What are the GFSI standards? | What is GFSI Certification?

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WHAT IS GFSI?

GFSI isn't a single certification you see on products. Instead, it's the guiding force that ensures consistent food safety practices worldwide.

Think of it as the setter of food safety standards, working with certification bodies to make sure everyone's on the same page. This gold-standard approach guarantees thorough food safety audits, no matter where your food comes from.

#gfsi scopes

GFSI scopes define which parts of your operation are covered under GFSI scheme

search for your business scope:

GFSI: SCHEMES + SCOPES

A GFSI scheme is a recognized food safety certification program like:

SQF | BRCGS | FSSC 22000 | IFS

that meets the rigorous standards set by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

GFSI defines a series of scopes that target various stages within the:

food supply chain
including farming of animals and plants
food manufacturing
animal conversion
catering
distribution
food safety services
production of food packaging
production of food-grade chemicals

This scope-based structure allows businesses in diverse areas of food production to choose a certification that aligns with their specific operations, ensuring comprehensive and relevant food safety measures at each link in the supply chain.

Schemes like SQF (Safe Quality Food), BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards), FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification), and IFS (International Featured Standards) are examples of GFSI-recognized programs, each offering specific requirements for food safety that address different parts of the supply chain, such as farming, manufacturing, packaging, and storage.

GFSI SCOPE: AI - Farming of Animals for Meat / Milk / Eggs / Honey

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Raising of animals (other than fish and seafood) used for meat production, egg production, milk production or honey production.
Growing, keeping, trapping and hunting (slaughtering at point of hunting)
Associated temporary farm packing without modification or processing of the product.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: AII - Farming of Fish and Seafood

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Raising of fish and seafood used for meat production.
Growing, trapping and fishing slaughtering at point of capture.
Associated temporary farm packing without modification or processing of the product.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: BI - Farming of Plants (Other Than Grains and Pulses)

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Growing or harvesting of plants (other than grains and pulses), including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food.
On farm storage of plants (other than grains and pulses), including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: BII - Farming of Grains and Pulses

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Growing or harvesting of grains and pulses for food
On farm storage of grains and pulses for food.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: BIII - Pre-process Handling of Plant Products

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Activities on harvested plants, including horticultural products and hydrophytes for food, that keep the products whole and integral.
Cleaning, washing, rinsing, fluming, sorting, grading, trimming, bundling, cooling, hydro-cooling, waxing, drenching, packing, repacking, staging, storing, loading / or any other handling activity that does not significantly transform the product from its original harvested form.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: C0 - Animal Primary Conversion

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Conversion of animal carcasses intended for further processing.
Including Lairage, slaughter, evisceration, bulk chilling, bulk freezing, bulk storage of animals and game Gutting, bulk freezing of fish, storage of game.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: CI - Processing of Perishable Animal Products

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production and packing of animal products including fish and seafood, meat, eggs, dairy and fish products, perishable pet food from animal products only.
Deboning, cutting, washing, trimming, grading, pasteurisation, cooking, curing, fermentation, smoking, chilling, freezing, packed in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: CII - Processing of Perishable Plant Products

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of plant products, including fruits and fresh juices, vegetables, grains, nuts, pulses and perishable pet food from plant products only.
Washing, slicing, dicing, cutting, shredding, peeling, grading, pasteurisation, cooking, chilling, juicing, pressing, freezing, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing or any other activity that significantly transforms the product from its original whole state.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: CIII - Processing of Perishable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of mixed animal and plant products, including ready to eat and perishable pet food.
Mixing, cooking, chilling, freezing, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: CIV - Processing of Ambient Stable Animal and Plant Products (Mixed Products)

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of food products from any source that are stored and sold at ambient temperature, including canned food and ambient stable pet food.
Aseptic filling, baking, bottling, brewing, canning, cooking, distilling, drying, extrusion, fermentation, freeze drying, pressing, frying, hot filling, irradiating, milling, mixing and blending, packing in modified atmosphere, packed in vacuum packing, pasteurising, pickling, roasting, salting and refining.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: D - Production of Feed

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of feed from a single or mixed food source, intended for food-producing animals.
Cooking, milling, mixing and blending and extrusion.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: E - Catering

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Preparation, storage and, where appropriate, delivery of food products for consumption at the place of preparation or at a satellite unit.
Cooking, mixing and blending, preparation of component products.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: FI - Retail / Wholesale

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Buying and selling of food, feed and/ or packaging products to a customer, including minor processing activities in counters when this is not the main activity of the business.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: FII - Food Broker / Agent

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Buying and selling of food, feed and/ or packaging products, excluding the production, storage and any physical handling of the product.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: G - Provision of Storage and Distribution Services

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Storage facilities and distribution vehicles for the storage and transport of food, feed and/ or packaging products.
Note: any packing with labelling activities are excluded.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: H - Provision of Food Safety Services

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Provision of services related to the safe production of food, feed and/ or packaging, including water supply, pest control, cleaning services, waste disposal.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: I - Production-of-Food-Packaging

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of food and feed packaging materials.
Packaging components in the form of raw materials, part processed, semi converted, converted or fully finished packaging materials and products for use in the supply chain.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: JI - Hygienic Design (Equipment and Building Providers)

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Manufacturers of equipment, including any components necessary to link them together, and their utilities and utensils necessary for their operation, for farms food production facilities, food retail and wholesale operations, and packaging dedicated to food; Architects, Engineers and Designers of food handling facilities, including farm, food manufacturing, storage and retail buildings; The builders of above facilities.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: JII - Hygienic Design (Food Businesses)

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Specifying, purchasing, design and construction of buildings or refurbishments by farmers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and packaging manufacturers for their own use; specifying, purchasing, design and construction of equipment, including any components necessary to link them together, and their utilities and utensils necessary for their operation, and facilities by farmers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and packaging manufacturers for their own use.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

GFSI SCOPE: K - Production of (Bio) Chemicals and Bio-Cultures Used as Food Ingredients or Processing Aids in Food Production

SCOPE DEFINITION:

Production of food and feed additives, vitamins, minerals, bio- cultures, flavourings, enzymes and processing aids.
Note: pesticides, drugs, fertilizers and cleaning agents are excluded.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS SCOPE:

IN TODAY'S INTERCONNECTED WORLD...

Food safety isn't just a local concern; it's a global one. That's where the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) steps in, a powerful force harmonizing standards and safeguarding plates across borders.

By uniting industry experts, retailers, consumers, and governments, GFSI has already saved countless lives by preventing outbreaks and improving food quality worldwide.

Imagine biting into a juicy apple, confident in its journey from orchard to market, thanks to GFSI-certified farms and supply chains. Or picture small farmers in developing nations, empowered by GFSI training to implement safe food handling practices. These are just glimpses of the impact this initiative has on real people, everywhere.

But the journey isn't over. Challenges like food fraud and antibiotic resistance remain. Join GFSI in its mission for a safer food future. Visit their website, learn more, and let's ensure every bite, every plate, tells a story of health and well-being.

BENEFITS OF GFSI

Here's how GFSI benefits consumers, businesses, and the entire food industry:

1

Enhanced Consumer Confidence:

GFSI certification signifies a company's commitment to rigorous food safety standards, leading to consumers trusting the products they buy.

2

Streamlined Market Access:

GFSI certification allows businesses to comply with food safety requirements across various countries, streamlining access to new markets.

3

Improved Food Safety Practices:

Implementing GFSI-recognized standards encourages companies to adopt robust food safety procedures, minimizing foodborne illness risks.

4

Improved Operational Efficiency:

GFSI certification often involves standardized processes and documentation. This can lead to better resource management, streamlined operations, and potential cost savings in the long run.

5

Stronger Supply Chain Collaboration:

Since GFSI promotes consistent food safety practices across the supply chain, it fosters better communication and collaboration between businesses. This can lead to improved traceability and quicker response times in case of any food safety issues.

6

Continuous Improvement Culture:

Regular audits and reassessments required for GFSI certification push companies to continuously evaluate and improve their food safety programs. This fosters a culture of learning and innovation, leading to even safer food production.

WHAT IS GFSI CERTIFICATION?

GFSI stands for The Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI).

GFSI DOES NOT PROVIDE FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION.

Rather GFSI is a coalition of food manufacturers, distributors and retailers the Consumer Goods Forum manages, and its goal is to standardize food safety and operations across the food supply chain.

GFSI acts as an adviser by providing a set of benchmark requirements for third-party certification organizations. The GFSI's gold-standard recognition provides a universal benchmark for food safety audits.

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WHAT ARE THE GFSI APPROVED AUDITING PROGRAMS (SCHEMES)?

As of today, there are 13 major recognized food safety management standards that have been certified by GFSI as meeting their benchmarking requirements. Each set of standards has a unique focus and scope, and though there could be overlap for some requirements, there are also important differences.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZED BY GFSI?

For food manufacturers, certification recognized by GFSI is a must-have.

Here's why:

GFSI recognized certification is recognized by consumers around the world
It helps create trust between your company and consumers
It makes it easier to sell your products in overseas markets
It saves your company money on audits, inspections, and other costs associated with regulatory compliance

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IS CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZED BY GFSI MANDATORY?

While pursuing GFSI certification is a voluntary practice, many food and beverage companies seek the accreditation as a demonstration of their commitment to proactive risk mitigation.

Food and beverage companies are increasingly seeking third-party certification to achieve greater visibility and credibility within their supply chains. They want to ensure that they are sourcing products that meet the highest quality standards, while also mitigating potential risks associated with product recalls or consumer dissatisfaction.

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