What Is SALSA Certification? A Guide for UK Food Businesses

What is SALSA certification?
SALSA stands for Safe and Local Supplier Approval. It is a UK food safety certification scheme designed to help small and micro food and drink businesses demonstrate that they can consistently produce and supply safe, legal food.
The scheme provides a recognised framework for managing food safety, hygiene, product traceability, documentation and the other controls needed to supply food responsibly. It is particularly relevant to smaller producers looking to supply retailers, wholesalers, hospitality businesses and other food buyers.

SALSA is not simply a collection of policies or a food hygiene certificate. Businesses must demonstrate that their food safety systems are appropriate for their operation and are implemented effectively in practice.
The scheme's standards are developed around food safety legislation and the enhanced expectations of professional food buyers. Certification is awarded following an independent audit against the applicable SALSA standard.

Who offers SALSA certification?
SALSA is operated by SALSA Scheme Ltd, a not-for-profit joint venture involving the Food and Drink Federation, the National Farmers' Union and UKHospitality. The Institute of Food Science and Technology monitors the delivery of the scheme and runs the professional register used to verify the competence of SALSA auditors.

There is an important distinction between certification and consultancy.

A food safety consultant can help a business understand the requirements, develop suitable procedures, identify gaps and prepare for an audit. However, the consultant does not award SALSA approval simply because the business has received their support. Certification depends on the independent assessment and the scheme's approval process.
At Beacon Compliance, we help businesses prepare their food safety systems, understand their responsibilities and approach the audit with greater confidence.

What is SALSA certification best known for?

SALSA is particularly associated with providing a practical, proportionate food safety framework for smaller food and drink businesses.

It helps businesses demonstrate that they have suitable controls in place for areas such as:

• Food safety management and HACCP.

• Staff training, supervision and personal hygiene.

• Cleaning, allergen management and contamination prevention.

• Supplier approval and raw material controls.

• Product specifications, labelling and shelf-life management.

• Traceability, incident management and corrective actions.

• Premises, equipment, maintenance and distribution where applicable.

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The precise requirements depend on the applicable standard and the activities undertaken by the business. Certification is not a substitute for complying with food law, nor does it guarantee that a business will never experience a food safety problem.

The four SALSA standards: September 2026 update

As of 1 September 2026, all SALSA audits are conducted against the latest issues of the four standards.

These are:
1. Food & Drink Production — Issue 7
For eligible small food and drink producers operating from commercial premises. This is the relevant starting point for many manufacturers, artisan producers and food start-ups.

2. Brokers, Storage & Distribution — Issue 2
For businesses that broker, store or distribute products within the scope of this standard, rather than manufacture them.

3. SALSA plus Beer — Issue 5
A tailored standard for eligible small breweries, developed in association with Cask Marque.

4. SALSA plus Cheese — Issue 7
A specialist standard for eligible cheesemakers, including specific requirements developed with the Specialist Cheesemakers

Association.

These are different standards for different business activities, not four certification levels that every business must progress through.

If your business manufactures several product types or also undertakes storage, distribution or other activities, you should establish the correct scope before beginning your preparation.

Who is SALSA certification suitable for?

SALSA may be appropriate for small food and drink manufacturers, artisan producers, growing food brands and businesses seeking to supply professional buyers.

The Food & Drink Production standard describes eligibility in terms of UK or Republic of Ireland food and drink producers operating from commercial rather than domestic premises and employing between one and 50 full-time people.
However, eligibility should never be assumed solely because a business is small. The activity, premises, product range and intended scope all matter.

For example, a farm producing and packing food may have different requirements from a farm that only grows raw agricultural produce. A brewery may be better suited to SALSA plus Beer, while a business handling products made by other companies may need to consider the Brokers, Storage & Distribution standard.

Is SALSA certification worth it?

The value of certification depends on your commercial objectives.
It may help you meet a buyer's supplier approval requirements, demonstrate a structured approach to food safety, strengthen internal procedures and support business growth. It can also provide a useful framework for reviewing how your operation manages risks.

However, certification involves more than paying an audit fee. You must have suitable premises, documented systems, trained people and the capacity to maintain the requirements between audits.
Before investing, establish whether your existing or target customers require SALSA, whether your business is eligible and what work is needed to meet the relevant standard.

How Beacon Compliance can help

At Beacon Compliance, we support food businesses through the practical work involved in preparing for SALSA certification. This can include reviewing existing systems, identifying gaps, developing suitable documentation, strengthening HACCP arrangements and helping staff understand the controls they need to follow.

Our approach is based on building systems around the way your business actually operates, rather than relying on generic paperwork that may not reflect your products, processes or risks.

Considering SALSA certification? Contact Beacon Compliance to discuss your operation and identify the most appropriate next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Does SALSA certification replace food hygiene legislation?
No. Businesses must continue to comply with all applicable food safety and hygiene legislation. SALSA provides a certification framework that incorporates relevant legal requirements and buyer expectations.

Can a consultant guarantee SALSA certification?
No responsible consultant should guarantee an audit outcome. Consultancy can help identify and address gaps, but approval depends on the business meeting the applicable requirements and the independent certification process.

Which SALSA standard applies to my business?
That depends on what your business does. The four standards cover food and drink production, brokers/storage/distribution, beer and cheese. Confirm the appropriate scope before starting preparation.

Are the new SALSA standards already in effect?
Yes. From 1 September 2026, all SALSA audits are conducted against the new issues: Food & Drink Production Issue 7, Brokers, Storage & Distribution Issue 2, SALSA plus Beer Issue 5 and SALSA plus Cheese Issue 7.

Official source: SALSA — New Standard Issues 2026

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