BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free Certification: Food Manufacturing System
Improve how your organization manages food safety in gluten-free products and reduce risk across the supply chain.
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BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free Certification: Food Manufacturing System
Certification of your food manufacturing system to the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free demonstrates your commitment to consumer safety, product integrity and continual improvement. These are benefits that help safeguard consumers, strengthen brand trust and support market access in a growing global gluten-free market.
The standard provides specific requirements for a preventative, risk-based gluten-free control system that supports regulatory compliance and protects consumers in domestic and international markets.
What is the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free standard?
Applicable to any organization that manufactures, processes, packs or handles gluten-free products across both food and non-food categories, the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free uses a risk-based and HACCP-based approach to prevent gluten contamination from raw materials through to finished products.
The standard applies to processed foods, ingredients, pet food, cosmetics, natural health products and other categories where gluten-free claims must be protected.
The programme is recognized by major coeliac associations globally, supporting trusted on-pack gluten-free trademarks.
The BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free helps you achieve:
- Robust control of gluten contamination
- Improved monitoring, traceability, documentation and incident response
- Greater operational reliability
- A consistent, auditable system that supports continual improvement
The standard integrates smoothly with other GFSI-recognized food safety standards such as BRCGS Food Safety, FSSC 22000, IFS Food and SQF. This enables organizations to manage gluten-free controls alongside broader food safety requirements within a unified framework.
Value of BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free certification
Certification to the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free by an independent third-party such as DNV demonstrates your organization’s commitment to structured gluten-free controls that manage gluten contamination, product integrity and regulatory compliance. This provides confidence to consumers who rely on accurate gluten-free claims and support brand trust and market access where demand for gluten-free products is growing.
As a result, you get:
- Reduced reliance on end-product testing through stronger preventative controls
- Enhanced consumer protection for individuals with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance
- Access to new markets and commercial opportunities
- Greater brand trust through recognition by leading coeliac associations and visibility in the BRCGS Directory
- Objective insights from external auditors to identify gaps and improvement opportunities
- Clear demonstration of commitment for customers, stakeholders and other interested parties
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How to get certified to BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free certification
To be certified, your organization must implement a gluten-free control system that meets the requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free and then undergo an audit by an independent certification body such as DNV, which is formally recognized by BRCGS.
DNV can support you throughout the journey starting from relevant gluten-free training to self-assessments, gap analysis and certification services.
As a DNV customer, you also get access to a suite of digital tools that can help you ensure compliance, continually improve and manage your entire certification journey with us.
Learn how to get started and be certified
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Obtain the standard:
Get a licensed copy of the relevant standard and familiarize yourself with the requirements to decide if certification/registration to this standard makes good sense for your organization.
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Review available literature and apply digital tools
Explore available literature, guidelines from the standard owners (e.g. ISO/TS 9002 for ISO 9001, ISO 14004 for ISO 14001) and digital sources and tools that can assist with implementation. Note that as a DNV customer you get access to tailored tools that can assist you.
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Assemble a team and define strategy:
To implement a management system should be a strategic decision for the entire organization. Senior management must be involved in the decision, committed and involved in shaping the system. They decide the business strategy the management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system.
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Determine competence needs:
First, your team implementing and maintaining the management system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen standards. Later on, the wider organization needs awareness training. DNV offers a variety of public and in-house courses worldwide that meets your competence training needs at all levels within your organization.
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Review consultant options:
Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic, and cost-effective strategy plan for implementation if you do not have this competence or capacity already.
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Develop management system documentation:
Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.
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Determine, manage and document processes:
First identify key processes – what they are, how they work, and how they interact. Each process should have a clear purpose, defined responsibilities, and expected outputs. The level of documented information needed depends on the organization’s size, complexity, and the importance of each process, but must include relevant processes and other documented information needed to deliver on intended outcomes and comply with the chosen standard’s requirements.
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Implement management system:
Clear communication and necessary competence training are essential elements. During the implementation phase, you will work to ensure that your organization is working according to defined and documented processes. Once successful, you can prove system’s compliance and effectiveness.
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Select a certification body/registrar:
Selecting the right certification body/registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and range of free digital tools that help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.
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Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:
Consider a preliminary evaluation by your certification body/registrar to identify and correct nonconformities before starting the official certification process. The purpose is to identify areas of non-conformance or weaknesses, allowing you to correct these before you begin the official certification process.
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BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free Certification - FAQ
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Gluten-free certification is a formal, independent confirmation that an organization’s gluten-free control system meets the requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free. It verifies that the site has implemented effective controls to prevent gluten contamination across raw materials, processes, equipment, packing and labelling. Certification is granted by an approved third-party certification body like DNV following an audit and provides assurance that gluten-free products are produced in line with recognized best practices.
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Certified gluten-free means that a product is made at a site that has been independently audited and verified to meet the requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free. It confirms that the organization has effective controls to prevent gluten contamination and can reliably produce products that are safe for consumers who require a gluten-free diet.
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To get gluten-free certification, an organization must implement a gluten-free control system that meets the requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free and then undergo an audit by an independent, recognized certification body such as DNV. If the system complies with the standard, certification is granted and maintained through regular follow-up audits.
BRCGS Global Standard Gluten-Free training
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