Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a collaboration between industry experts from around the world, working as a non-profit to improve food safety management standards.
The initiative was born in 2000 and has come to endorse more than 20 food standard certification programs from all over the world.
Whether you’re a distributor, farmer, manufacturer, packer or storer of foods, the GFSI ensures that the standards it recognises will allow you to comply with global food safety legislation.
What is the difference between HACCP and GFSI?
The system for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is part of all GFSI-recognised standards, making it a pre-requisite for acquiring a globally accepted certificate for your quality management system.
Whereas HACCP is a system to prevent hazards and maintain high operational performance in any industry, GFSI is a collection of rules and requirements which ensures various food standards are able to grant you full legal compliance and easy commerce around the globe.
Which standards does the GFSI recognise?
The GFSI recognises over 20 food safety certification programs, which all stem from the following 12 certificate standard providers:
- BRC Global Standard for Food Safety
- CanadaGAP
- Freshcare FSQ
- FSSC 22000
- Global Aquaculture Alliance Seafood
- Global Red Meat Standard
- GLOBALG.A.P.
- International Featured Standards IFS
- Japan Food Safety Management Association
- Japan GAP Foundation
- PrimusGFS Standard
- SQF Safe Quality Food Code
Regardless of which standard you decide to use, being certified by a GFSI-recognised certification provider will ensure that your food safety management system is fully compliant, that your operational performance is good, and that you have systems in place to continuously improve your processes.