The UK food industry — £120+ billion at retail and £100+ billion food service — operates under some of the world's most stringent food safety requirements. For food manufacturers, caterers, and distributors, ISO 22000 and BRC (British Retail Consortium) are the two primary food safety certifications. Understanding which your customers require is critical.
£120B+
UK food retail market
BRC/ISO 22000
Two key certifications
FSA
UK food safety authority
£800
ISO 22000 starting cost
ISO 22000 vs BRC for UK Food Companies
| Factor | ISO 22000 | BRC Global Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted by UK supermarkets | Partially | ✓ Yes — primary requirement |
| International export buyers | ✓ Yes — globally recognized | Partially |
| Restaurant/hospitality supply | ✓ Yes | Sometimes |
| NHS catering contracts | ✓ Yes | Yes |
| Cost from | £800 | £1,500+ |
Who Should Get ISO 22000 in UK?
- Food manufacturers primarily exporting to EU, USA, or Middle East — ISO 22000 is internationally recognized
- Catering and food service companies — ISO 22000 for institutional contract qualification (NHS, government catering, corporate)
- Food manufacturers supplying non-BRC-requiring buyers (hospitality, food service, international)
- Companies that already have BRC can add ISO 22000 with minimal additional work
Get ISO Certified in United Kingdom Today!
IAF CertSearch verifiable · UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) aligned · From GBP 500 · Fully online
Frequently Asked Questions
Most UK major supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) require BRC Global Standard for their own-label and significant direct suppliers. ISO 22000 is generally not accepted as a substitute. However, for food service, catering, and export buyers: ISO 22000 is widely accepted and often preferred.
BRC Global Standard and ISO 22000 are both food safety management system certifications but with different scopes. BRC is specifically designed for food manufacturing and has retail-specific requirements. ISO 22000 is the broader international standard. FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000 + additional prerequisites) is recognized as equivalent to BRC by some buyers.