Industry Regulations Overview

Food Safety Standards

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) created in 2000, is a landmark initiative by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global food network determined to set the requirements essential to a good food safety management system. It ensures a safe global food supply and enables an extensive collaboration between the private and public sectors. GFSI plays a major role as a recognized leader in the benchmarking of global food safety standards that includes SQF, FSSC 22000, and BRCGS. GFSI’s work in benchmarking and harmonization has reduced the inefficiencies from duplication of audits and trade barriers with the help of certification programs across the food industry.  

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) is a food safety and quality management certification program which provides a rigorous system to manage the food safety risks and usage of safe products by companies in the food industry. Food safety and quality codes are designed and recognized by GFSI to meet industry, customer, and regulatory requirements for all the sectors of the food supply chain. The codes are segmented based on industry scope. SQFI has developed a fundamental program for food manufacturing and primary producers.

SGS is known as the global benchmark for quality and integrity with core services like inspection, testing, certification, and verification.

ISO 22000 is a certifiable standard that addresses food safety management systems. It defines the guidelines and best practices an organization must follow to control food safety hazards and ensure the safe consumption of food. FSSC 22000 includes and expands upon the ISO 22000 requirements.