BRCGS Food Version 9 – New for 2023!

The newest version of the Food Standard from the BRCGS, Version 9, comes into effect on the 1st February 2023. Originally released in August 2022, with official training starting in October 2022, the standard brings forward a large number of changes with the intention of improving Food Safety Standards.

The changes are wide and varied, but nothing that a v8 accredited site should be able to embrace – however there can be significant work involved in getting a site up to standard in time for an audit.

One point which should be noted is that whilst you can’t be given a Non-Conformance from your audit body for not complying with something from v9 before the start date – audit bodies can, and do, ask their auditors to look for evidence that the site is making strides to meet the standards.

It’s always worthwhile getting your ducks in a row as soon as possible, and a Gap Analysis against the standard is a superb way to gauge the level of work required to maintain accreditation to the highest standards.