Major vs minor non-conformance: what each one means for you
How SQF, BRCGS and FSSC 22000 grade audit findings, how long you get to close each one, and what a serious finding can mean for your certificate and your supply agreements.
By Jamid Dewani, Founder, EthicalHub · 5 min read
A minor non-conformance is an occasional slip that doesn’t put your food safety system at risk. A major is a systemic failure or serious deviation from the standard. A critical is a breakdown in control likely to put public health at risk. Minors and majors must be closed with evidence by a deadline, usually around 28 to 30 days. A critical fails an initial audit and, on a certified site, can lead to suspension of your certificate.
How the schemes define each finding
The wording differs, but all three GFSI schemes follow the same logic: how often it happened, and how much it puts safe food at risk.
| Level | SQF (Edition 9) | FSSC 22000 | A typical example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | A random or infrequent failure that doesn’t show a breakdown of the system | A requirement isn’t met, but the system can still achieve its intended results | One cleaning record missing a signature in a month of complete records |
| Major | A failure of a system element, a systemic breakdown or a serious deviation | A failure that affects the system’s ability to deliver safe product or control the process | No supplier approval for several active suppliers, or CCP records regularly unverified |
| Critical | A breakdown of control at a CCP, prerequisite program or process step, likely to cause a significant public health risk | A significant failure with direct adverse food safety impact and no appropriate action being taken | A metal detector failing its checks with product released anyway |
Definitions paraphrased from the SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing, Edition 9 (section 9.1) and a JAS-ANZ accredited certification body’s FSSC 22000 policy. BRCGS uses the same three levels; check the exact wording in the Issue 9 standard. Examples are illustrative; the auditor decides the grade.
How long you get to close each finding
| Scheme | Minor and major | Critical |
|---|---|---|
| SQF (Edition 9) | Closed within 30 calendar days. More time can be agreed for structural work, with temporary controls in place. | Fails an initial audit. A failing result at surveillance or recertification means immediate suspension. |
| BRCGS (Issue 9) | Corrective action with evidence, generally within 28 calendar days. | No certificate is issued. |
| FSSC 22000 | Set by the scheme rules and your certification body; confirm the dates at the closing meeting. | Certificate suspended within 3 working days, for up to 6 months, until a follow-up audit. |
Sources: SQF Edition 9 code (sections 9.4, 11.2); GoAudits summary of BRCGS Issue 9; JAS-ANZ accredited certification body’s FSSC 22000 policy (linked above). Your certification body’s rules take precedence.
How findings affect your score or grade
Retailers and buyers see your score or grade. A strong certificate makes supplier reviews easier; a weak one invites extra questions.
SQF
Each finding takes points off a score out of 100. Below 70 is a fail and no certificate is issued. A single critical fails the audit.
BRCGS
Your grade, from AA down to D, depends on the number and seriousness of findings. Majors pull the grade down fast, and a lower grade can bring your next audit forward.
What it can mean for your supply agreements
Retailers and major customers typically make a current GFSI certificate a condition of supply. So a finding that threatens your certificate is a commercial problem, not just a paperwork one.
- Minors: rarely a commercial issue on their own, if you close them on time.
- Majors: expect your customer to ask what happened and see the corrective action, especially at a supplier review.
- Criticals and suspensions: many supply agreements and retailer requirements oblige you to tell your customer promptly if your certificate is suspended or withdrawn. Supply can be paused until it’s restored.
Read your own supply agreement and retailer requirements for the exact notification rules. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
A corrective action that actually closes a finding
Contain it
Deal with the immediate problem: hold product, fix the record, re-check the equipment. Write down what you did and when.
Find the root cause
Ask why until you reach something you can change, such as the procedure, the schedule or the training. “Human error” is rarely accepted as a root cause.
Fix the cause
Change what caused it, give the action an owner and a due date, and check whether the same gap exists elsewhere on site.
Prove it worked
Send evidence: a revised procedure, training records, photos, or a run of records showing the problem hasn’t come back.
Every finding, closed on time
EthicalHub’s corrective action workflow records the root cause, owner, due date and evidence for every deviation and audit finding, and flags actions before they go overdue. When the certification body asks for close-out evidence, it’s already attached, and it goes into your audit pack with everything else.
Know your gaps before the auditor does
The free assessment and 59-point checklist show where findings are most likely.
Related guides
Non-conformances: common questions
What is a major non-conformance in a food safety audit?
Can you pass an audit with a major non-conformance?
How long do I have to close a non-conformance?
What happens if I get a critical non-conformance?
Close every finding on time.
See how EthicalHub tracks corrective actions from finding to evidence.