BRCGS Certification, Standards and Training in South Africa
BRCGS is a globally recognised set of standards used by food manufacturers, packaging suppliers, storage and distribution companies, agents, brokers and consumer product businesses to demonstrate product safety, legality, quality and supply chain control.
ASC helps South African businesses understand BRCGS requirements through practical online training, awareness courses and implementation support for standards such as BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7, food safety management systems, HACCP, GMP and certification readiness.
What is BRCGS?
BRCGS, formerly known as British Retail Consortium Global Standards, is a globally recognised certification scheme that helps organisations demonstrate that their products are safe, legal, high quality and produced under controlled conditions.
BRCGS standards are widely used across food manufacturing, packaging materials, storage and distribution, agents and brokers, consumer products and other supply chain sectors. Certification is often required by retailers, brand owners, importers, exporters and large customers as part of supplier approval and product safety assurance.
In simple terms: BRCGS gives businesses a structured way to prove that their product safety and quality systems are controlled, documented, audited and continuously improved.
🌍 Global recognition
BRCGS standards are recognised internationally and are often used as part of customer, retailer and export market approval.
✅ Certification focused
BRCGS certification shows that a business has been independently audited against a recognised product safety and quality standard.
📦 Supply chain assurance
BRCGS supports confidence across manufacturers, packaging suppliers, storage providers, distributors, agents and customers.
Why businesses use BRCGS standards
BRCGS helps organisations manage risk, meet customer expectations and demonstrate stronger control over product safety, legality and quality.
Product safety
Helps businesses identify, control and reduce product safety risks across manufacturing and supply chain operations.
Legality
Supports compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and customer requirements for products and processes.
Quality assurance
Strengthens product quality controls, specifications, traceability, verification and management system discipline.
Customer confidence
Provides recognised assurance to retailers, brand owners, buyers, certification bodies and supply chain partners.
Main BRCGS standards used in food and product supply chains
BRCGS includes several standards designed for different parts of the supply chain, from food production and packaging to storage, distribution and traded products.
BRCGS Food Safety
Used by food manufacturers and processors to demonstrate control over food safety, quality, legality and operational requirements.
- Food manufacturing sites
- HACCP-based systems
- Retailer and customer approval
- Certification readiness
BRCGS Packaging Materials
Used by packaging manufacturers supplying materials for food, beverage, consumer goods and regulated supply chains.
- Packaging safety
- Product quality management
- Hazard analysis and risk assessment
- Site and process controls
BRCGS Storage and Distribution
Used by warehousing, logistics and distribution businesses handling food, packaging and consumer products.
- Storage controls
- Distribution controls
- Traceability
- Hygiene and handling practices
BRCGS Agents and Brokers
Designed for companies that buy, sell or facilitate trade without directly manufacturing or storing the product.
- Supplier approval
- Product legality
- Traceability
- Specification control
BRCGS Consumer Products
Supports safety, legality and quality controls for non-food consumer products and related supply chains.
- Consumer product assurance
- Risk-based controls
- Specification management
- Product integrity
Additional BRCGS programmes
BRCGS also includes programmes linked to claims and specific product requirements, depending on market and customer needs.
- Gluten-Free certification
- Plant-Based certification
- Ethical trade programmes
- Customer-specific assurance
What BRCGS certification can help demonstrate
Certification is not only about passing an audit. It shows that your systems are structured, controlled and aligned with recognised supply chain expectations.
Documented systems
Clear procedures, records, responsibilities and evidence to support product safety and quality management.
Risk control
Hazard analysis, risk assessment and preventive controls appropriate to the operation and products.
Traceability
Improved ability to trace products, materials, suppliers, batches, processes and customer delivery.
Team competence
Training and awareness so employees understand their role in maintaining product safety and compliance.
Operational discipline
Site standards, hygiene, maintenance, process control and verification systems that support consistency.
Customer approval
Recognised assurance that can support supplier approval, customer confidence and market access.
What is BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7?
BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7 is a product safety and quality standard for organisations that manufacture packaging materials used in food, beverage, consumer goods and other supply chains.
The standard helps packaging manufacturers manage product safety risks, quality requirements, legality, hygiene, site controls, process controls, personnel practices, specifications and customer expectations. It is especially important where packaging comes into contact with food or where packaging plays a role in protecting product safety and integrity.
Key point: Packaging is part of the product safety chain. Poorly controlled packaging can affect food safety, product quality, legality, customer confidence and brand protection.
📦 Packaging safety
Focuses on controlling product safety risks linked to packaging materials, processes and intended use.
⚠️ HARA approach
Uses hazard analysis and risk assessment principles to identify, evaluate and manage product safety risks.
🏭 Site and process control
Includes expectations for site standards, product and process control, personnel and quality management.
How BRCGS certification usually works
BRCGS certification follows a structured process of understanding requirements, implementing controls, auditing the system and maintaining certification over time.
Understand the standard
Identify which BRCGS standard applies to your operation and understand the requirement areas.
Conduct a gap assessment
Compare current systems, procedures and site practices against the relevant BRCGS requirements.
Implement controls
Develop or improve procedures, records, risk assessments, training, verification and operational controls.
Complete internal audits
Check whether the system is implemented, effective and ready for certification assessment.
Certification audit
An approved certification body audits the site against the relevant BRCGS standard.
Corrective actions
Any nonconformities must be addressed through root cause analysis and corrective action evidence.
Certification decision
If requirements are met, certification is issued according to the scheme rules and audit outcome.
Maintain the system
Certification requires ongoing monitoring, training, review, internal audits and continuous improvement.
Online BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7 training
ASC’s online Introduction to BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7 course helps learners understand the standard requirements, audit protocol and certification process for packaging material environments.
The course is ideal for senior management, quality assurance teams, quality control teams, HACCP and HARA teams, production managers, supervisors, internal auditors and anyone involved in developing or maintaining a product safety management system for packaging materials.
Training focus: BRCGS Issue 7 requirements, FSMS foundations, hazard analysis and risk assessment, product safety and quality management, site standards, process controls, personnel, traded products and final assessment.
🎓 Online and self-paced
Complete the training online through the ASC learner dashboard at a pace that suits your schedule.
📦 Packaging Materials Issue 7
The course focuses on BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7 and the standard’s requirement structure.
🏅 Certificate of completion
Learners receive a certificate of completion after successfully meeting the course requirements.
BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7 course structure
The course is structured into practical modules covering FSMS foundations, BRCGS Issue 7 requirements, final assessment and feedback.
Understanding Food Safety Management Systems
Introduces FSMS foundations and the role of BRCGS Packaging Materials in product safety.
- Learning outcomes and course navigation
- Learner guide support
- Structure and importance of an FSMS
- Expectations and benefits of BRCGS for Packaging Materials
- Knowledge test for Module 1
Overview of BRCGS Issue 7 Requirements
Covers the core requirement areas of the BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7 standard.
- Senior management commitment
- Hazard analysis and risk assessment
- Product safety and quality management
- Site standards
- Product and process control
- Personnel requirements
- Requirements for traded products
- Knowledge tests and BRCGS Issue 7 test
Final Assessment and Feedback
Confirms learner understanding and supports completion of the online training pathway.
- Final assessment
- Course feedback
- Certificate of completion after successful completion
- QR-coded certificate evidence where available
Who should understand BRCGS requirements?
BRCGS is relevant to organisations and teams responsible for food safety, product safety, quality assurance, packaging safety, distribution control and customer approval.
Food Manufacturers and Processors
For sites producing food products and needing recognised food safety and quality certification.
Packaging Material Manufacturers
For businesses supplying packaging materials to food, beverage and consumer product supply chains.
Storage and Distribution Providers
For warehouses, logistics providers and distributors responsible for controlled product handling.
Agents and Brokers
For companies involved in buying, selling or facilitating product trade without manufacturing.
QA, QC and Compliance Teams
For teams responsible for specifications, audits, risk assessment, documentation and verification.
Managers, Supervisors and Internal Auditors
For operational leaders and auditors who need to understand requirements and evidence expectations.
How ASC can support your BRCGS journey
Training builds awareness. Practical implementation, internal audits and corrective actions help make your system certification-ready.
Awareness training
Use online training to help managers, supervisors and technical teams understand the standard.
Gap assessment
Review your current system against the relevant BRCGS requirement areas.
Implementation support
Develop procedures, records, controls, risk assessments and verification systems.
Audit preparation
Prepare your team, evidence and corrective actions before certification or surveillance audits.
Understanding the difference between BRCGS training and consulting
Training helps your team understand the requirements. Consulting helps your business implement, verify and prepare the system for audit.
| Need | ASC Online Training Hub | ASC Food Safety Consultants |
|---|---|---|
| Understand what BRCGS is | Yes, through awareness and online training | Can support leadership briefings and project planning |
| BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7 training | Online self-paced course available | Can support customised team workshops |
| Gap assessment | Not the main function of online training | Available as consulting support |
| Documentation and system development | Training explains requirements | Can assist with implementation documents and controls |
| Internal audits and audit preparation | Training supports awareness | Can support audits, readiness reviews and corrective actions |
| Certificate of completion | Yes, for completed online courses | Consulting deliverables depend on project scope |
Training explains the standard. Implementation prepares the system.
If your business needs help with BRCGS gap assessments, documentation, implementation, internal audits, audit preparation or nonconformity closure, ASC Food Safety Consultants can support you through our main consulting website.
BRCGS certification and training FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about BRCGS, certification, standards, training and audit preparation.
What is BRCGS?
What does BRCGS stand for?
Why is BRCGS certification important?
Which businesses need BRCGS certification?
What are the main BRCGS standards?
What is BRCGS for Packaging Materials Issue 7?
Is BRCGS recognised internationally?
How do you prepare for a BRCGS audit?
Does ASC offer BRCGS training?
Can ASC help with BRCGS implementation?
Build a stronger food safety and certification pathway
BRCGS works best when supported by strong HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and product safety management system knowledge.
Understand BRCGS standards and prepare your team for stronger certification readiness
Learn what BRCGS is, why certification matters, how the standards apply across food and packaging supply chains, and how ASC can support your training, awareness and audit preparation journey.