Assurance Box

Industry Standards

This is a list of Industry Standards and Good Practices. Use the Area of Application and Location filters to narrow your results.

• Global Food Safety Partnership

   

  • Area of Application

    Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The global food safety partnership (GFSP) is an innovative public-private initiative dedicated to...moreThe global food safety partnership (GFSP) is an innovative public-private initiative dedicated to supporting global cooperation for food safety capacity building. The partnership's main goal is to promote and coordinate capacity building for improved food safety systems, agri-food value chains, and public health outcomes. The GFSP serves as a platform in which concerned international organizations, public sector agencies, private sector producers, processors and retailers, technical service providers, leading academic institutions, consumer groups, and other stakeholders can convene to work out synchronized, collaborative approaches to food safety issues rather than working separately and independently. The approach to the second-year work plan remains opportunistic in terms of selecting and implementing those activities that have support from partners and good potential to demonstrate early positive outcomes; in order to build a portfolio of successfully implemented projects using the public-private partnership approach. The adjusted second-year work plan will build on the existing momentum, but with greater focus on facilitation, convening, and coordination. Opportunities will continue to be sought to leverage additional resources through parallel initiatives, such as World Bank-supported investment project

  • Link to Standard

    http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/19491045/gfsp-1st-annual-report-2014-work-plan

  • Act/Regulation

    • Global Food Safety Partnership

• IFS Food

   

  • Area of Application

    Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The IFS Food standard is internationally recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative. It is...moreThe IFS Food standard is internationally recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative. It is designed to ensure that IFS-certified companies can deliver products that comply with specific client’s product specifications and local and international legislation to ensure safety and quality for consumers.
    
    International Food Standard is focused at manufacturers who produce under the so-called "Private" brands (Private labels) and give greater certainty to the retail chains that products produced by their suppliers under their brands will be safe and meet quality and legal requirements.
    
    IFS is supported by almost all global retailers. Like the other GFSI schemes IFS provides opportunities for your company to comply with retail demands and customer’s expectations worldwide.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.ifs-certification.com/index.php/en/

  • Act/Regulation

    • IFS Food

• IFS Broker

   

  • Area of Application

    Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    As supply chain globalization grows, raw materials and products continue to be sourced in new ways...moreAs supply chain globalization grows, raw materials and products continue to be sourced in new ways and from different sources. Brokers, agents, and importers are an integral element in bringing producers and retailers together. IFS Broker was created to ensure the safety and quality of products filling the gap between production and distribution. Trading partners expect broker, agents, and importers to communicate their product requirements to manufacturers and that these specifications will be understood and implemented.
    
    The standard checks the engaged parties to ensure that they have implemented appropriate measures in their service so that their suppliers operate in accordance with product safety and quality requirements. Brokers, agents, and importers must also monitor their supplier’s compliance with these issues so that supplied products meet regulatory and contractual specifications.
    
    • Food/HPC/packaging brokers
    • Trade agencies
    • Importers

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.ifs-certification.com/index.php/en/retailers-en/ifs-standards/ifs-broker

  • Act/Regulation

• GTP Code

   

  • Area of Application

    Food, Good Practices - Warehouse, Transport, Logistics, Manufacturing

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    For the collection, storage, trading and transport of cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and other...moreFor the collection, storage, trading and transport of cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and other plant products and their by-products.
    
    COCERAL is the European association representing the trade in cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply. COCERAL is the voice of collectors, distributors, exporters, importers and agribulk storers of the above mentioned commodities. Its acronym stands for "Comité du Commerce des céréales, aliments du bétail, oléagineux, huile d'olive, huiles et graisses et agrofournitures".
    
    COCERAL endorsed the idea of one single Code for operators in the European Union: traders are particularly aware of the importance of common rules in an enlarging Single Market. The European GTP Code is conceived as a modular part of a quality management system covering the whole food and feed chain which should enhance and maintain consumer confidence.
    
    The main principles of the European GTP Code are its voluntary nature, verification and certification by independent third parties and a quality management in accordance with the HACCP principles:
    The European GTP Code proposes good hygiene practices for operators whose activity consists of collecting, storing, trading and transporting cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and other plant products as well as by-products resulting from them intended to be used as food and/or feed by professional users (farmers or stock breeders), manufacturers of primary processing (maltsters, millers, feed compounders etc.) or other traders.
    The CODE is applicable to all operations from receipt through to dispatch of the above mentioned goods and it covers all food and feed operators in Europe carrying out the mentioned activities included within its scope, namely any first-stage trading operator on the domestic or intra-Community market as well as trading with third countries.
    The CODE is not applicable to farmers with own storage facilities as their activities are subject to the primary production guide and related activities. Nevertheless, farmers with storage facilities are welcome to voluntarily apply the good hygiene practices described in the GTP CODE.
    Road Transport Activities alone cannot be certified under the GTP Code.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.gtpcode.eu/

  • Act/Regulation

    • GTP Code

• QS Scheme

   

  • Area of Application

    Food, Testing, Quality and Certification Procedures

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The QS scheme is a cross-stage scheme of quality assurance for fresh food. It provides...moreThe QS scheme is a cross-stage scheme of quality assurance for fresh food. It provides comprehensive process assurance and traceability that comprises all relevant stages of production and marketing of food: from production to processing to marketing, in other words from farm to shop. From farm to shop QS knows every company that is involved in the products’ production and marketing. The compliance with the QS requirements is checked regularly. Checklists and shipping documents, which allow a conclusion on the production process and the origin, accompany the product to the shop. Thus, the entire production process is made transparent and ensures a high degree of reliability.
    
    The QS scheme defines and controls stringent production and marketing requirements along the entire supply chain for fresh foods. Only foods that are produced and marketed according to the QS requirements at all stages, bear the QS certification mark.
    Quality assurance in the QS scheme is based on three interacting inspection levels:
    Self-assessment by company: At this level, the companies themselves ensure that they reliably monitor and conscientiously document all the stipulated requirements. QS supports them in this endeavour with clearly defined requirements and practice-oriented guidelines and checklists.
    Independent inspection: During the independent inspection, trained auditors inspect both the production and marketing processes on site as well as the documentation of these processes. In addition, the companies participating in the QS scheme take part in various monitoring programs, which allows detection and assessment of potential risks to food safety at an early stage.
    Inspecting the inspectors: As part of the scheme integrity system (SIKS), QS ensures that quality assurance from farm to shop functions flawlessly. This process also involves monitoring of the work of the auditors.`

  • Link to Standard

    https://www.q-s.de/home-gb.html

  • Act/Regulation

    • QS Scheme

• FAMI-QS

   

  • Area of Application

    Food, Testing, Quality and Certification Procedures

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    FAMI-QS is the Quality and Safety System for Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures. Since...moreFAMI-QS is the Quality and Safety System for Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures. Since 2004, representatives of the above-mentioned Industry have worked together to devise FAMI-QS, the first code aimed at this sector of the animal feed business.
    
    The FAMI-QS Code addresses safety, quality and regulatory compliance of specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures by:
    
    minimizing the risk that unsafe specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures enter the feed and food chain;
    enabling an operator to implement the objectives of the Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005/EC);
    and providing measures to ensure that other feed safety regulatory requirements are met.
    
    FAMI-QS is a pioneer in its field as it is the only certifiable code specifically aimed at specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures. It was also the first Community Guide to Good Practice to obtain official recognition from the European Commission as foreseen in the Feed Hygiene Regulation.
    The FAMI-QS code is designed for international validity; thus, participants in FAMI-QS can be found all over the world. Today, certified companies are spread across more than 47 countries. Furthermore, we have a worldwide network of certification bodies which allows the implementation of FAMI-QS in any part of the globe.
    
    FAMI-QS is the Gateway for Feed manufacturers to sell their feed in Europe and USA, where the demand is increasing day by day.
    
    FAMI-QS is
    
    • Exclusive Program for feed industry
    • Registered in Community register of feed additives EC 1831/2003
    • Client to register directly with FAMI QS website
    • Applications of HACCP principles
    • Important standard to get access to European Market
    
    
    The requirements of the Code meet all legislative requirements in the EU. FAMI-QS was recognized by the European Authorities as the official Guide to Good Practice, and this official recognition was published in the EU Official Journal in January 2007. Companies certified with the FAMI-QS code can demonstrate compliance with the EC Regulation 183/2008. Certification process is running under a worldwide network of independent and accredited Certification Bodies and qualified assessors, in safeguard of Transparency and Impartiality in the whole certification process. A FAMI-QS certified operator can demonstrate compliance with the feed safety EU regulation and gain access to the European market

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.fami-qs.org/

  • Act/Regulation

    • FAMI-QS

• GMP+

   

  • Area of Application

    Food, Testing, Quality and Certification Procedures

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    GMP stands for voor Good Manufacturing Practices. In 1992 the current GMP+ Feed Certification...moreGMP stands for voor Good Manufacturing Practices. In 1992 the current GMP+ Feed Certification scheme started out with this. Afterwards, it developed into a full-fledged certification scheme by integrating ISO quality management requirements, HACCP and other elements.
    
    The + stands for the integration of HACCP: ‘Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points’. The foundation of the GMP+ systematic is partly determined by continuous improvement according to the principle of the Deming circle ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’: write down what I’m doing, do what I’ve written down and providing proof that I effectively did it.
    
    The GMP+ Feed Certification scheme does not only define conditions relating to production facilities of feed, but also for storage, transport, staff, procedures, documentation etc. Together with her partners, GMP+ international transparently defines clear conditions, so that feed safety and sustainability are guaranteed and certification bodies can conduct independent audits. GMP+ certified companies are supported with useful and practical information, such as various databases, newsletters, Q&A lists, courses and seminars.
    
    With over 13,400 participating companies in more than 70 countries, GMP+ International is a leading global player in the market of feed safety assurance certification. A GMP+ certificate provides an additional qualitative guarantee for every entrepreneur dealing with the international feed industry.
    
    A quality mark of GMP+ International tells you, the entrepreneur, that participating companies from the international food chain guarantee reliability, quality, sustainability and safety. That means that they meet all local and international statutory standards in the feed industry.

  • Link to Standard

    https://www.gmpplus.org/pagina/288/home_un.aspx

  • Act/Regulation

• SAFE QUALITY FOOD STANDARD (SQF) CERTIFICATION

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food, Good Practices - Warehouse, Transport, Logistics, Manufacturing

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The SQF programme is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) as a scheme that can...moreThe SQF programme is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) as a scheme that can offer a seamless ‘field to fork’ food safety and quality certification solution. It provides supply chain management for both primary production and food manufacturing and distribution.
    
    The SQF system consists of the SQF Code Edition 7 and its corresponding guidance documents. It is a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), quality-based supplier assurance code designed to meet the food safety and quality system requirements applied by a primary producer.
    
    The SQF Institute’s Code is a rigorous and internationally-credible food safety management system. The SQF Certification programme and SQF training courses provide all food manufacturing, distribution and trading organisations with an opportunity for continuous improvement.
    
    There are three levels of certification available with SQF Code Edition 7:
    
    Level 1: Food Safety Fundamentals
    Level 2: Certified HACCP Food Safety Plans
    Level 3: Comprehensive Food Safety and Quality Management Systems
    

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.sgsgroup.in/en-GB/Trade/Consumer-and-Industrial-Goods/Global-Schemes/Global-Food-Safety-Initiative-Certification/Safe-Quality-Food-Standard-SQF-Certification.aspx

  • Act/Regulation

• LGC Standards

   

  • Area of Application

    Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    LGC Standards is a division of the LGC Group, the UK’s designated National Measurement Institute...moreLGC Standards is a division of the LGC Group, the UK’s designated National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements and an international leader in the laboratory services, measurement standards, reference materials, genomics and proficiency testing marketplaces.

  • Link to Standard

     

  • Act/Regulation

• GS-55

   

  • Area of Application

    Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The GS-55 standard covers retail restaurants and institutional food service operations and is...moreThe GS-55 standard covers retail restaurants and institutional food service operations and is adapted to the current marketplace and local conditions.
    
    GS-55 establishes leadership-level environmental and human health criteria for restaurants and
    food service providers, both for retail establishments and large-scale operations. Food service operations
    or restaurant chains with multiple locations may be certified for the entire chain, provided
    the requirements are met at each location. GS-55 does not address the specific activities of bars,
    grocery stores, or convenience stores. Food services that are associated with these establishments
    may apply for certification to this standard.
    
    GS-55 conserves natural resources and protects human health and the environment by requiring
    restaurants and food services to purchase sustainable food, reduce their waste, use environmentally
    preferable products, and conserve water and energy. These criteria create a comprehensive
    set of practices that operations can follow to decrease their environmental impacts.
    The requirements in the standard cover:
    
     Purchase of environmentally
    responsible food, beverages
    and supplies
     Waste reduction
     Management of resources
     Training and communication
     Continuous improvement

  • Link to Standard

     

  • Act/Regulation

• FSSC 2200

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    (Food Safety System Certification standard), is the latest certification scheme for food...more(Food Safety System Certification standard), is the latest certification scheme for food manufacturers. The scheme is based on the integration of ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management Systems standard and Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 220. Supported by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union (CIAA), FS 22000 has been fully approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). 

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.fssc22000.com/en/

  • Act/Regulation

    • FSSC 2200

• ISO 22000:2005

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    ISO 22000:2005 specifies requirements for a food safety management system where an organization in...moreISO 22000:2005 specifies requirements for a food safety management system where an organization in the food chain needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of human consumption.
    
    It is applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, which are involved in any aspect of the food chain and want to implement systems that consistently provide safe products. The means of meeting any requirements of ISO 22000:2005 can be accomplished through the use of internal and/or external resources.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=35466

  • Act/Regulation

    • ISO 22000:2005

• BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6, covers food safety and management of product...moreThe BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6, covers food safety and management of product quality in food packing and processing operations. The BRC Food Standard was one of the original GFSI Benchmarked schemes and is used around the world with certificates in over 100 countries and has in excess of 15,000 certificated sites. The Standard is owned by the British Retail Consortium and written and managed with the input of an international multi-stakeholder group made up of food manufacturers, retailers, foodservice and certification body representatives.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.brcglobalstandards.com

  • Act/Regulation

    • BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6

• SQF Code 7th Edition Level 2

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The SQF Code has been redesigned for use by all sectors of the food industry from primary...moreThe SQF Code has been redesigned for use by all sectors of the food industry from primary production to transport and distribution. Edition 7 applies to all industry sectors and replaces the SQF 2000 Code edition 6 and the SQF 1000 Code edition 5.
    
    The SQF Code is a process and product certification standard. It is a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)-based food safety and quality management system that utilizes the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Food (NACMCF) and the CODEX Alimentarius Commission HACCP principles and guidelines. The SQF Code is intended to support industry or company branded products and offers benefits to suppliers and their customers. Products produced and manufactured under the SQF Code certification retain a high degree of acceptance in global markets.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.sqfi.com/standards/

  • Act/Regulation

    • SQF Code 7th Edition Level 2

• CanadaGAP (Canadian Horticultural Council On-Farm Food Safety Program)

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    CanadaGAP™ is a food safety program for companies that produce, pack and store fruits and...moreCanadaGAP™ is a food safety program for companies that produce, pack and store fruits and vegetables. It is designed to help implement effective food safety procedures within fresh produce operations.
    
    The program was benchmarked to and officially recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Audit and certification services for the program are delivered by accredited Certification Bodies.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.canadagap.ca/canadagap-program/overview/

  • Act/Regulation

    • CanadaGAP (Canadian Horticultural Council On-Farm Food Safety Program)

• Global Red Meat Standard (GRMS)

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The Global Red Meat Standard, GRMS, is a scheme specifically developed for the red meat industry....moreThe Global Red Meat Standard, GRMS, is a scheme specifically developed for the red meat industry. Its cornerstone is product safety, focusing on critical areas affecting the maintenance of high meat safety requirements.
    
    The objective of the Global Red Meat Standard is to deliver transparency about the food safety, quality and hygiene systems that are implemented in factories that slaughter, cut, debone and handle meat and meat products from pork and beef. The transparency is delivered through an independent certification process based on EN 45011.
    
    The Standard comprises the entire production chain and is, therefore, applicable to all aspects of transport, lairage, stunning, slaughtering, deboning, cutting and handling of meat and meat products.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.grms.org/About_GRMS.aspx

  • Act/Regulation

    • Global Red Meat Standard (GRMS)

• Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000) is a robust, ISO-based, internationally...moreFood Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000) is a robust, ISO-based, internationally accepted certification scheme for assessment and certification of food safety management systems in the whole supply chain. FSSC 22000 uses the existing standards ISO 22000, ISO 22003 and technical specifications for sector PRPs. The certification is accredited under ISO guide 17021 and recognized by GFSI. The non-profit Foundation for Food Safety Certification retains the ownership, copyright and the licence agreements for certification bodies.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.fssc22000.com/en/

  • Act/Regulation

    • Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000

• GlobalG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Scheme

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    G.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice – and GLOBALG.A.P. is the worldwide standard that...moreG.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice – and GLOBALG.A.P. is the worldwide standard that assures it. GLOBALG.A.P. is an affiliate organisation of a not-for-profit trade association with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agricultural production worldwide. It sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe - and more and more producers, suppliers and buyers are harmonizing their certification standards to match.
    
    The GLOBALG.A.P. flagship standard is the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard which covers crops, livestock and aquaculture and emphasizes a progressive, holistic approach to farm certification.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.globalgap.org/export/sites/default/.content/.galleries/documents/121027-InfoKIT_FarmAssurer_web_en.pdf

  • Act/Regulation

• Global Aquaculture Alliance Seafood Processing Standard

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, non-profit trade association dedicated to...moreThe Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. Through the development of its Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards, GAA has become the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood.

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.gaalliance.org/cmsAdmin/uploads/bap-procplant-513.pdf

  • Act/Regulation

• The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)

   

  • Area of Application

    Companies, Food

  • Location

    International

  • Description

    In today's global environment, food safety is more important than ever. Safeguarding the food...moreIn today's global environment, food safety is more important than ever. Safeguarding the food supply is a complex and challenging responsibility. As a result, many of the world's largest food companies, retailers, and manufacturers have set higher food safety standards, choosing to mandate supplier compliance with one of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)* standards.
    
    The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was established to ensure confidence in the delivery of safer food to consumers, while continuing to improve food safety supply chain management. GFSI provides a benchmark to ensure consistency between countries and the products that have been certified. These global food safety standards address food, packaging, consumer goods, storage, and distribution for primary producers, manufacturers, and distribution. GFSI-benchmarked food safety standards include: Safe Quality Food (SQF), British Retail Consortium (BRC), International Food Safety (IFS), Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC), and Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices).

  • Link to Standard

    http://www.nsf.org/business/global_food_safety_standards/

  • Act/Regulation

    • The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)