BRCGS Food new version 9

BRCGS Food Safety issue 9 has been published

Considering changes in the GFSI benchmarking criteria and in food legislation, the certification scheme BRCG Food Safety will be updated from version 8 to version 9. The development of the new version was launched in June 2021 and the final version published in August 2022.

Version 9 will came into effect on 1st February 2023 with the following key changes:

• Alignment with GFSI benchmarking criterias
• Alignment with new legislation
• Focus on the most common non-conformances related to fabrication and hygiene (in section 4), food safety culture (requirement1.1.2), identification of hazards (requirement 2.7.1)
• More clarifications on the requirements related to Food Safety culture, supplier approval, environmental monitoring, business continuity plans, authenticity, security and defense
• Reintroduction of the 2-part audit for unannounced audits
• Changes to the audit window and number of black-out days for sites on the Voluntary unannounced scheme

All food sites currently certificated to Version 8 of the BRCGS Food standard will have their next audit against BRCGS v9, if their audit window falls after this date.

A summary document of key changes is attached for your reference: https://www.brcgs.com/media/2170951/fsi9_keychanges-sample.pdf.

Food Assurance teams all over the world offer webinars and training courses for customers in the food industry to help them get ready for the new version.