ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 vs BRCGS: Which Standard Does Your Business Need?

ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and BRCGS are related but distinct food safety standards. FSSC 22000 is built on ISO 22000. BRCGS is a separate standard. Only FSSC 22000 and BRCGS are GFSI-benchmarked — which is what major South African retailers require.

ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and BRCGS are three different food safety management standards that are often confused because they overlap in purpose but differ significantly in structure, recognition, and who requires them. The short version: ISO 22000 is an international management system standard. FSSC 22000 is built on ISO 22000 and adds sector-specific requirements to achieve GFSI recognition. BRCGS is a separate GFSI-benchmarked standard developed by British retailers. In South Africa, both FSSC 22000 and BRCGS are accepted by major retailers — ISO 22000 alone is generally not sufficient.

What is ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies requirements for a food safety management system. It is built on the ISO management system framework (the same structure used in ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management) and incorporates HACCP principles as defined by Codex Alimentarius.

ISO 22000 certification demonstrates that an organisation has a structured, documented food safety management system. However, ISO 22000 alone is not GFSI-benchmarked, which means it does not satisfy the specific requirements of retailers who require GFSI-recognised certification. Most major South African retailers will not accept ISO 22000 as a standalone certification.

What is FSSC 22000?

FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification 22000) is a certification scheme that uses ISO 22000 as its foundation and adds sector-specific Prerequisite Programme (PRP) standards and FSSC additional requirements on top. The result is a more comprehensive and prescriptive scheme than ISO 22000 alone.

FSSC 22000 is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which means it is accepted by Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Checkers, and most international retailers as evidence of a robust food safety system. It is currently in version 6 and is one of the two most widely used GFSI schemes globally alongside BRCGS.

FSSC 22000 is the most commonly pursued GFSI certification by South African food manufacturers, particularly for categories sold into major retailers or exported to European and UK markets.

What is BRCGS?

BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is a certification scheme developed by the British Retail Consortium. Originally created to standardise the requirements British retailers placed on their food suppliers, BRCGS has grown into one of the most widely recognised food safety standards globally, now covering food manufacturing, packaging, storage, distribution, and retail.

BRCGS Food Safety (Issue 9) is a GFSI-benchmarked standard that is particularly prevalent among UK and European supply chains and is widely recognised by South African retailers serving international markets. Some retailers have a preference for BRCGS where their own parent companies are UK-based.

ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 vs BRCGS: Direct Comparison

Which Standard Do South African Retailers Require?

Retailer requirements in South Africa vary by retailer, product category, and whether you are supplying own-brand or branded products:

• Woolworths — requires FSSC 22000 or BRCGS for all own-brand food suppliers. One of the most stringent in the South African market.
• Pick n Pay — requires GFSI-benchmarked certification (FSSC 22000 or BRCGS) for own-brand and high-risk categories.
• Checkers / Shoprite — increasingly requiring GFSI certification for own-brand suppliers; requirements vary by category.
• SPAR — requires FSSC 22000 or BRCGS for own-brand suppliers in most food categories.
• Export markets — UK and European retailers uniformly require GFSI-benchmarked certification; BRCGS is strongly preferred for UK retail chains.

Which Standard Should You Choose?

Choose FSSC 22000 if:

• You supply primarily South African retailers
• You are targeting exports to continental Europe or the Middle East
• Your business already has or is building an ISO 22000-based system
• You want a standard with broad global recognition across multiple markets

Choose BRCGS if:

• You supply UK retail chains or their South African affiliates
• Your specific retailer customer has explicitly requested BRCGS
• You are in packaging manufacture (BRCGS Packaging is the dominant standard for this category)
• Your international trading partners preference BRCGS documentation

Start with SANS 10330 if:

• You are building your first food safety system from scratch
• You supply local retailers that do not yet require GFSI certification
• Budget constraints make FSSC 22000 or BRCGS inaccessible right now
• You want to build a solid HACCP foundation before tackling the more complex GFSI requirements

Can You Hold Both FSSC 22000 and BRCGS?

Yes, and some South African manufacturers do — particularly those supplying both local retailers and UK export markets simultaneously. However, maintaining two GFSI certifications doubles audit costs and administrative burden. In most cases, FSSC 22000 alone satisfies the full range of South African and most international markets. Pursue BRCGS in addition only if a specific customer requires it and the commercial relationship justifies the additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions