BRCGS Certification Requirements: Process, Cost & Audit Preparation

BRCGS certification requirements in India mean a food manufacturing site passes an on-site audit against the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety, carried out by a BRCGS-approved certification body. The site needs a documented food safety system (HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practice, traceability, training, internal audits) and records that prove it runs daily. Cost and timeline depend on your site’s size, scope, and starting point, so a written quote is best for confirmation. This guide covers requirements, process, cost factors, and common mistakes.

What BRCGS certification is, and what it is not

BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is a scheme owner. It publishes standards for food safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, and other categories. It does not audit sites itself.

• Audit: a documented, on-site evaluation of your site against the standard.
• Certification: a certificate issued through a BRCGS-approved certification body after a successful audit. Per BRCGS, all certificates must be issued via an approved certification body.
• Accreditation: applies to the certification body, not to you. BRCGS requires its certification bodies to be accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 by a recognised national accreditation body.
• Not membership: buying the standard or attending training does not make a site certified.
  

Current version (as of October 2026): BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9, published August 2022 and audited since February 2023. Issue 10 consultation closed in February 2026, and sources checked in September 2026 report it has not been released. Position statements version 4, effective from 10 August 2026, also apply.

Who needs BRCGS certification in India?

BRCGS certification in India is mainly a customer-driven requirement. Export buyers, retailers, and large brand owners often ask suppliers for a GFSI-benchmarked certificate. It suits:

• Food manufacturers and processors supplying export or retail customers
• Packaging material manufacturers serving food brands
• Storage and distribution operators
• Quality managers asked by a buyer to “get BRCGS”

If no customer requires it, compare it with other schemes first (see FAQ). Your Indian regulatory obligations, such as FSSAI licensing, remain separate from certification.

BRCGS certification requirements

The standard is organised around senior management commitment, the food safety plan (HACCP), the food safety and quality management system, site standards, product control, process control and personnel. In practice, auditors expect to see:

Requirement area	Evidence auditors typically ask for
Management commitment and food safety culture	Policy, objectives, management review records
HACCP and food safety plan	Hazard analysis, CCP monitoring records, validation
Traceability	Batch trace and mock recall results
Supplier approval	Approved supplier list, specifications, risk assessments
Site standards and hygiene	Cleaning schedules, pest control, maintenance records
Training and competence	Training matrix and records
Internal audits and corrective actions	Audit schedule, reports, closed-out actions

Step-by-step: how to get BRCGS certified

1. Confirm the right standard. Choose the scheme for your sector (Food Safety, Packaging Materials, Storage and Distribution) and download the current issue from BRCGS.
2. Run a gap analysis. Compare your system against every clause. Output: a gap list with owners.
3. Build or fix the system. Update the HACCP plan, procedures, site standards, and records. Output: documents that match what your site really does.
4. Train the team. Cover food safety culture, hygiene, HACCP, and traceability. Output: training records.
5. Run a full internal audit and a mock recall. Close the findings before the external audit.
6. Choose a certification body. Check it on the BRCGS Directory and ask for a written quote showing audit days.
7. Undergo the audit. The auditor reviews documents, observes production, and interviews staff.
8. Close non-conformities. Submit root cause, correction, and corrective action with evidence within the certification body’s deadline.
9. Certification decision. The certification body reviews the report and decides. Certification is not automatic.
10. Maintain it. Certificates are tied to a recurring audit cycle. Confirm your grade-based audit frequency and unannounced audit options in the standard.

What affects BRCGS certification cost in India

We do not quote fixed prices because they would mislead you. The main cost drivers are:

• Number of sites, employees, and production lines
• Product categories and process complexity
• Audit days calculated by the certification body
• Maturity of your existing documentation and HACCP system
• Remediation work: equipment, hygiene upgrades, pest control, labelling systems
• Whether you use a consultant and training
• Auditor travel, and follow-up audits for serious non-conformities

Request quotes from at least two approved certification bodies with audit days stated, so you compare like with like. The same factors drive the timeline: a site with mature records prepares faster than one building a system from scratch.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake	Why it hurts	What to do instead
Copying a template HACCP plan	Auditors find it does not match your process	Build the plan from your own flow diagrams and validate it
Choosing a certification body that is not BRCGS-approved	Your certificate may not be recognised by buyers	Verify the body on the BRCGS Directory first
Treating the internal audit as a formality	Findings surface in the external audit	Audit every clause, record findings, close actions
Records filled in just before the audit	Dates and patterns look fabricated	Start record-keeping weeks ahead as routine
Skipping a mock recall	Traceability failures are hard to fix on audit day	Test traceability to a set standard and document the result
Weak root cause analysis on non-conformities	Responses get rejected	Show cause, correction, corrective action, and evidence

How TrueAdvisor Can Help Your Business Achieve BRCGS Certification

TrueAdvisor provides professional BRCGS consultancy services in India, helping food manufacturers, processors, and packaging businesses navigate certification requirements with confidence. Our experts support organisations through every stage, from initial gap assessment and documentation development to HACCP implementation, employee training, internal audits, and final audit preparation. 

We help identify compliance gaps, address potential non-conformities, and strengthen food safety and quality management systems in line with applicable BRCGS standards. With practical guidance and a structured approach, TrueAdvisor simplifies the certification journey while improving operational efficiency and compliance. The final certification decision rests solely with the independent certification body, and no consultant can guarantee certification outcomes.

Also Read: What is SEDEX? A Complete Guide for Indian Businesses

Frequently Asked Questions for BRCGS Certification