BRCGS for Food Safety and Quality

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 8, 2026

Definition: What is BRCGS?

BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance with Global Standards) is a set of GFSI-recognized certification standards for food safety and quality, originally developed by the British Retail Consortium. The core standard, BRCGS Food Safety, evaluates manufacturing facilities throughout the entire supply chain using a grading system and is required, in particular, by British and international retail chains as a prerequisite for product listing.

Publisher: BRCGS (formerly the British Retail Consortium)

Current edition: BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9

Who is the BRCGS Food Safety standard intended for?

BRCGS Food Safety is intended for companies that process, manufacture, or package food – particularly manufacturers of private-label products for the food retail sector. The standard is particularly widespread in the British and Irish markets, but is also increasingly required by international retail chains outside Europe as a prerequisite for supplier listing.

Overview of core requirements

Senior management commitment: management's commitment to continuous improvement
HACCP food safety plan: systematic hazard analysis and monitoring of critical control points
Food safety and quality management system: documented processes, specifications, and traceability
Facility standards: requirements for buildings, hygiene, pest control, and maintenance
Product control: allergen management, foreign object control, and product authenticity
Process control: monitoring of operational procedures and critical process steps
Personnel: employee training, hygiene, and protective clothing

Difference from IFS

BRCGS and IFS are both GFSI-recognized food safety standards with largely identical requirements. The main difference lies in the assessment methodology: BRCGS assigns a grade (AA through C), while IFS uses a percentage score and the levels “Higher Level” or “Foundation Level.” Regionally, BRCGS is more widely used in the British and international retail sectors, while IFS is more prevalent in the German-speaking and French markets. Many manufacturers with a broad customer base therefore seek certification under both standards simultaneously.

Consequences of noncompliance

A critical nonconformity results in a failure of the audit, regardless of the overall outcome. A grade below the threshold accepted by retail partners (typically at least Grade A or B) directly jeopardizes existing listings. Since many retailers treat BRCGS non-compliance as a disqualifying factor, failing an audit can lead to the loss of retail relationships in the short term until a successful follow-up audit is completed.

Frequently asked questions about BRCGS

Is BRCGS required by law?

No. However, retail partners often require certification as a condition for listing in their contracts.

What is the difference between BRCGS and IFS?

Both are GFSI-recognized standards with very similar content – BRCGS uses a grading system (AA–C), while IFS uses a percentage-based rating. BRCGS is more widely used in the British market, while IFS is more common in German-speaking and French-speaking markets.

How is a BRCGS audit evaluated?

There are four grading levels (AA, A, B, C); a critical deviation results in a failing grade regardless of the level.

Who conducts the certification?

Only independent certification bodies approved by BRCGS.

Successfully implementing BRCGS

The greatest effort involved in BRCGS compliance lies in maintaining complete documentation of HACCP measurements, cleaning records, and batch traceability that is ready for audit at any time. Connected worker platforms like weasl automatically record CCP measurements, cleaning approvals, and batch data as part of daily operations and provide the documentation required by BRCGS.

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BRCGS Food Safety