ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management systems. FSSC 22000 builds on ISO 22000 by adding sector-specific prerequisite programmes and additional requirements recognised under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). FSSC 22000 is often required where GFSI recognition is a condition of supplying certain retailers or buyers.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling food safety hazards at critical points in the production process. In the UK, food businesses are legally required to have food safety management procedures based on HACCP principles under food hygiene regulations.

BRCGS Food Safety and IFS Food are both GFSI-benchmarked and widely recognised by major UK and European retailers. Retailers often specify which standard they require—or accept either—as part of their supplier approval process. ISOQAR provides certification audits against both.

Yes. ISO 9001 for food and beverage quality management provides a broader quality management framework that complements food safety standards. Some food and beverage businesses use ISO 9001 to manage processes outside the direct scope of food safety certification, such as customer complaints, procurement, and business planning.

BRCGS Food Safety applies to food manufacturers and processors. BRCGS Packaging applies to suppliers of food packaging materials, setting requirements for how materials are produced, tested, and controlled to ensure they are safe and fit for contact with food products.

BRCGS Storage & Distribution audits assess how food products are received, stored, handled, and transported. This includes temperature and humidity controls, vehicle hygiene, pest management, traceability systems, and how nonconformities are managed across the distribution operation.

Yes. Retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers increasingly apply the same certification requirements regardless of supplier size. Smaller producers often find that certification supports access to new customers and provides a structured way to manage food safety risks that would otherwise rely on informal controls.

ISOQAR training helps quality managers, production supervisors, and site teams understand what each standard requires and how to apply those requirements in practice. This is particularly relevant ahead of certification audits, where gaps in staff understanding can lead to findings that delay or affect certification decisions.