GFSI GlobalMarkets Manufacturing Protocol V2
GFSI GlobalMarkets Manufacturing Protocol V2
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
The Role of GFSI in the Global Markets Programme 3
Global Markets Programme: Document Plan 3
The Pathway to Certification 4
PROCESS 5
Flowchart 5
User Guidance 6
Non Conformance Definition 11
Exemptions 11
Scoring System 12
APPENDIX 18
GFSI Global Markets Programme – Manufacturing Protocol – 2.0 2
GFSI GLOBAL MARKETS PROGRAMME
Manufacturing Protocol 2nd Edition
1. INTRODUCTION
Public-private partnership
Theses entities may work individually or
collaboratively, depending on their strategy.
This Protocol has been developed to guide companies through the steps of the Global Markets
Programme.
• It provides guidance for assessment against the Basic and Intermediate Level food safety requirements.
• It provides a description of how to register for the Programme, which documents are needed at which stage
of the process and how to work with Service Providers.
• This Protocol and the associated documents are subject to the terms of the Disclaimer and the Logo Usage
Guideline included in the appendix to this document.
Step 3: Step 4:
Unaccredited Accredited
if ready assessment against certification against
Basic and a GFSI recognised
Intermediate level scheme
*International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United
Nations. It is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalisation of SMEs.
ITC Standards Map is an online platform. It provides comprehensive, verified and transparent information
on voluntary sustainability standards and other similar initiatives covering issues such as food quality and
safety.
Users are encouraged to enter the ITC Standards Map GFSI Global Markets Programme Portal.
They will be able to register their activity and use the specially designed self-assessment tool during Step
One.
• Step 1 - Self-Assessment: Depending on the outcome of the self-assessment, the business should pass to
Step 2 (Basic Level), Step 3 (Intermediate Level) or Step 4 (Certification against a GFSI recognised scheme).
• Step 2 - Assessment Basic Level: Matches 35% of the GFSI Guidance Document.
• Step 3 - Assessment Intermediate Level: Matches 65% of the GFSI Guidance Document.
• Step 4 - Certification against a GFSI Recognised Scheme: The official accredited certification process.
2. PROCESS
Planning
2
1 Supplier 4 5 6
capable for Yes Supplier carries Select
Download Entry level decision
information pack self- out self- (Basic or Assessment
www.mygfsi.com assessment assessment Intermediate) Provider
?
No
Move on:
3 Assessment,
Self-assessment
carried out by a
Capacity
service provider building and
continuous
Assessment, capacity building and continuous improvement improvement
PLANNING
1 Download toolkit All the necessary information on the GFSI Global Markets Programme is available and
(www.mygfsi.com) can be downloaded free of charge from www.mygfsi.com following a short registration
process.
Click on ‘Global Markets Programme’, then click on ‘Toolkits’
Based on the level of understanding of this Programme, (such as the concept of
certification, variations in Buying Company requirements and international regulations),
additional review of these documents should be carried out to ensure understanding.
Required documents:
i. Global Markets Programme - Overview
ii. The Protocol: a description of progression through the Programme
iii. The Checklist: two Excel versions, one for manufacturing and the other for primary
production. These include comprehensive Assessor guidelines and the report form.
iv. The Training and Competency Framework: guidance on training for companies.
2 Supplier capable for Does Supplier capability mean that help is needed to deliver a credible self-assessment?
Self-Assessment? Credibility is dependent on the expertise of the individual leading the self-assessment.
The supplier must determine whether they have the technical capability to conduct a
credible self-assessment, based upon their level of expertise. If not, they may engage a
service provider or other external qualified expert to conduct the self-assessment.
The decision is to be taken by Supplier and/or Buying Company.
3 Self-assessment carried The Service Provider will undertake the self-assessment against the Basic or Basic and
out by a Service Intermediate Level Checklist.
Provider. This step provides the Supplier with a gap analysis and the basis for a remedial action
plan.
Note: Users are encouraged to enter the ITC Standards Map GFSI Global Markets
Programme Portal. They will be able to register their activity and use the specially
designed self-assessment tool during Step One.
4 Supplier carries out A voluntary self-assessment by the Supplier against Basic and/or Intermediate Level
Self-Assessment Checklist.
The scope of the self-assessment shall be the entire facility and all the manufacturing
processes.
This step provides the Supplier with a gap analysis and the basis for a remedial action
plan.
Note: Users are encouraged to enter the ITC Standards Map GFSI Global Markets
Programme Portal. They will be able to register their activity and use the specially
designed self-assessment tool during Step One
5 Entry Level decision The Self-assessment allows the Supplier and/or the Buying Company to decide the
(Basic or Intermediate) relevant entry level to the programme; whether the Supplier should pass to either Basic
or Intermediate level assessment.
Note: There may be legislation in certain countries that requires HACCP to be
implemented. In such cases, all suppliers would have to start at Intermediate Level
because HACCP is not included at Basic Level. However, Basic Level does include B.C 1
“Preliminary Tasks” which will start a supplier towards the implementation of a HACCP
system.
Background
The Assessor will classify nonconformance as Critical, Major and Minor. This will directly impact the site’s result
whether ‘pass/fail’ or ‘score’ option is chosen by the ‘Buying Company’ reviewing the assessment report.
Note: the use of N/A as an answer should only be used in agreement with the Buying Company.
2.4. Exemptions
a. This worksheet option is provided for use by the Buying Company only.
b. If no exemption is selected then the Assessor must answer all questions.
c. Due to variations in legislation, for certain international markets there are two Checklist Items that may be
exempted by the Buying Company. These are Items B.C. 2 (Control of allergens) and I.C. 4 (Food defence).
d. If an exemption is selected, the Item will be highlighted in grey in the Checklist. The assessor will be
advised that the item has been exempted and should not make any decisions in Column D.
e. The scoring system shall be adjusted accordingly.
a. All major and minor nonconformances are listed in the “Summary and Report” section of the Checklist.
b. Criticals count as a 100 point deduction, Majors as 10 points and Minors as 2 points.
c. There is a calculation against the number of clauses assessed to provide a numerical point score, not a
percentage.
d. In the event of a Critical or excessive Majors, the score can be zero.
e. Unless set by the Buying Company, there will be no 'pass/fail' except in the event of a Critical
nonconformance.
f. The Excel assessment form has been automated using Excel formulae to deliver this system.
g. The Excel Checklist document also provides a Conformance Overview worksheet which shows against which
items nonconformances have been identified during the assessment.
Q2 I’m involved with a version of the GFSI Global Markets Programme which is run by a GFSI recognised
scheme. Would you still advise that I use the ITC Portal and record my self-assessment and
subsequent progress?
A2 The GFSI Global Markets Programme is not a standard. Use of the ITC portal is not a requirement.
However, GFSI hopes that most users will record their work and achievements in the ITC Portal so that
usage data can be gathered.
This part of the document has been prepared to inform practitioners about the changes that they will find
in the documents for the Second Edition of the manufacturing scope for the Global Markets Programme.
3.1. Background
The GFSI Global Markets Programme seeks to build food safety capacity for small and/or less developed
businesses due to one or more of the following challenges: size, lack of technical expertise, economic resources
or nature of the work. The Programme is open access and is not accredited. There is no certification.
The GFSI Global Markets Technical Working Group has concluded its mandate to revise the manufacturing
scope, comprising the protocol, checklist and the training guidance and competency framework. This document
summarises the resulting changes between First and Second Edition
1. There is recognition that the Programme has become a “pathway to market access and certification” rather
than a “pathway to certification.” The consultation process has shown that for many businesses with local
supply chains and customers, unaccredited Basic or Intermediate level will be adequate. However, major
suppliers and all those involved in export should aspire to achieve certification to a GFSI recognised
standard.
2. The flowchart that guides users through the Programme has been simplified with new user guidance
developed for assessors to drive consistency.
3. In the First Edition, a number of clauses had been pre-positioned as immediate ‘major’ nonconformances.
a. All pre-positioning has been removed.
b. Every clause would be assessed by one of these: Meets requirement, Minor, Major and Critical.
c. To move up from 'Basic' to 'Intermediate‘, a Supplier must have closed any Major NCs, verified by their
Assessor.
4. There are new definitions of nonconformance:
a. Critical Nonconformance - Affects food safety or regulatory compliance directly.
b. Major Nonconformance – May affect food safety.
c. Minor Nonconformance – Is not likely to affect food safety.
d. Conform – Fully meeting a requirement.
5. The scoring system has been developed to allow for flexibility and adaptation in different markets. Buying
Companies may choose to use it or not. Unless set by the Buying Company, there will be no 'pass/fail' except
in the event of a Critical nonconformance. Customisation options in the checklist allow the Buying Company
to turn on the scoring system and to set a pass score if required.
6. Due to variations in legislation, for certain international markets there are two Checklist Items that may be
exempted by the Buying Company. These are Items B.C. 2 (Control of allergens) and I.C. 4 (Food defence).
1. The percentages for Edition 2 against the GFSI Guidance Document have been calculated as 35%=Basic,
65%=Intermediate.
6. The worksheet, which has a good level of functionality, has comprehensive advice in a worksheet titled:
“How to use this document”.
7. Comprehensive user guidance has been developed to explain to assessors and individuals in businesses what
each requirement means, against the following questions:
a. What does it mean?
b. What do I need to do?
c. What will the assessor do?
8. Supplementary guidance has been developed against selected clauses, such as in the section on HACCP.
This framework has been developed to provide guidance on good practice for delivering training for food
companies that are implementing the GFSI Global Markets Programme.
2. The competencies required to achieve the GFSI Global Markets Programme Basic and Intermediate Levels.
Appendix
Disclaimer
The Global Food Safety Initiative and the Consumer Goods Forum publish information and express opinions in good faith,
but accept no liability for any error or omission in any such information or opinion including any information or opinion
contained in the material available to be downloaded or read on this website. In particular, the information in this
document and on the GFSI website in relation to the Global Markets Programme is provided for general information
purposes only, with the goal of seeking to increase the food safety skills of businesses throughout the food value chain.
While the Global Food Safety Initiative endeavours to keep the information up to date and correct, it makes no
representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or
availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website
for any purpose. The information provided in this document and on the website should not be used as a substitute for
obtaining specific legal advice in relation to compliance with the relevant legal Food Safety requirements in your
jurisdiction. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will the Global
Food Safety Initiative be liable for any damages ( including without limitation damages for pure economic loss or loss of
business or loss of profits or depletion of goodwill or otherwise in each case, whether direct, indirect or consequential, or
any claims for consequential compensation whatsoever ( howsoever caused) arising in contract, tort ( including negligence
or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation, restitution or otherwise, in connection with this publication or any
information contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of reading this publication or any such
information.
Users of the information in this document and on the website of the Global Food Safety Initiative in relation to the Global
Markets Programme shall not imply or assert any association with, or endorsement by, the Global Food Safety Initiative or
any of the requirements set out in these Documents does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by the Global
Food Safety Initiative.
www.mygfsi.com
GFSI Global Markets Programme – Manufacturing Protocol – 2.0 19