What Is the BRCGS Gluten-Free Standard?
BRCGS Gluten-Free is a standard which sets out a preventative, HACCP-based approach to managing gluten as a hazard throughout manufacturing, processing and packing. Certification means a gluten-free claim rests on documented controls rather than ingredient lists alone.
Unlike most BRCGS standards, certification is a pass or fail (rather than graded). A site either demonstrates control of gluten or it doesn’t, with non-conformities graded to make audit outcomes clear. The products covered are defined on the programme’s Schedule A, and certified sites’ gluten-free brands can use the programme’s trademark on their packaging.
Built to sit alongside your food safety certification
The standard requires an underlying food safety certification for eligibility, which can be met by a GFSI-benchmarked certification such as BRCGS Food Safety or BRCGS START.
If you’re not yet certified to a relevant standard, the audits can be combined into one visit, keeping audit time proportionate. No matter how you certify, though, the two certifications stay linked: Gluten-Free certification depends on the underlying food safety certification remaining in place.