Simplifying Food Certification with Kiwa

Before starting the certification process, you need to determine which standard applies to your business. For example, we certify a range of standards for all the topics below, including:

• Food safety (e.g., IFS, GLOBALG.A.P., FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF)
• Quality management (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001)
• Organic production (EU Organic, USDA Organic)
• Feed safety (GMP+ FSA, FAMI-QS)
• Sustainability (MSC, ASC, Rainforest Alliance)

To become certified, your business must meet the certification standard’s requirements. This involves:

• Comparing your current processes against the standard’s guidelines to identify any gaps.
• Implementing necessary improvements to align with compliance requirements.
• Conducting an internal audit to verify that all adjustments have been effectively applied.

At this stage, we can step in to support you by conducting a GAP analysis or a pre-audit, providing valuable insights to guide your next steps.

Once you have assessed your compliance, contact us, your accredited certification partner, for a quote and expert guidance.
Our team provides:

• A transparent estimate of time and costs.
• A clear roadmap for the audit process.
• Answers to any questions about meeting certification requirements.

Moreover, we recommend booking your audit well in advance to secure a qualified auditor who understands your industry.

Thereafter, a Kiwa auditor will conduct an independent, third-party audit to assess whether your product, process, or management system meets all certification requirements.

If you meet all criteria, you receive your certificate and, if applicable, the Kiwa certification quality mark.

Note: If improvements are needed, you typically have up to six months to make the necessary adjustments before a follow-up review. However, the timeframe for addressing non-conformities varies by standard. For Food Safety for example, it is usually a few weeks, while for ISO, it can be up to six months, depending on the type of non-conformance.

In addition to this, we also issue an audit report, which is issued between the audit and the certificate itself.

It’s important to know that certification is not just a one-off — it’s an ongoing commitment. As such, we perform regular surveillance audits — both scheduled and unannounced — to ensure your business continues to meet certification standards. Depending on the type of certification, the follow-up audits are called a surveillance or a re-audit. If at any point non-compliance is found, corrective actions may be required to maintain certification.

Lastly, we deem it important to be transparent regarding certification pricing. This varies based on the following factors:

• The complexity and size of your business.
• The number of locations involved.
• The nature of the certification scheme.

We ensure full transparency by providing a clear cost estimate before beginning the process. Note that many businesses quickly recoup the cost of certification through increased market opportunities and enhanced customer trust.

Choosing Kiwa as your certification partner comes with a range of benefits that strengthen your business:

• The right to use Kiwa’s quality mark — This strengthens credibility with customers and stakeholders.
• A structured approach to compliance — This ensures that your business maintains high standards.
• A long-term partnership with us — Continuous support for re-certification or expanding certifications as needed.

Note that as an accredited certification body, we also undergo regular audits by international accreditation institutions to uphold the highest standards of reliability and trustworthiness.

At Kiwa, our certification process is founded on three key pillars that bring value to our customers:

• Expert guidance — Our auditors have deep industry knowledge, making certification a seamless experience.
• Structured and transparent process — We provide a clear roadmap from consultation to certification
• Ongoing support — We ensure your certification remains valid with continued monitoring and expert assistance.
• Globally active, locally available — We combine international reach with local expertise, ensuring you receive relevant and responsive support.
• One-stop-shop — From testing and inspection to certification and training, we offer a complete range of services under one roof.
• Specialist and niche player — We bring in-depth expertise in national standards and niche schemes, providing tailored solutions.

Explore the detailed steps involved in achieving food certification. Click here