The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an independent non-profit foundation of leading food safety experts and related interests from retail, manufacturing and food service industries worldwide. Co-ordinated by the Consumer Goods Forum, the foundation was formed in May 2000. It responded to heightened demand for safe food products, increasing food safety problems, lack of agreement on food safety standards, and the increasing burden of more frequent food safety audits borne by suppliers and processors.
 

GFSI Objectives

Global Food Safety Initiative
 

• Promote agreement on universal food safety standards.

• Lower costs and improve efficiency through GFSI recognized standards and certifications.

• Allow information sharing and act as a networking platform.

Harmonization and Benchmarking Process

This process compares food safety management standards to a guidance document developed by GFSI. If a standard is equivalent to the guidance document, it is benchmarked by GFSI.

Guidance Document

• Overview

• Content and Requirements

• GFSI Objectives
   

• Harmonization and Benchmarking Process
   
• Guidance Document
   
• Benchmarked and Recognized Standards
   
• Acceptance of Benchmarked Standards
   
• Selecting a Standard

Benchmarked and Recognized Standards
 

• BRC Global Standard for Food Safety 5
• FSSC 22000
• GLOBAL Aquaculture Alliance BAP Issue 2 (GAA Seafood Processing Standard)
• Global Red Meat Standard Version 3
• IFS Version 5
• SQF 2000 Level 2
• Synergy 22000

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• CanadaGAP
• GLOBALGAP IFA Aquaculture Version 3
• GLOBALGAP IFA Livestock Version 3
• GLOBALGAP IFA Fruit and Vegetables Version 3  
• SQF 1000 Level 2

Primary Production and Manufacturing Scheme

• PrimusGFS

Acceptance of Benchmarked Standards

To reduce the duplication of audits and differing audit standards, eight major retailers (Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Tesco, ICA, Metro, Migros, Ahold and Delhaize) agreed in 2007 to accept any of the GFSI benchmarked standards. This allowed their suppliers to choose and use just one set of standards. The approach is reflected in the GFSI slogan: “Once certified, accepted everywhere.”

In 2011, Loblaw Companies Limited, was the first Canadian retailer to mandate GFSI for suppliers. Other retailers such as Sobeys and Safeway also now require their vendors to apply benchmarked GFSI standards.
 

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Selecting a Standard

Selecting the right standard should be a priority. Consider the following:

• ease of use and suitability of the standard based on your existing food safety and quality systems, and on your company’s culture
• specific requirements and structure of the standard
• how easy it is to understand and meet the requirements
• audit rules, costs, frequency and grading system
• auditor availability
• how standards support customer preferences

For information on the Food Safety Program contact the CVO/Food Safety Knowledge Centre.  For technical information, call 204-795-7968 in Winnipeg; or e-mail foodsafety@gov.mb.ca. For general information, contact your local GO Centre.