BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based Certification
Build confidence in your plant-based product claims through robust controls that protect consumers and your brand.
Journey continues on Veracity, DNV's trusted digital platform.
BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based Certification
Certification to the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based demonstrates that your site has implemented the operational controls needed to prevent the introduction of animal-derived materials and protect the integrity of plant-based products. This strengthens trust in your product claims, supports brand protection and helps you meet customer expectations.
The BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based provides clear requirements for sites producing plant-based products and includes criteria for segregation, traceability, supply chain assurance and claims management. It offers a certification programme based on a management system approach to ensure that plant-based products are free from animal origin material.
What is the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based standard?
Applicable to organizations that manufacture, process, handle or supply plant-based products, the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based provides clear operational requirements to prevent the introduction of animal-derived materials and protect the integrity of plant-based claims. It is a globally recognised certification that applies to processed food, ingredients, natural health products and, when linked to GFSI-benchmarked schemes, pet food as well.
Certification to the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based helps you achieve:
- Competitive advantage through credible, independently verified plant-based product claims
- Consumer and brand confidence underpinned by robust operational controls
- Rigorous supply chain assurance from raw materials to finished products
- Effective segregation, traceability and integrity across all production and handling
- Clear labelling and claims management aligned with consumer expectations and retailer requirements
The BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based promotes site-level evaluation rather than ingredient-only verification and is designed as a simple add-on to any GFSI-benchmarked food safety standard or global markets program (at intermediate level).
This set-up supports smoother integration with existing food safety management systems and other BRCGS programs and helps organizations demonstrate compliance when a plant-based certificate is required by customers or retailers.
Value of BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based certification
Certification to the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based by an independent third-party like DNV demonstrates that your organization has implemented the operational controls required to prevent the introduction of animal-derived materials and protect the integrity of plant-based product claims.
It also shows that these controls operate effectively in day-to-day activities and that your plant-based products are produced with the level of integrity expected by consumers, retailers and brand owners.
As a result, you get:
- Alignment with retailer and market expectations for plant-based product integrity
- Demonstrated due diligence supported by robust operational controls
- Reduced risk of mislabelling or recall linked to animal-derived contamination
- Objective assessment by independent auditors to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
- Global recognition that supports market access and strengthens your competitive position
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How to get certified to BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based
To be certified, you first need to implement the required procedures and systems complying with the standard’s requirements. DNV is an independent third-party certification body for the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based and recognised by BRCGS.
We can help you throughout the journey starting from relevant BRCGS Plant-based Global Standard 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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FAQ – BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based Certification
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Plant-based certification is important because it provides independent assurance that plant-based products are produced without the introduction of animal-derived materials. It strengthens consumer trust, protects brand integrity and helps organizations demonstrate credible plant-based claims in a rapidly growing and competitive market. A plant-based certificate also supports global recognition and retailer acceptance.
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Certification to the BRCGS Global Standard Plant-Based helps you demonstrate robust operational controls that protect the integrity of plant-based products. It provides increased customer trust and credibility, stronger brand protection, reduced risk of mislabelling or recall, rigorous supply chain assurance and clear evidence of commitment for stakeholders, partners and customers. It also offers global recognition and validation of the plant-based product claim that supports market access and consumer confidence.
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