Food Safety Certifications Explained: HACCP, ISO 22000, BRCGS & SQF

When you buy food in volume from a supplier you have never visited, a food-safety certificate is often the first evidence you see. But "certified" can mean very different things depending on the scheme, the scope and the issuing body. This guide explains the names buyers meet most often and how to check that a certificate really supports the product you plan to buy.

1. HACCP: a method, not a certificate by itself

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a systematic way of identifying hazards in a process and controlling them at defined points, such as cooking temperature, metal detection or chilling. Many regulators require HACCP-based controls, and many certification schemes build on it. A supplier may say it "follows HACCP" without any third-party audit, so ask whether the plan is independently audited and who audited it.

2. ISO 22000: a management-system standard

ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management systems. It combines HACCP principles with management-system requirements such as documented procedures, internal audits and continual improvement. A certificate is issued by an accredited certification body after an audit of the supplier's system. It shows a system exists; it is not a guarantee about every individual lot.

3. BRCGS and SQF: retailer-facing schemes

BRCGS and SQF are widely used certification programs in retail and food-service supply chains. Both are recognised under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking framework, which is why many large buyers ask for one of them. They typically involve a detailed site audit and a graded result, so ask for the audit grade or rating and the certificate's expiry date, not only the logo.

4. Product certifications are separate

Halal, Kosher and Organic are product or claim certifications. They do not replace a food-safety scheme, and a food-safety certificate does not prove a Halal or Organic claim. If your customers expect one of these claims, request that specific certificate, check the products covered, and confirm that your destination market recognises the certifying body.

5. How to verify a certificate

• Scope: does it cover the exact product category and the exact production site you are buying from?
• Issuer: is the certification body accredited, and does the scheme's own directory list the certificate?
• Validity: check the issue and expiry dates, and ask about any open non-conformities.
• Name match: the company and site on the certificate should match your supplier and contract.
• Traceability: ask how a batch can be traced and recalled if needed.

6. Certificates are the start of due diligence

Pair certificates with samples, lab results for the lot, clear specifications and, where the order justifies it, a document review or audit. Our checklist on how to qualify a wholesale food supplier shows how these checks fit together, and our food safety page explains how documentation is handled on the platform.

Sentrick Foods is a qualified B2B wholesale food marketplace connecting verified suppliers, professional buyers, and logistics and customs partners worldwide. See how buyers source on Sentrick Foods →