A BRC certified spice manufacturer in India, an FSSC 22000 spice company, a HACCP spice manufacturer or an ISO 22000 dehydrated onion plant has been audited against a food-safety standard by an outside body. FDA registration is different: it is a filing with the US regulator, not an audit. Each proves something specific, and none proves that your lot is safe.
Treat a certificate as evidence about the system. Then check the lot.
What does each certificate prove?
These are the usual ones, and the differences matter in a negotiation:
- HACCP is a method of identifying and controlling food hazards. A plant can follow it, or be audited against it, but HACCP alone is not a full management standard.
- ISO 22000 is a food-safety management standard that includes HACCP principles. FSSC 22000 builds on it with additional prerequisite programmes and is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative. See how FSSC 22000 differs from ISO 22000.
- BRC is a retailer-driven standard, graded by result, and widely requested by European and UK retailers.
- Sedex is a platform where a site shares ethical and social audit data; a Sedex-audited site has had a social audit, which is not a food-safety audit.
What does FDA registration actually mean?
Food facilities that make, process, pack or hold food for the US must register with the US Food and Drug Administration. Registration gives the facility a number. It does not mean the FDA has inspected or approved it. What the FDA facility registration requires of a supplier explains this, and FDA rules for importing spices covers your own duties as the importer.
Under US rules, the importer carries responsibility for a verification programme for foreign suppliers. Confirm the current requirements with the FDA or your customs broker.
How do you check a certificate is real?
Ask for the certificate, then check three things: the name and address match the plant you will buy from, the scope covers the product, and the validity dates are current. Look up the certificate in the certification body's online directory where one exists. A certificate for a head office or a different site is a common trap.
What certifications a spice grinding unit has lists what is realistic for a plant of that kind.
What should a certificate never replace?
A certificate shows that a system exists. It does not test your lot. You still need your own sample, a lab test against your specification, and a visit. What a factory audit should contain covers the checks, from raw material intake to the metal detector.
Certification also raises costs for the plant, which shows up in its quote. Ask what is included instead of assuming that a certified plant is the safest choice for every buyer.
Which certificate should you ask for?
It depends on who you sell to. Retail chains in Europe and the UK often name a standard. Food manufacturers may be content with ISO 22000 or HACCP backed by your own audit. For the US, registration is a legal step, and the important part is your own supplier verification. Ask your customers first, then choose the plant, rather than the other way round.
Next step
To have certificates verified and the plant audited on site, book a free sourcing review.