Food Safety Certification in Canada and USA.

Food safety certification is independent confirmation that a food business controls food safety hazards. An accredited certification body audits the business against a standard such as HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF or IFS and issues a certificate if it meets the requirements.

Pick the standard your buyers require, run a gap analysis, build your HACCP plan and prerequisite programs, train your staff, complete a mock audit and then pass the audit by an accredited certification body. MAZE prepares you for every step.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a preventive system for identifying and controlling biological, chemical and physical hazards in food. It is based on seven principles set out by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and is the foundation of almost every food safety standard.

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarks food safety certification schemes against one set of requirements. Retailers and food-service companies accept GFSI-recognized certificates such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF, IFS, CanadaGAP, PrimusGFS and GRMS from their suppliers.

It depends on what you produce and who you sell to. Many North American retailers ask for SQF, European buyers often ask for BRCGS or IFS, global manufacturers often choose FSSC 22000, and growers use CanadaGAP or PrimusGFS. Ask your main buyers first, and MAZE will help you choose.

All three are GFSI-recognized and accepted by most major retailers. SQF is the most common choice in the United States and Canada, BRCGS is popular with UK and European buyers, and FSSC 22000 suits manufacturers who already follow ISO standards or export globally. The best choice is the one your main customers ask for.

A HACCP certificate is not required by law, but most food businesses that need a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations must have a written preventive control plan, which is built on HACCP principles. Many buyers also ask for HACCP or a GFSI certificate.

HACCP is a hazard-control method. ISO 22000:2018 is a full food safety management system that includes HACCP plus management commitment, prerequisite programs, communication and continual improvement. It follows the same structure as other ISO standards, so it combines easily with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

FSSC 22000 is built on ISO 22000 and adds sector prerequisite programs and extra FSSC requirements. FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognized; ISO 22000 on its own is not.

As of 2026: ISO 22000:2018, FSSC 22000 Version 6 (Version 7 published May 2026, with sites moving across from 2027), BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 (Issue 10 in development), BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7, SQF Edition 10, IFS Food Version 8, CanadaGAP Version 11 (audits from April 2026) and PrimusGFS Version 4.0 (published 2026, with a transition period). MAZE always prepares you for the version your auditor will use.

They are the same family of standards. BRC (British Retail Consortium) was renamed BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards). The main standards are BRCGS Food Safety, now at Issue 9 with Issue 10 in development, and BRCGS Packaging Materials, now at Issue 7.

SQF (Safe Quality Food) is a GFSI-recognized food safety program run by the SQF Institute and widely required by retailers in the United States and Canada. The current SQF Code, Edition 10, covers growers, manufacturers, packaging, storage and distribution.

IFS Food is the International Featured Standard for food manufacturers, currently at Version 8. It is GFSI-recognized and widely required by retailers in Europe, especially for private-label products.

CanadaGAP is a GFSI-recognized on-farm food safety program for companies that grow, pack and store fresh fruit and vegetables in Canada. Audits since April 2026 use CanadaGAP Version 11.

PrimusGFS is a GFSI-recognized food safety scheme used mainly in the fresh produce sector, covering farms, harvest crews, packinghouses, coolers and processors across the Americas. PrimusGFS Version 4.0 was published in 2026, with a transition period before it becomes mandatory.

The Global Red Meat Standard is a GFSI-recognized food safety standard written specifically for slaughtering, cutting, deboning and processing of red meat.

Most businesses that import, export or prepare food for trade between Canadian provinces need a licence and a written preventive control plan under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. A HACCP-based system from MAZE supports that plan.

Yes. The US FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule requires a written food safety plan based on a hazard analysis. A strong HACCP system is the starting point, and MAZE helps you cover the extra preventive controls FSMA requires.

Most sites take about 3 to 6 months from gap analysis to certificate, depending on the standard, the size of the plant and how much is already in place.

It depends on the standard, your site and how ready you are. It includes consulting and the certification body’s audit fees. Call +1-888-315-6293 for a quote.

Certificates are issued by independent certification bodies accredited for each scheme. MAZE prepares your system and your team, and the certification body audits you.

Yes. MAZE has offices in Mississauga, Ontario and Los Angeles, California, and helps food manufacturers, growers, packers and packaging suppliers on both sides of the border.