BRCGS Food Safety Issue 10: work begins on the new edition of the standard. When will it come into force?

Whilst the food industry is still implementing the current updates to the 9th edition of the standard, BRCGS has already launched the process that will lead to the creation of the 10th edition of the Global Standard for Food Safety. In April 2026, the Technical Working Group (TWG) began its work, tasked with shaping the new version of the standard. This is a signal to all certified food producers that it is worth starting to keep track of the direction of the changes now – even if there are still a few years to go before they are implemented. If you are just getting to know this standard, it is worth starting with the basics – what BRCGS Food Safety is and what requirements it places on food producers.

From public consultation to the establishment of a working group

The process of developing a new edition of the BRCGS standard does not begin immediately with the work of an expert team. It is preceded by a public consultation, during which organisations from around the world – manufacturers, certification bodies, retail representatives and regulatory authorities – can submit comments on the current 9th edition of the standard and suggestions regarding the direction of its further development. This consultation for Issue 9 took place in late January and early February 2026.

On this basis, the BRCGS conducted a recruitment process for the Technical Working Group, and those selected to participate were notified at the end of February 2026. The team’s first meeting took place on 1 April 2026 – this date marks the symbolic start of work on the 10th edition.

How long will work on the new version of the standard take?

According to announcements by the BRCGS, the Technical Working Group’s work is expected to take between 12 and 15 months, starting in April 2026. During this time, a dozen or so meetings of the group are planned, to be held via videoconference, so as to enable experts from different time zones around the world to participate. Each meeting is expected to last up to several hours, and participants will receive materials in advance for review, which is intended to ensure the substantive quality of the discussions.

The group’s primary task is to review the current Version 9 of the standard in terms of:

• the relevance of the requirements in light of current food safety risks,
• compliance with new food law regulations in force in various markets,
• the expectations of customers and retail chains towards suppliers,
• the structure of the product categories covered by certification,
• mechanisms for verifying claims (e.g. regarding product origin or composition).

One area that has already gained significance in Edition 9 and is likely to remain a key focus for the working group is the protection of the facility against deliberate threats – we discuss the BRCGS’s approach to food fraud and food defence in more detail in a separate article.

When can we expect the publication and the first audits?

Based on the duration of the Technical Working Group’s work and experience from previous editions of the standard, the new edition is expected to be published in the second half of 2027. This assumption is also supported by unofficial estimates from industry commentators, who suggest that, allowing for 12–15 months of work from April 2026, the natural time for publication would be summer or autumn 2027 – which would, incidentally, be consistent with the publication dates of previous editions of the standard.

However, the publication of the new version of the standard is not the same as the obligation to apply it. Historically, the BRCGS has provided the industry with a transition period between the publication of a new edition and the start of certification audits conducted in accordance with the new requirements – usually measured in months. In the case of Issue 10, industry estimates suggest that the first audits against the new requirements could begin in the first half of 2028.

Until then, Issue 9 remains the binding and only current version of the standard, supplemented by the latest Position Statements published by the BRCGS in the meantime to keep the standard up to date with changing requirements – as was the case with the updates coming into force in August 2026.

New technologies as one of the pillars of the standard’s revision

One of the main reasons why the BRCGS decided to develop the next edition of the standard is the need to take account of the technological advances that have taken place in the food industry since the publication of Edition 9 in 2022. The working group is tasked with analysing how new technological solutions used in food production, monitoring and quality control should be reflected in the standard’s requirements.

In practice, this may mean, amongst other things:

• expanding the provisions concerning the use of digital tools and remote monitoring in control and audit processes,
• updating the requirements for modern food processing and preservation methods,
• incorporating solutions that support traceability in the supply chain,
• adapting the standard to new tools used in risk assessment and quality data management.

It is worth emphasising that these are areas arising from the general direction of work announced by the BRCGS – the detailed scope of technological changes will only be clarified during the work of the Technical Working Group and during the next round of public consultation, which usually precedes the final publication of a new edition of the standard.

What should companies certified to BRCGS Food Safety do right now?

Although there is still plenty of time before Edition 10 comes into force, it is worth starting to raise awareness of the upcoming changes within the organisation:

1. Keep track of BRCGS communications regarding the progress of the Technical Working Group’s work and the dates of upcoming public consultations.
2. Do not neglect the current requirements of Edition 9, including the current Position Statements applicable from 10 August 2026 – these set out the audit requirements until the new edition comes into force. For companies that are only just considering certification or wish to gain a clearer understanding of the entire family of standards, a general introduction may also be useful: BRCGS – what is this standard and who does it apply to?
3. Analyse any technological investments planned at the site to assess whether they may facilitate future compliance with the updated requirements of the standard.
4. Take part in future public consultations on Issue 10 as soon as they are announced – this is a real opportunity to influence the final form of the requirements.

The start of work on BRCGS Food Safety Issue 10 is a long-term process that will continue at least until 2027–2028. The Technical Working Group, established in April 2026, is tasked with reviewing the current requirements in light of new technologies, legislation and market expectations; the outcome of its work will be a new version of one of the most widely used food safety standards in the world. Until the new edition is published and comes into force, certified organisations should focus on full compliance with the current Edition 9 and the latest position statements.