Both are GFSI-recognised food-safety schemes. BRCGS is UK-origin, prescriptive and very popular with UK/EU retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S). FSSC 22000 is built on ISO 22000 plus PRPs and is more flexible, with strong adoption by global manufacturers.
Food manufacturers and packers supplying UK/EU retailers and brands.
Global food manufacturers and processors, particularly those already operating ISO 22000 or wanting a more flexible management-system-based approach.
All ten dimensions head-to-head:
| Aspect | BRCGS | FSSC 22000 |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | BRC Global Standards (LGC Group) | FSSC Foundation, Netherlands |
| GFSI-recognised? | Yes | Yes |
| Base | Proprietary BRCGS standard | ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002-x PRPs + FSSC additions |
| Structure | 9 sections + audit programme | Management system + PRPs + HACCP |
| Flexibility | More prescriptive | More flexible — process-based |
| Geographic strength | UK, Ireland, EU | Continental Europe, US, APAC, global |
| Audit frequency | Annual (announced or unannounced) | Annual + unannounced every 3 years |
| Site grading | AA, A, B, C, D, +/unannounced | No grading |
| Cost (SME) | £4k–£10k/year | £5k–£12k/year |
| Scheme version | Issue 9 (2022) | v6 (2023) |
Choose BRCGS if your customers are UK or EU retailers, or your buyers explicitly ask for it; if you prefer a more prescriptive approach.
Choose FSSC 22000 if you operate globally; if you already run ISO 22000; or if you want flexibility in how you implement controls.
Both are GFSI-recognised so satisfy the same buyer demand. Switching between them is moderately costly because the documentation structure differs.
Comparable. FSSC 22000 is slightly cheaper for multi-site organisations because of group-certification options.
BRCGS audits feel more like inspections (very prescriptive); FSSC 22000 audits feel more like ISO audits. Many food sites find BRCGS more demanding day-to-day but easier to understand upfront.
Yes — but expect 3–6 months of documentation rework. Plan the transition during a recertification window.
Yes. SQF (North American origin), IFS Food (German/French origin), Global GAP and FSSC, BRCGS are the main GFSI benchmarks.
Both standards have free interactive gap-analysis tools — no sign-up, no install.