Industry-led governance. Future-ready assurance.
Strong governance ensures BRCGS remains trusted, relevant and responsive to the needs of a rapidly evolving global supply chain. Guided by our Senior Management Team and strengthened by strategic and technical input from industry experts through our Technical Advisory Committees and International Advisory Board, we combine robust oversight with real-world insight. This collaborative approach helps us anticipate change, continually strengthen our standards and lead the future of supply chain assurance.
Technical Advisory Committees
BRCGS standards and certification schemes are managed by the BRCGS Standards Team and governed by Technical Advisory Committees (TACs), each operating under specific terms of reference. These committees serve as a forum for input from diverse stakeholders.
International Advisory Board
The International Advisory Board (IAB) consists of global representatives with an interest in developing, implementing and maintaining BRCGS certification. It provides strategic and technical guidance and meets regionally to ensure global representation and input.
Headed by an independent Chair, the role of the IAB is to:
Review strategic issues affecting BRCGS standards and advise on protecting and strengthening their global reputation.
Advise on opportunities and risks affecting the growth and development of BRCGS certification.
Monitor certification performance, review internal compliance reports and advise on measures to protect certification integrity.
Direct and review the work of the Technical Advisory Committees, where appropriate.
BRCGS standard development
BRCGS standards and modules are developed according to a specific scope or scopes that relate to activities carried out at a site. The development of a BRCGS Standard is a collaborative effort led by a working group that includes the BRCGS Standard Manager, BRCGS representatives, and key stakeholders such as industry experts, retailers, brand owners, accreditation bodies, academics and certification bodies. The development process, which typically spans 18 months, involves identifying industry challenges within the standard’s scope to integrate them into the next iteration or a new publication.
Before the working group begins, BRCGS gathers stakeholder feedback through a public consultation, promoted via various marketing channels. This feedback is evaluated and incorporated into the working group’s initial agenda for discussion. Throughout the drafting process, all aspects of the standard - including requirements and protocols - can be updated, modified, or added, depending on the needs of its users. The scope, maturity, and application of the standard influence the inclusion of new elements, such as unannounced audit programs or additional benchmarking requirements.
When the standard reaches the final draft stage, it undergoes another public consultation, where stakeholder comments are reviewed and analysed. The draft is then refined further, reviewed by the working group, and finally approved for publication by the Head of Standards. The Standard Manager compiles the requirements, protocols, introduction, and appendices, and initiates the publication process.
Publishing involves professional technical copy-editing by editors experienced with the nuances of BRCGS standards. All edits are tracked and reviewed by the Standard Manager to ensure the original intent and meaning of the text remain intact.
Once published, there is typically a six-month transition period before audits begin under the new version of the standard. This time allows for:
Auditor training and updates to certification body processes
Site personnel training (if necessary)
Accreditation of the standard by global accreditation bodies
Benchmarking by third-party organisations
BRCGS announces an official implementation date, marking when audits will transition from the previous issue of the standard to the new one. This date is crucial for BRCGS systems, approved certification bodies, and certificated sites to ensure a smooth transition.