Introduction to BRCGS Gluten-Free Issue 4 Course

About this course

The BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free gives manufacturers of food, ingredients, pet food, cosmetics and natural health products a framework for making gluten-free products that people with coeliac disease and other gluten-related conditions can trust. Issue 4 was published in February 2024, and certification audits against it began on 5 August 2024.

This five-hour course gives an overview of all of the Issue 4 requirements. It explains coeliac disease and gluten in plain terms and what a gluten-free claim really rests on. The Standard does not set one gluten limit for every market: a product must meet the law of the country where it is sold, and a fixed 20 mg/kg limit applies only to products carrying the AOECS Crossed Grain Trademark. Each of the eight sections of requirements is discussed with clause references and South African examples, followed by the full certification process, from choosing an audit option to receiving your certificate and using approved gluten-free trademarks.

It is an awareness-level course. It builds understanding of what the Standard asks for and how an audit works, so that your team can take part confidently in preparing for and hosting a Gluten-Free certification audit.

Who should attend

Anyone who needs a working understanding of the Gluten-Free Standard, including:

• Quality and technical managers at food, ingredient, pet food, cosmetic and natural health product manufacturers
• Members of the gluten-free management system team and the HACCP team
• Production supervisors, line leaders and hygiene teams who handle gluten-free products
• Procurement and supplier approval staff responsible for ingredients and inputs
• Product development, labelling and marketing staff who sign off gluten-free claims
• Internal auditors, business owners and senior managers preparing for a first Gluten-Free audit
• Consultants and auditors who need an overview of Issue 4

No previous HACCP knowledge is assumed, although some experience of a food safety system is helpful.

An independent ASC course

This is an independent course by ASC Food Safety Training. It explains the Standard in our own words, with clause references; it is not a BRCGS course and is not endorsed by BRCGS. The certificate you receive is a course completion certificate. It is not a BRCGS qualification, it does not indicate BRCGS certification of any site, and it does not replace the BRCGS Gluten-Free Issue 4 Sites Training course that the Standard requires of the gluten-free management system team leader.