Comparison of the BRCGS Global Standard Agents and Brokers Standard Issue 3 with the new SQF Code: Agents & Brokers
New SQF Code challenges the established BRCGS Agents & Brokers Standard
By Tony Connor
The BRC began to develop the standard following the horsemeat scandal in the UK, when it identified the weak link in the supply chain as the lack of traceability back to source for food products.
In order to achieve certification, Agents & Brokers need to demonstrate that they manage product authenticity, quality, legality and safety effectively.
The recent publication of an Agents & Brokers Food Safety Code by the SQFI brings a new challenge to the established BRCGS Global Standard Agents and Brokers Standard Issue 3. Here we take a look and compare the two.
About the BRCGS Global Standard for Agents and Brokers Issue 3
First published in 2014, the BRCGS Global Standard Agents and Brokers Standard specifies requirements for managing product safety, authenticity, quality and legality for businesses in the food industry that buy, sell or facilitate the trade of products, but do not manufacture, process or store the products in their own facilities or on their own sites. Approximately 680 Agents or Brokers are certified to this standard.
BRCGS Agents and Brokers Standard covers certification for the following categories of products:
Food products, including raw materials, processed foods, and fruit and vegetables
Packaging materials – primary, secondary and tertiary materials, and raw materials for the manufacture of packaging materials
Pet foods for domestic animals
Consumer products
The BRCGS Global Standard for Agents and Brokers Issue 3 has requirements in 4 main areas:
Senior Management Commitment and Continual Improvement
Hazard and Risk Assessment
Product Safety and Quality Management System
Supplier and Subcontracted Service Management
For further information see our Implementation Guidance for BRCGS Agents and Brokers
About the SQF Agents & Brokers Code
The SQF Agents & Brokers Code was published in July 2026 and is a dedicated certification standard for businesses that buy, sell, and manage the trade of food and general merchandise without physically handling the products.
The requirements of the SQF Code Food Sector Category 35 – Agents and Brokers, Edition 9 are all included in Module 2: System Elements:
2.1 Management Commitment
2.2 Documentation and Records
2.3 Supply Sourcing, Specifications, Agreements and Approval
2.4 Product Safety System
2.5 Validation and Verification
2.6 Product Traceability and Crisis Management
2.7 Product Defense and Fraud
2.8 Training
The SQF Agents and Brokers certification was designed so that it can be completed 100% remotely, saving thousands of dollars on audit fees.
All audits are annual and announced in advance, with no unannounced audits unless specifically requested by your business or a customer. Audit duration is a minimum of half a day, with the certification body determining the final length based on the size and complexity of your operations.
See Introducing the SQF Agents & Brokers Code: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Get Started for more details
TCI SYSTEMS
TCI SYSTEMS Heading 3
We are an international supplier of quality management and food safety management systems. We have helped companies and organisations worldwide to achieve the certification of their choice. Our packages have been specifically written to provide a systematic approach to gaining certification.
We are an international heading 5
We have over 20 years experience in food safety and quality management. Our experts have been in the business since the early 1990’s. Their management roles have included laboratory manager, production manager, quality assurance manager, technical and processing manager, technical manager, technical and development manager and group technical manager.
So you can see we have a broad knowledge of departments that operate within a company which is highly valuable when documenting policies and procedures relating to those activities. We also have our own in-house qualified quality management system auditor involved in the creation of these systems. This means that we know exactly what you need to do to meet the requirements of these standards.
Our premium packages include unlimited email support throughout the whole certification process. You will essentially have your very own expert on call for a fraction of the price of an onsite consultant.
Get BRCGS Agents and Brokers Certification
The easiest way to get BRCGS Agents and Brokers certification is to use our BRC Agents & Brokers Product Safety & Quality Management System Implementation Package (Issue 3). This package has a Comprehensive Procedures Manual covering all sections of the BRCGS Agents and Brokers standard for ease of implementation:
- Senior Management Commitment and Continual Improvement
- Hazard and Risk Assessment
- Product Safety and Quality Management System
- Supplier and Subcontracted Service Management
- Personnel
The package also includes additional tools and templates plus online technical support from our BRCGS Consultants until you achieve certification.
About the Author - Tony Connor Bio
After gaining an Honors Degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the highly-rated Durham University, Tony Connor embarked on a highly successful career in the food industry.
Tony was appointed Laboratory Manager in 1989, Technical Manager of the UK’s largest multi-product dairy facility in 1993 and qualified as a Lead Assessor in 1994.
Over the years, Tony has gained experience in a variety of roles in the Food Industry including leading roles in Processing, Production, Operations, Quality, New Product Development and Technical departments.
During his career, he has commissioned both new sites and brought old sites up to GFSI benchmarked food safety certification standards, also helping over 2,000 clients gain food safety certification.
With over 35 years’ experience in the food industry, Tony is a highly-regarded food safety expert and provides food operators both food certification services and hygiene, HACCP and Auditor training.