above: download the Consultation file, follow steps outlined above and send renamed file to gfsibm@theconsumergoodsforum.com.
GFSI greatly values your participation so please be sure to send submissions by 17 September 2024.
