BRCGS Storage and Distribution completes the chain of certification from manufacturer to retailer. We get warehousing, logistics and distribution operators certified to Issue 4, with temperature control and allergen management built in from the start.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution is a Global Food Safety Initiative recognised certification standard for warehousing, logistics and distribution operations handling food, packaging and consumer products. It completes the chain of product certification, from primary processor to manufacturer, and from manufacturer to retailer or food service company.
The current version is Issue 4, published in 2020. It can be applied at any point in the distribution chain, from primary production through to retail, and covers ambient, chilled and frozen storage, transport between sites, cross-docking, and value-added services such as repackaging or labelling. With support from leading brands, retailers and logistics providers, the standard has seen consistent year-on-year growth, with sites certificated in over 50 countries.
Issue 4 places increased emphasis on continuous improvement and on encouraging the development of a product safety culture, building on the experience of the previous issue and aligning requirements with other BRCGS Global Standards to ensure consistency throughout the supply chain.
Two entirely new sections were introduced in Issue 4: allergen management, addressing segregation and cross-contact prevention during storage and transport, and open product handling, addressing the procedures needed when product packaging is damaged or opened during handling.
Every audit results in a grade from AA to D, based on the number and severity of non-conformities found, using the same grading approach as other BRCGS Global Standards.
| Grade | What it means | Typical basis | Commercial impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | Highest grade. Very few or no minor non-conformities. | Minimal findings, strong evidence across all clauses. | Strongest commercial signal. AA+ if achieved via unannounced audit. |
| A | Strong performance with a small number of minor non-conformities. | Generally sound system with isolated gaps. | Well regarded by retailers and logistics partners. |
| B | Acceptable performance with a moderate number of minor non-conformities, or one major. | System functioning but with several areas needing attention. | Certification achieved, but improvement expected before next audit. |
| C | Multiple major non-conformities or a higher volume of minors. | Significant gaps across the management system. | Certification at risk. Close scrutiny at next audit. |
| D | Critical or fundamental non-conformities identified. | Serious gaps in temperature control, product safety or core management system elements. | Certification likely withheld pending corrective action. |
Our mock audit scores your site against the same clause structure and grading criteria used by certification bodies, giving you a predicted grade and a clear view of which clauses need attention before the live audit.
Where environmental control of product is critical to safety, legality or quality, Issue 4 sets out clear and specific requirements for how that control must be specified, monitored and recorded.
Where environmental control of product, such as temperature or controlled atmosphere, is critical to product safety, legality and quality, the operating limits must be clearly specified. Monitoring must occur at a frequency that allows intervention before those limits are exceeded, commonly every four hours for manual checks, though continuous recording with alarms is increasingly the practical standard given the cost and reliability benefits. Records of monitoring, calibration and verification of temperature recording equipment must be maintained, along with records of vehicle and equipment maintenance and cleaning, including any cleaning carried out by subcontractors.
For sites still relying on manual temperature logging, the practical question is whether the recording frequency genuinely allows for intervention before a deviation becomes a product safety issue. An eight-hour check interval on a freezer that could lose temperature control within two or three hours does not meet this standard, regardless of whether the records themselves are complete. Many sites find that the cost of automated temperature recording with alarm thresholds is recovered quickly through reduced labour for manual checks and the audit confidence that continuous, verifiable records provide.
These two entirely new sections were introduced in Issue 4, reflecting the growing recognition that storage and distribution sites are an active part of food safety, beyond their traditional role as a holding point between manufacturing and retail.
Storage and distribution sites must address allergen segregation, handling and cleaning to prevent cross-contact. This includes shared storage areas where allergen-containing and non-allergen products are stored together, shared vehicles and load compartments, and cleaning procedures between loads of different allergen profiles.
Procedures are required for situations where product packaging is damaged or opened during handling, storage or transport. This covers assessment of the product's continued safety and suitability, decisions on repackaging versus disposition, and clear documentation of how these decisions are made and recorded.
For sites that have operated for years without formal procedures in these two areas, often because damaged packaging or shared storage were handled informally based on staff experience, building documented procedures is usually straightforward once the underlying practice is examined. The work is less about changing what happens and more about making the decision-making process visible, consistent and auditable.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution is required across the logistics sector wherever certified products need to maintain their assurance through to the next stage of the supply chain.
Businesses storing and distributing products on behalf of manufacturers and retailers, where certification is a standard condition of the logistics contract.
Operators of chilled and frozen storage facilities, where temperature control requirements under Issue 4 are central to the certification scope.
Food and consumer goods manufacturers operating their own storage and distribution facilities, who want to demonstrate the same level of assurance as their certificated suppliers and customers.
Sites where product moves between transport modes or is consolidated for onward distribution, requiring traceability and handling controls across the transition.
Operations supplying food service companies, where the standard completes the chain of certification from manufacturer through to the food service customer.
Storage and distribution operations handling non-food products, where the standard applies equally to packaging and general consumer goods.
We cover the full scope of BRCGS Storage and Distribution consulting, from initial certification through to grading improvement.
A clause-by-clause review of your management system against Issue 4, identifying gaps against the AA to D grading criteria and producing a predicted result.
Design of temperature monitoring and control systems for storage areas and transport, including operating limits, recording frequency, alarm thresholds and calibration schedules.
Development of allergen segregation, handling and cleaning procedures addressing shared storage areas, vehicles and load compartments, meeting the dedicated Issue 4 requirements.
Development of procedures for assessing, repackaging or disposing of products with damaged or opened packaging, with clear documentation of decision-making.
Review of traceability systems where product moves between multiple sites, transport providers or cross-docking points, ensuring continuity of records throughout.
Design and delivery of a scheduled internal audit programme covering the full Issue 4 clause structure, including the allergen management and open product handling sections.
A full mock audit scored against Issue 4 using AA to D grading criteria, including preparation for the unannounced audit pathway to AA+.
Development of maintenance, calibration and cleaning record systems for vehicles and equipment, including management of subcontracted cleaning such as tanker cleaning.
A monthly retainer covering document maintenance, regulatory update alerts, internal audit scheduling and helpline access.
Building internal competency in temperature control, allergen segregation and internal auditing makes ongoing compliance significantly easier to maintain. Our 1-on-1, TrustBite-recognised BRCGS training courses cover the core principles shared across BRCGS standards, and can be paired with this consulting programme. We can advise on the right approach for your team during the initial consultation.
Certification follows a defined sequence. Our part of the process typically takes a few weeks. The certification body audit timeline depends on their scheduling and is outside our control.
| Stage | What happens | Our role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gap assessment | Your management system is reviewed against Issue 4, with each clause assessed against the AA to D grading criteria. | We conduct the assessment and deliver a written action plan with a predicted grade. | 2 to 3 days |
| 2. Temperature control review | Operating limits, monitoring frequency and recording systems are reviewed for all temperature-critical storage areas and transport. | We review and design temperature control systems where gaps are identified. | 2 to 3 days |
| 3. Allergen and open product procedures | Allergen segregation and open product handling procedures are developed or updated to meet the dedicated Issue 4 sections. | We develop both sets of procedures in collaboration with your team. | 3 to 5 days |
| 4. Documentation | The full management system is documented against the Issue 4 clause structure, including site standards, product control and personnel. | We write all documentation in collaboration with your team. | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 5. Implementation | The documented system is put into practice. Records begin to accumulate for the evidence period before audit. | We provide implementation support and review emerging records. | 2 to 3 weeks |
| 6. Internal audit | A full internal audit covers the Issue 4 clause structure. Non-conformances are recorded and closed. | We conduct the internal audit and close all findings. | 2 to 3 days |
| 7. Mock certification audit | A full mock audit scores the site against AA to D grading criteria, identifying any remaining gaps. | We conduct the mock audit, issue a graded findings report and close all identified gaps. | 2 to 3 days |
| 8. Certification audit | The certification body conducts the audit, which may be unannounced depending on the audit option selected. | We provide standby support and draft corrective action responses for any findings. | Up to the certification body |
Our gap assessment scores your current system against Issue 4, with particular focus on temperature control and the two sections introduced in this version.
The gap assessment covers the full clause structure of Issue 4, including senior management commitment, the product safety and quality management system, site standards, product control, process control and personnel, as well as the dedicated sections on allergen management and open product handling. Each clause is assessed against the AA to D grading criteria used by certification bodies.
Particular attention is paid to temperature control, since this is the area most directly tied to product safety for storage and distribution operations, and to the two newer sections, since these are the areas most likely to generate findings for sites still operating against earlier issue documentation.
We review your existing management system documentation against the Issue 4 clause structure.
We assess monitoring frequency, recording and alarm systems against the requirement to allow intervention before limits are exceeded.
We assess storage areas, vehicles and handling practices against documented procedures, including allergen segregation and open product handling.
We produce a written gap assessment with a predicted grade and a prioritised action plan.
If your business also holds or is pursuing BRCGS Food Safety or BRCGS Packaging Materials certification, we identify shared documentation and management system elements to avoid duplicated work.
The same issues appear across BRCGS Storage and Distribution audits, with temperature control and the newer Issue 4 sections being frequent areas of focus.
Manual checks at intervals too long to catch a deviation before it becomes a product safety issue, particularly for frozen storage where temperature loss can progress quickly, are a frequent finding regardless of whether the records themselves are otherwise complete.
Procedures that address allergen labelling but not the practical reality of shared racking, shared vehicles or shared load compartments leave the cross-contact risk that the Issue 4 allergen management section specifically targets unaddressed.
Sites that have always handled damaged packaging based on individual staff judgement, without a documented procedure for assessment and disposition, do not meet the explicit Issue 4 requirement, even where the underlying decisions made are generally sound.
When product moves between a site's own records and a third-party transport provider's records, gaps in the handover of traceability information are a common finding, particularly for cross-docking operations.
Records of cleaning, including cleaning carried out by subcontractors such as tanker cleaning services, are frequently incomplete or not retained in a way that demonstrates the cleaning met required standards before the next load.
Issue 4's increased emphasis on product safety culture means a documented policy alone is not sufficient. Auditors look for evidence that staff at all levels understand their role in maintaining product safety during storage and transport.
Storage and distribution operators sometimes need to understand how their certification relates to standards held by their customers and competitors.
| BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4 | BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 | IFS Logistics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Warehousing, logistics and distribution operators | Food manufacturers and processors | Logistics operators, primarily for IFS-aligned supply chains |
| Hazard approach | Risk-based product safety management system | HACCP-based food safety plan | HACCP-based, adapted for logistics |
| Grading or certification | AA to D (AA+ if unannounced) | AA to D (AA+ if unannounced) | A to D, KO requirements |
| Our consulting | BRCGS Storage & Distribution | BRCGS Food Safety | IFS Logistics |
What drives the timeline and cost of a BRCGS Storage and Distribution project. We provide a written proposal with a fixed fee after the initial consultation.
Timeline
How long our consulting work takes
Cost factors
What drives the consulting fee
No existing certification or formal management system. Our consulting work typically takes 3 to 5 weeks. Certification body scheduling is separate and outside our control.
A single warehouse with dedicated transport requires less work than a multi-site operation with a mixed fleet and subcontracted transport providers.
Sites relying on manual temperature logging may need investment in automated monitoring to meet Issue 4 requirements efficiently, which is scoped separately from the consulting fee itself.
Sites handling a wide range of allergen profiles or high volumes of mixed products require more detailed segregation and handling procedures.
Significant documentation and system work can be shared if you already hold BRCGS Food Safety or BRCGS Packaging Materials certification. Our consulting work to add Storage and Distribution typically takes 1 to 3 weeks.
Sites targeting the top grade and the unannounced audit pathway to AA+ benefit from a more thorough mock audit, adding to the scope.
A gap assessment only, a full implementation programme, or a temperature control infrastructure review each carry different fees. All scopes are defined in writing before work begins.
Certification body audit fees are separate from our consulting fees and paid directly to your chosen BRCGS-approved certification body. We advise on CB selection during the initial consultation.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from warehousing, logistics and distribution operators preparing for certification.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution is a Global Food Safety Initiative recognised certification standard for warehousing, logistics and distribution operations handling food, packaging and consumer products. The current version is Issue 4, published in 2020, which places increased emphasis on continuous improvement and product safety culture and introduced new sections covering allergen management and open product handling. It can be applied at any point in the distribution chain, from primary production through to retail or food service, and sites are certificated in over 50 countries.
The standard covers storage, distribution and transport activities for food, packaging and consumer products, including ambient, chilled and frozen storage, transport between sites, cross-docking, and value-added services such as repackaging or labelling. It applies to companies that store or distribute goods on behalf of others, including third-party logistics providers, as well as in-house storage and distribution operations within manufacturing or retail businesses. Activities considered outside the scope, such as where a customer, and not the certificated site, carries out loading or unloading, should be confirmed with the certification body before the audit is scoped.
Where environmental control of product, such as temperature or controlled atmosphere, is critical to product safety, legality or quality, Issue 4 requires that operating limits are clearly specified, monitored at a frequency that allows intervention before limits are exceeded, and recorded with calibration and verification evidence. This applies to storage areas, vehicles and any other location within the certification scope, with records maintained of monitoring, calibration, cleaning and vehicle or equipment maintenance.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution uses the same grading system as other BRCGS standards: AA, A, B, C and D, based on the number and severity of non-conformities found during the audit. A plus designation is added where the audit is conducted on an unannounced basis, for example AA+. The certificate is valid for 12 months, with re-audits conducted annually, or with an extended cycle for sites achieving the highest grades on an unannounced basis.
Issue 4 introduced new sections covering allergen management and open product handling, alongside its existing requirements for site standards, product control, process control, personnel and management systems. The allergen management section addresses segregation, handling and cleaning to prevent cross-contact during storage and transport. The open product handling section addresses the procedures needed when product packaging is damaged or opened during handling, including assessment, repackaging and disposition decisions.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution certification is required by retailers, brand owners and food service companies from third-party logistics providers, warehousing operators and distribution centres handling their products. It is also relevant to manufacturers operating their own storage and distribution facilities who want to demonstrate the same level of assurance as their certificated suppliers and customers, completing the chain of product certification from primary processor through to retail.
A BRCGS Storage and Distribution gap assessment reviews your management system against the clauses of Issue 4, covering senior management commitment, the product safety and quality management system, site standards, product control, process control, personnel and the dedicated sections on allergen management and open product handling. It identifies gaps against the AA to D grading criteria, with particular attention to temperature control systems, and produces a written action plan and a predicted grading outcome.
The most common BRCGS Storage and Distribution audit issues are: temperature monitoring frequency not sufficient to allow intervention before limits are exceeded. Allergen segregation procedures not addressing shared storage areas, vehicles or equipment. Open product handling procedures missing or not followed consistently. Traceability gaps when product moves between multiple sites or third-party transport providers. Vehicle and equipment cleaning records, including subcontracted cleaning, not maintained to the standard required.
Our consulting work moves fast. From gap assessment to mock audit ready, most sites are there in a few weeks. The total time to certificate depends on when the certification body can schedule your audit, which is outside our control. We make sure our part never holds you up.
Yes. Gap assessments, documentation development, temperature control system design and procedure development are all available remotely. We work with clients in any country. On-site visits are available for mock audits and where a physical review of warehousing, transport or temperature-controlled areas is needed.
You can commission any of these on their own, with an agreed scope and a written quote, without taking on ongoing consulting. See all food safety services.
To establish the real size of the project before an audit date is booked.
Read about A gap assessment →Where the clause requires audits and nobody internal is independent enough.
Read about An internal audit →To test the chain under timed conditions.
Read about A mock recall exercise →Where fabrication, zoning or flows are the underlying problem.
Read about A facility hygiene assessment →Tell us about your sites, your fleet and your target grade. We will tell you exactly what Issue 4 requires.