ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 vs HACCP vs BRCGS: Food Safety Explained

On this page

1. What Are Food Safety Certifications?
2. What Is HACCP, the Hazard Analysis Foundation?
3. What Is ISO 22000, the Management System Standard?
4. ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000: What Does FSSC 22000 Add?
5. What Is BRCGS, the Retailer-Driven Standard?
6. How Do HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and BRCGS Compare?
7. Which Certification Should Your Supplier Hold?
8. How Do You Source Certified Products from Indian Exporters?
9. Frequently asked questions

In ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000, the core difference is scope and recognition: ISO 22000 is a food safety management system standard, while FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme that combines ISO 22000 with sector prerequisite programmes and extra requirements, and it is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). HACCP is the hazard-control method inside both, and BRCGS is a separate, retailer-driven GFSI standard. This guide compares the four so you know what to ask your supplier for.

What Are Food Safety Certifications?

Food safety certifications are independent audits that confirm a food business controls hazards in a systematic way. An accredited certification body audits the site against a published standard. If the site passes, it receives a certificate for a defined scope, which names the site, the processes and the product categories covered.

For importers, these certificates are a quick way to judge a supplier’s controls before the first order. They do not replace product testing or national legal requirements. An Indian exporter, for example, still needs an FSSAI licence and export registrations, and each lot still needs a Certificate of Analysis.

Many large buyers prefer standards recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). GFSI does not certify companies. It benchmarks certification programmes, and buyers can accept any recognised programme as equivalent.

What Is HACCP, the Hazard Analysis Foundation?

HACCP, or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, is a method for identifying food safety hazards and controlling them at specific points in the process. It is defined in the Codex Alimentarius General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969) and rests on seven principles:

1. Conduct a hazard analysis and identify control measures.
2. Determine the critical control points (CCPs).
3. Establish validated critical limits for each CCP.
4. Establish a system to monitor control of each CCP.
5. Establish corrective actions when a CCP is not under control.
6. Validate the plan and establish verification procedures.
7. Establish documentation and record keeping.

HACCP vs ISO 22000 is a common question. HACCP is a method, not a full management system. A plant can have a HACCP plan, or a HACCP certificate from a certification body, but this covers hazard control more than management, training, supplier control and continual improvement. In many countries, HACCP-based controls are also a legal requirement for food businesses.

What Is ISO 22000, the Management System Standard?

ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management systems, published by the International Organization for Standardization. The current edition is ISO 22000:2018. It applies to any organisation in the food chain, from farms and feed mills to processors, traders, storage and packaging firms.

ISO 22000 combines HACCP principles with prerequisite programmes (PRPs) and a management system in the same structure as other ISO standards, such as ISO 9001. It requires food safety policy and objectives, leadership commitment, risk-based planning, documented processes, internal audits, management review and continual improvement. Because it shares this structure, companies can combine it with ISO 9001 in one system. Prerequisite programmes are the basic conditions for hygienic production, such as clean premises, pest control, water quality, staff hygiene, cleaning and maintenance. HACCP then controls the specific hazards that remain.

The limit of ISO 22000 for exporters is recognition. Its PRP requirements are general, and on its own it is not GFSI-recognised. Some retailers and brand owners therefore ask for FSSC 22000 or BRCGS instead.

ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000: What Does FSSC 22000 Add?

FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme owned by Foundation FSSC that is built on ISO 22000. It adds two layers. The first is a sector-specific PRP technical specification, such as ISO/TS 22002-1 for food manufacturing. The second is a set of FSSC additional requirements, covering topics such as food defence, food fraud, allergen management, environmental monitoring and food safety culture.

With these layers, FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised. Version 6 of the scheme achieved GFSI recognition. A site that already holds ISO 22000 can upgrade to FSSC 22000 by meeting the PRP specification and the additional requirements.

In practice, the choice between ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 depends on who buys from the site. ISO 22000 suits companies that want a structured system and sell mainly to traders and processors. FSSC 22000 suits companies that supply multinational brands or retailers, because those buyers usually require a GFSI-recognised scheme. Both certificates normally run on a three-year cycle, with a certification audit followed by yearly surveillance audits. FSSC 22000 also includes unannounced audits within the cycle, which gives buyers more confidence that standards are kept every day, not just on audit day.

What Is BRCGS, the Retailer-Driven Standard?

BRCGS certification is a set of standards that began with British retailers, and the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is now used by suppliers worldwide. Issue 9 of the standard is GFSI-recognised. Unlike ISO-based schemes, BRCGS is a prescriptive standard: it sets detailed requirements for the site, the factory environment, product control, process control and personnel.

BRCGS audits give the site a grade, from AA+ to D, based on the number and severity of non-conformities, with announced and unannounced audit options. UK retailers often require BRCGS, and many European and international buyers accept it. It is most common among food manufacturers and packers that supply retail private-label products. BRCGS also publishes related standards, for example for packaging materials and for storage and distribution, so a buyer may see more than one BRCGS certificate in a supply chain.

How Do HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and BRCGS Compare?

Which Certification Should Your Supplier Hold?

Your supplier should hold the certification your own customers ask for. If you sell to large retailers or global food brands, ask for a GFSI-recognised certificate, usually FSSC 22000 or BRCGS. If you trade bulk commodities to processors who test on arrival, a HACCP-based system with lot-wise testing may be enough. FSSC 22000 and BRCGS are the certificates importers ask for most when supplying retail or branded food.

Whatever the standard, check these points:

• Site: the certificate names the plant that actually processes your goods, not just the trading office.
• Scope: it covers your product category and process, for example cleaning and sorting of seeds.
• Validity: it is in date, and the certification body is accredited.
• Verification: you can find it in the scheme owner’s public database.

For specific markets, you may also need separate certificates, such as organic or halal certification. See our guide to halal certification in India.

Related reading: NPOP Certification: Organic Certification for Indian Food Exports.

How Do You Source Certified Products from Indian Exporters?

When you compare ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 or BRCGS offers from Indian exporters, ask which plant processes your goods and request its certificate with your quote. Then verify the registrations behind the exporter, and agree a test plan for each lot.

Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, holds an IEC, GST registration, APEDA RCMC, Spices Board CRES and an FSSAI Central Licence. Scans and numbers are on our certificates page, and our verify page shows how to check them on official portals. Every shipment carries a Certificate of Analysis from an NABL-accredited laboratory; see our lab testing and quality pages. Tell us the product and the certification your customers require, and we will confirm what we can supply. Request a certified supply quote →

Frequently asked questions