Embedding habits of excellence in food safety culture

BSI understands that no two food organizations are exactly alike. Our resources are developed to support all types of food business understand, embrace and embed food safety culture.

Yes, food safety culture is now a compliance requirement for companies hoping to achieve certification to GFSI-benchmarked standards such as BRCGS, FSSC 2200, SQF, Global GAP and IFS.

The GFSI Benchmarking Requirements Version 2020 includes food safety culture as a requirement. This means that for schemes to achieve the GFSI’s benchmark they now have to include, “elements of food safety culture, at a minimum consisting of: communication, training, feedback from employees and performance measurement on food safety related activities” as well as “the senior management’s commitment”.

Following on from the announcement by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, related to the new EU Regulation (EC 852), which requires food business operators to establish, maintain and provide evidence of an appropriate food safety culture, the topic of Food Safety Culture is now a regulatory requirement for all food businesses throughout the European Union, regardless of an organization’s commitment (or lack thereof) to GFSI or Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations (Codex) food safety certification.

BSI’s standards development team managed the development of PAS 320: A guide to a culture of food safety, bringing together food industry stakeholders to ensure the standard meets food sector needs.

Every food organization has a food safety culture, however, its maturity varies by company, site and across teams. The level of maturity is determined by the degree to which food safety is prioritized in the everyday decisions and actions of the people in the business. BSI training courses will help you discover how to measure and improve the maturity of your food safety culture.