Year 2026 – Which Food Safety Standard Should I Choose?

Standard Selection as a Strategic Decision and the Critical Crossroad in "Standard Traffic"

In 2026, the question of “which standard should we choose?” has evolved beyond a simple technical preference. It is now a multi-dimensional strategic management decision based on update timelines, target markets, digital infrastructure, AI-driven change management, and audit culture.

Why Are We in a Strategic Era?

• Pressure for Updates in Standards: The ISO 22002-x (PRP) series was completely renewed by the end of 2025. The new structures of ISO 9001 and ISO 22000, which are in the final stages of their revision processes, are currently reshaping the industry. This shift triggered preparations for the highly anticipated FSSC 22000 Version 7. The industry's biggest curiosity in 2026 is whether FSSC will wait for the final ISO 22000 revision or launch early to align with the GFSI benchmarking update.

  
  

• The Global Race for New Versions: Official preparations for BRCGS Food Issue 10 and IFS Version 9 have commenced. Meanwhile, the release schedule for SQF Edition 10 was pushed to the first half of 2026 due to complexities in GFSI benchmarking processes. For businesses, this necessitates a delicate transition plan between maintaining current systems and preparing for new requirements.

  
  

• Customer Expectations and Local Convergence: While European retailers maintain their grip on IFS and British retailers on BRCGS, standard owners (CPOs) have shifted to direct engagement with retailers and brand owners through local representatives in every country. Notably, SQF’s official recognition by the FDA under the "FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule" has elevated the standard to the status of a legal authority, directly impacting market share and audit depth.

  
  

• Digitalization and the AI Effect: Artificial Intelligence, data security, and digital traceability have now entered standard documents as "certifiable and verifiable" criteria. However, in the face of the uncontrolled speed of AI technology, a significant question mark remains: how long can these updates stay current?

2026 Snapshot: Current Status of GFSI-Recognized Standards

Food Safety Standards 2026 crossroad: SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS

Standard	Current Version	Mandatory Transition / Expected New Version	Approx. Certificate Count
FSSC 22000	Version 6	Version 7 (Expected in 2026)	39,700+
BRCGS Food	Issue 9	Issue 10 (Launch expected in 2026)	36,000+
IFS Food	Version 8	Version 9 (In development)	20,000+
SQF Code	Edition 9	Edition 10 (Expected H1 2026)	14,000+
GLOBALG.A.P.	IFA v6 (v6-Gfs)	Mandatory in effect	200,000+
IFS PACsecure	Version 3	Current version in effect	1,200+
BRCGS Packaging	Issue 6	Issue 7 (Expected in 2026)	7,000+

The "Site" Reality in Audit Traffic: Unannounced Audits

If hygiene and personnel compliance failures occur even on a prepared audit day, it is undeniable that risks on other days are not being managed at the site level. This reality has made "Unannounced Audits" an unshakable pillar of standard protocols. Today, retailers look beyond the logo on a certificate; they evaluate the "authenticity" of that document based on unannounced audit performance on-site.

Food Safety Standards 2026 crossroad: SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS and AI

2026 and Beyond: The Critical Junction - A New Generation of Management Strategy

Post-2026, "change management" mandates a radical strategic shift not only for certified firms but also for certification bodies and CPOs. Traceability, Data Integrity, and Food Safety Culture can no longer be managed in silos.

• Change Management with AI: The gap between technology and human nature has never been wider. While AI accelerates "change management"—the most critical element of system management—the human factor’s ability to adapt to this speed at the site creates a new risk domain.

  
  

• "Document Management" in an Information Blizzard: Does managing "documentation" become easier under a barrage of data from every device and various usernames? No. For those using digital off-the-shelf solutions or in-house applications, uncontrolled and unverified information can lead to over-questioning of systems, eventually rendering them stagnant.

  
  

• The AI Trial for Standards: The most jarring question is whether those who publish the rules will use AI to create them. We are entering an era where AI defines "new and dynamic standards." Data security has officially become an inseparable part of food safety (Cyber-Food Safety).

  
  

GFSI’s "one certificate, fewer audits" strategy stands at a critical crossroads, challenged by technological velocity and the intense reliability struggle waged by standard owners through Integrity Audits.

Final Word: Choosing a standard in 2026 is not just about successfully completing an audit; it is about deciding how to preserve "human integrity" and "operational discipline" within a data flow managed by Artificial Intelligence.

January 1, 2026 Fatma İnceoğlu