787 974 136
BRCGS Consumer Products has reached its fifth edition. The new edition of the standard is scheduled for publication in October 2026, and the first certification audits conducted in accordance with the new requirements will begin in April 2027. This is a good time to take a look at what is actually changing compared to the current Issue 4, which was introduced back in 2016. If you need a refresher on what this standard is all about, take a look at our introductory article on BRCGS Consumer Products.
The draft of Issue 5 was developed by a working group comprising consumer goods manufacturers, retail chains, industry organisations, accreditation and certification bodies, and independent technical experts. The public consultation on the draft standard concluded in January 2026, and the final version of the text is currently being finalised based on the feedback received. If you are interested in how a similar revision process unfolded for another standard in the BRCGS family, see our article on BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7– there we describe how the implementation of a similar revision of the standard for packaging materials took place.
Until now, the BRCGS Consumer Products standard has operated in two separate versions – General Merchandise and Personal Care and Household – with distinct sets of requirements tailored to each product category. In Issue 5, both versions are merged into a single, coherent standard covering the requirements for both product groups. For manufacturers, this means a single reference document rather than having to determine which variant of the standard corresponds to their production profile.
The distinction between the Foundation and Higher levels is also being removed. In the new edition, there is a single, uniform level of requirements for all certified sites, regardless of the level they previously achieved. This change streamlines the assessment system and makes it easier to compare sites certified to the same standard.
The most significant substantive change is the introduction of two entirely new sections to the standard:
– Section 7 – Enhanced hygienic conditions – applies to establishments that manufacture products subject to specific hygiene regulations regarding microbiological contamination, or for which a risk assessment has shown that the finished product may favour the growth or survival of microorganisms that could harm the consumer. This section applies conditionally – the establishment itself determines, as part of the product risk assessment, whether it is subject to these additional requirements.
– Section 8 – Traded products – regulates the management of products that enter the establishment’s warehouse but are not manufactured, repackaged or processed there. This responds to the increasingly common practice in the consumer goods sector of combining in-house production with the distribution of goods from other suppliers under one roof.
Furthermore, Issue 5 also changes the structure and numbering of the existing sections – for example, product risk assessment and hazard analysis are combined into a single, joint Section 2 (Product and process risk management), whilst the requirements concerning personnel and staff facilities have been reorganised. For those currently working with Issue 4, this means having to familiarise themselves with the new structure of the standard, even though the substantive content of many requirements remains similar.
The BRCGS has also reviewed the product categories covered by the standard, including those that had not previously been used for the certification of sites – such as construction products, transport equipment, bicycles and boats. At the same time, the standard clearly excludes, amongst others, pharmaceutical products, food supplements, bulk fuels, transport and recreational vehicles, and building materials.
The new edition also clarifies the terminology used in the standard – it introduces a clear distinction between the terms ‘site’ (the unit subject to audit) and ‘company’ (the legal entity owning the site), and clarifies the definition of ‘personnel’, which covers all persons working on the site – regardless of their form of employment.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. In the next article, we’ll take a closer look at the new substantive requirements – including an expanded product safety culture and a completely new assessment of the supply chain’s vulnerability to fraud – along with the specific dates from which they will become auditable. To better understand the rationale behind the Issue 5 requirements, it is worth first familiarising yourself with the principles underpinning the entire BRCGS family of standards and the role played by BRCGS Consumer Products within it.
If you are already considering how to prepare your site for the transition to Issue 5, please contact us – we will help you plan the implementation process well in advance.
DJB DORADZTWO
Marcin Chorąży
