Certification

SQF vs BRCGS vs FSSC 22000: which fits an Australian SME?

All three are GFSI-recognised and sit at the same level. The differences are in structure, style and how results are reported. Here’s how to choose.

4 min read

The short answer

Start with your customers: choose the scheme your buyers and target markets accept. If they accept all three, pick on fit. SQF suits sites that want a code with modules and a named site practitioner. BRCGS suits sites that like detailed, prescriptive requirements and a visible grade. FSSC 22000 suits sites already running ISO management systems, or exporting to customers who prefer ISO.

Side by side

The three schemes compared

Current as of October 2026. Versions are changing in 2027, so check the latest with your certification body.

	SQF	BRCGS Food Safety	FSSC 22000
Current version	Edition 9; Edition 10 published March 2026, audits expected from 2 January 2027	Issue 9; Issue 10 in development, no release date	Version 7, published May 2026; Version 6 audits allowed until 30 April 2027
How it’s built	A food safety code with system elements plus a module for your sector	A detailed standard with 12 fundamental requirements	ISO 22000 management system + ISO 22002 prerequisite programs + FSSC additional requirements
Style	Practical code; a site-employed SQF practitioner is accountable	Prescriptive: tells you in detail what to have	Management-system approach: you decide how, then prove it works
Result	Score out of 100: E, G or C to pass; below 70 fails	Grade from AA to D; “+” for unannounced audits	Certified or not
Audit cycle	Recertification every year	Certificate valid 12 months; grade can bring the next audit forward	Three-year certificate with yearly surveillance audits
Unannounced audits	One in every three-year cycle	At least one every three years	At least one surveillance audit per three-year cycle
Entry step	SQF Fundamentals (not a GFSI certificate)	START! programme (not a GFSI certificate)	FSSC Development Program (a conformity statement, not certification)
Worth knowing	First developed in Australia in 1994	Shows a visible grade buyers can compare	A natural fit if you already run ISO 9001

Sources: SQFI on code editions, SQFI, what is SQF, BRCGS on Issue 10, BRCGS unannounced audit protocol, FSSC on Version 7, FSSC certification process.

Choosing

Four questions that decide it

Question 1

What do your customers accept?

Ask every current and target buyer, in writing. Australian supermarkets generally accept any GFSI-recognised scheme, but some customers and export markets have a preference. If one scheme is required, the decision is made.

Question 2

Do you already run ISO systems?

If you hold ISO 9001 or think in management-system terms, FSSC 22000 will feel familiar and can share documents with what you have.

Question 3

Do you want detail or flexibility?

BRCGS spells out requirements in detail, which helps if you’re building from a thin system. FSSC 22000 gives more room to design your own approach. SQF sits between the two.

Question 4

Who will own it on site?

SQF requires an SQF practitioner employed by the site. Every scheme needs a capable owner, but SQF makes the role explicit. Make sure you have that person before you start.

Timing

Planning a first audit in 2026 or 2027

SQF: audits before the Edition 10 start date are to Edition 9. If your first audit will be in 2027, build to Edition 10.
BRCGS: Issue 9 is current. Build to Issue 9 and watch for an Issue 10 announcement.
FSSC 22000: Version 7 is out. From 1 May 2027 all audits are to Version 7, so a new system should be built to it.

Whichever you choose, the gap from basic HACCP is similar: here’s the real gap list.

Where EthicalHub fits

One system, whichever scheme you choose

EthicalHub tracks clause progress for SQF, BRCGS and FSSC 22000 on top of the same HACCP plan, 18 prerequisite programs, supplier records and corrective actions. If a customer asks you to switch schemes later, your records come with you.

Not sure which scheme fits?

Talk it through on a walkthrough, using your customers and your site.

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Each scheme in detail

SQF certification in Australia →Editions, modules, steps and costs. BRCGS certification in Australia →The 12 fundamentals and how grading works. FSSC 22000 in Australia →Version 7 dates and the three parts of the scheme. HACCP to GFSI: the gap list →What a HACCP-only site has to add.

Questions

Choosing a GFSI scheme: common questions

Is SQF, BRCGS or FSSC 22000 the best?

None is better. All three are GFSI-recognised and sit at the same level. Choose the one your customers accept and that fits how your site runs.

Do Coles and Woolworths accept all three schemes?

Australian supermarkets generally accept GFSI-recognised certification, then add their own requirements. Confirm with your buyer before you choose, because requirements vary by retailer and product.

Which scheme is easiest for a small manufacturer?

It depends on your starting point. BRCGS’s detail can help a site with a thin system, FSSC 22000 suits sites with ISO experience, and SQF has an entry program, SQF Fundamentals, to build up to the full code. None of the entry programs is a GFSI certificate.

Can I switch schemes later?

Yes. Much of your system carries over, especially your HACCP plan and prerequisite programs. You’ll need a gap analysis against the new scheme and a new certification audit.

Pick the scheme. Keep the records.

See how ready your records are for any GFSI audit.

Check your readiness Book a walkthrough