Q - What is GFSI, or GFSI audits?

A - The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an industry-driven initiative providing thought leadership and guidance on food safety management systems necessary for safety along the supply chain. Their work is accomplished through collaboration between leading food safety experts from retail, manufacturing and food service companies, as well as international organizations, governments, academia and service providers to the global food industry. They meet together at technical working group and stakeholder meetings, conferences and regional events to share knowledge and promote a harmonized approach to managing food safety across the industry.

The mission of GFSI is to provide continuous improvement in food safety management systems to ensure confidence in the delivery of safe food to consumers worldwide.

What GFSI does:

• Specify for the recognition of food safety management schemes (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC22000, etc.) to defined requirements in its Guidance Document (currently issue 6).
• Drives global change through multi-stakeholder projects on strategic issues (eg. auditor competence, regulatory affairs, food safety for small suppliers).
• SCS Global Services offers training courses in GFSI schemes (SQF, BRCGS, Global GAP, Primus) as well as auditing services to verify compliance with the requirements of the individual schemes. A third party audit by an accredited Certification Body such as SCS is necessary to become certified to a GFSI scheme. GFSI is not affiliated with any regulatory agency.

Q - How do various GFSI audits compare to the FSMA regulations?

A - GLOBALG.A.P. – compared to FSMA Produce Safety Rule

Q - How do I become an Auditor? 

A - Each GFSI Scheme (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC22000, PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P.) has requirements.  Some SCS courses fulfill these, but some are only offered by the individual program.   Most offering the training needed to become an Auditor.  SCS offers some training for PrimusGFS Auditor, BRCGS Lead Auditor Training.  Most schemes want auditors to have the basic trainings like Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCQI), HACCP, and the relevant basic scheme courses.  More info here.