SALSA vs BRCGS: Which Food Safety Certification Is Right for You?

Author: Katie Watkins Young, MCIEH, CEnvH, FIFST, RPFAM, RFoodSM
Last reviewed: October 2026

SALSA vs BRCGS: What is the difference?

SALSA and BRCGS are food safety certification schemes, but they are not interchangeable. The right choice depends on your business activities, the customers you want to supply and the certification requirements those customers specify.

SALSA is designed around the needs of smaller food businesses and offers different standards for eligible producers, breweries, cheesemakers and businesses involved in brokering, storage and distribution.

BRCGS offers a wider portfolio of standards for different parts of the supply chain. Its Food Safety Standard is used by food manufacturers and is recognised by many retailers and other buyers.

SALSA vs BRCGS: Key Differences

Intended use

SALSA is designed particularly for small and micro food businesses within the relevant standard’s scope. BRCGS offers a wider range of standards for different sectors and supply-chain activities.

Standards

SALSA includes four standards, with specialist standards for beer and cheese. BRCGS offers multiple standards covering food safety and other supply-chain activities.

Requirements

Both schemes require businesses to meet all applicable requirements of their selected standard. These requirements should be assessed against the business’s specific products, processes and activities.

Buyer acceptance

Acceptance depends on the specific buyer and its supplier approval requirements. Always confirm which certifications your current and prospective customers recognise or require.

Preparation

Both schemes require suitable food safety systems, effective implementation and evidence that controls are working in practice. The amount of preparation needed depends on your existing systems and the standard you choose.

Cost

For SALSA, consider membership, audit, consultancy, implementation and ongoing maintenance costs. For BRCGS, consider certification, audit, consultancy, implementation and ongoing maintenance costs. Actual costs vary depending on the business and the scope of certification.

Which should you choose?

If you are considering SALSA, first confirm that your business is eligible and that your target customers accept it. If you are considering BRCGS, identify the exact standard that applies and confirm your customers’ requirements before investing in preparation.

This is a high-level comparison. The schemes have different structures, so their requirements should not be treated as clause-for-clause equivalents.

When might SALSA be the better fit?

SALSA may be worth considering if you are a smaller producer and want a food safety certification framework designed around the scale of your operation.

It can be relevant to artisan food businesses, growing manufacturers and suppliers seeking approval from customers who accept SALSA.

The scheme also provides specific standards for eligible breweries, cheesemakers and businesses involved in brokering, storage and distribution.

Before choosing SALSA, check your eligibility, the scope of the applicable standard and the requirements of your target buyers. Do not assume every retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer will accept it.

When might BRCGS be more appropriate?

BRCGS may be necessary where a customer explicitly requires certification to a particular BRCGS standard.

This can be an important consideration when supplying larger retailers, manufacturers or customers with detailed supplier approval requirements.

However, the right choice should be driven by actual commercial requirements rather than assumptions about which scheme is more prestigious. Check the buyer's current supplier specification and confirm the exact standard and certification conditions.

Which scheme is easier or more practical?

It is not accurate to say that SALSA is automatically easy or that BRCGS is always too demanding for smaller businesses.

Both require businesses to implement appropriate controls and demonstrate that their systems work. The effort involved depends on the operation, product risks, existing systems, premises, staffing, customer requirements and the standard being assessed.

A business with strong HACCP arrangements, reliable records and effective management systems may be better prepared than a business of similar size starting from scratch.

The most practical scheme is the one that meets your commercial needs and can be maintained effectively by your business.

What about cost?

Compare the total cost of achieving and maintaining certification, not just the audit fee.

Consider:

Membership and certification fees.
Audit costs and any required follow-up activity.
Consultant support, if needed.
Staff training and time spent on preparation.
Improvements to premises, equipment or processes.
Documentation, testing and ongoing verification.
The resources needed to maintain the system between audits.

Ask for current fee information from the relevant scheme and obtain a realistic estimate of the work your business needs. Avoid relying on generic price comparisons that do not account for the differences between businesses and certification scopes.

Can you move from SALSA to BRCGS later?

Potentially, but you should not assume that holding SALSA certification automatically satisfies BRCGS requirements.

If your business is growing and intends to supply customers who require BRCGS, review the relevant BRCGS standard early. Identify the additional controls, documentation, resources and implementation work that may be required.

Planning ahead can help you build systems that support growth without assuming that one certification automatically transfers to another.

How to choose the right certification

Before committing, answer these five questions:

What certification does your existing or target customer actually require?

Which standard applies to your activities and products?

What systems and evidence do you already have?

What will it cost to achieve and maintain the required certification?

Can your team operate the system consistently as the business grows?

At Beacon Compliance, we help businesses assess their current position, understand relevant requirements and prepare for SALSA or BRCGS certification.

Unsure which route is right for your business? Contact Beacon Compliance to discuss your products, customers and plans for growth.

Frequently asked questions

Is SALSA equivalent to BRCGS?

No. They are separate schemes with different standards and approval arrangements. Whether one is acceptable in place of the other depends on the customer's requirements.

Is SALSA only for small businesses?

SALSA is specifically designed around eligible small and micro food businesses. Eligibility and scope depend on the applicable standard.

Is BRCGS better for supplying supermarkets?

Some buyers specify BRCGS, while others accept different schemes. Check the actual supplier requirements rather than assuming one certification is accepted by every supermarket.

Can a food safety consultant help compare schemes?

Yes. A consultant can review your operation, current systems and commercial objectives to help you understand the work involved. The final choice should reflect your buyers' requirements and the applicable certification rules.

Official source: SALSA — New Standard Issues 2026

Related Beacon pages: SALSA Certification · SALSA Consultancy · Meet the Team