SQF and BRCGS Certified Food Safety Audit Firms
Selecting the right certification body is a critical decision for any food manufacturer seeking SQF or BRCGS certification. Both standards are benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and are required by the majority of major retailers and food service companies worldwide.
Understanding the Certification Landscape
BRCGS Food Safety has been adopted by over 28,000 sites across 130+ countries and is accepted by 70% of the top 10 global retailers. The SQF program covers 14,000+ certified sites across 40+ countries on six continents. Together, these two schemes represent the dominant share of GFSI-recognized food safety certifications globally.
How Certification Bodies Are Accredited
Not every audit firm can issue SQF or BRCGS certificates. Certification bodies must be:
- SQF Licensed
- Accredited to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and licensed by SQFI. Subject to annual assessments by SQFI-licensed accreditation bodies such as ANAB or JASANZ.
- BRCGS Approved
- Licensed directly by BRCGS after demonstrating competence. BRCGS rates its certification bodies on a star system, with top performers earning five-star ratings.
Key Selection Criteria
When evaluating audit firms, food manufacturers should consider:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Accreditation scope | Ensure the CB covers your specific standard edition and scope (e.g., BRCGS Issue 9, SQF Edition 9) |
| Geographic coverage | Multi-site operations need a CB with auditors in all relevant regions |
| Industry specialization | Auditors experienced in your product category (dairy, seafood, ready meals) deliver more valuable audits |
| Star rating (BRCGS) | Five-star rated CBs like Bureau Veritas, TÜV SÜD, and FoodChain ID have demonstrated consistent quality |
| Unannounced audit capability | BRCGS Issue 9 emphasizes unannounced audits; confirm the CB can accommodate your preferred audit type |
Market Leaders
The food safety certification market includes both multinational testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) firms and specialized food safety certification bodies. Major players like SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, and LRQA offer broad global coverage alongside regional specialists such as Kiwa ASI, Mérieux NutriSciences, FSNS Certification & Audit, and AIB International that provide deep domain expertise in North American markets. AIB International holds a 25% market share of BRCGS food safety audits in the United States and 53% in storage and distribution.