You have done the work. The procedures are written, the plant is clean and the team is trained. Now there is a date on the calendar: your BRCGS audit. What actually happens when the auditor walks through the door?
This guide covers the BRCGS audit day from start to finish, the difference between announced and unannounced audits, how audits are graded, and a preparation plan you can follow in the weeks before. If you are earlier in your journey, our guides on how to get BRC certified and how to apply for BRC certification cover the steps leading up to the audit, and our BRC certification page explains how we support plants.
A quick refresher on BRCGS
The BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is a GFSI recognized certification scheme, widely used by retailers and brands. Audits are performed by approved certification bodies, and the standard is updated periodically, so always confirm the current issue and audit rules with your certification body and on the BRCGS website.
For a plain comparison with the other major US scheme, see our BRC vs SQF certification guide.
Announced vs. unannounced BRCGS audits
BRCGS offers two audit routes, and recent versions of the standard have increased the role of unannounced audits. Confirm the current requirements with your certification body, but the basic difference is this.
| Announced audit | Unannounced audit | |
| Notice | Date agreed in advance | Auditor arrives within an agreed window, with no fixed date |
| Preparation | You can schedule readiness work and staff coverage | You must be ready every day |
| Typical benefit | Easier planning | Greater credibility with customers, and often a recognized designation on the certificate |
| Main risk | A plant that peaks only for the audit | Key people may be absent or production may be in a hard to audit state |
The lesson is the same for both: a plant that is always audit ready has nothing to fear from an unannounced visit. Plants that cram for audits feel stressed by both.
What BRCGS audit day looks like
Every audit is slightly different, but most follow a similar pattern.
1. Opening meeting The auditor confirms scope, products, processes and the audit plan. Have your senior management present, because management commitment is a core part of the standard.
2. Facility walkthrough The auditor tours production, storage, dispatch and external areas. They look at hygiene, maintenance, zoning, pest control, cleaning in progress, equipment condition, staff behavior and controls such as allergen segregation. Sanitation quality is highly visible here. See our guide on why plant hygiene decides audit results.
3. Document and record review The auditor samples records such as your HACCP plan, prerequisite programs, monitoring logs, training files, supplier approvals, internal audits and management review. They often follow a thread from a requirement to the system to the records.
4. Traceability test Expect a traceability exercise. The auditor selects a finished product and asks you to trace ingredients and packaging back to suppliers, and forward to customers, often with a mass balance check. Time and accuracy matter.
5. Interviews on the floor Auditors speak with operators, cleaners and supervisors. They want to see that people understand why a procedure exists, not just that it is posted on a wall.
6. Closing meeting The auditor summarizes findings and identifies any non-conformances. You will usually receive the detailed report afterward.
How BRCGS audits are graded
BRCGS findings are generally classed as minor, major or critical non-conformances. The number and severity of findings determine the certification outcome and the grade on the certificate, and they influence how often you are audited. Grading details change between issues of the standard, so confirm the current rules with your certification body.
After the audit, you must submit corrective actions with root cause analysis and supporting evidence within the response period set by the standard. This is typically measured in weeks, so plan your team’s time before the audit, not after.
What tends to cause trouble in both BRCGS and SQF audits is similar, so our article on common SQF audit non-conformances is also useful for BRCGS plants.
A 30 day BRCGS audit preparation plan
Weeks 4 to 3: Gap check
- Compare your system to every clause of the current standard.
- List open corrective actions from previous audits and close them.
- Review the previous audit report with your leadership team.
Weeks 3 to 2: Records and training
- Sample records from the last three to six months and look for gaps.
- Confirm training files match job roles, including sanitation staff.
- Run a timed traceability and mass balance exercise.
Weeks 2 to 1: Plant condition
- Walk the plant like an auditor, including roofs, drains, dead ends, loading docks and waste areas.
- Verify cleaning with visual checks and ATP or other methods. See environmental monitoring and ATP testing.
- Check pest control reports and proofing.
Final week: Readiness
- Brief managers and supervisors on their roles during the audit.
- Confirm backup people for key roles in case someone is absent.
- Prepare a clean, organized document room, or a clear way to retrieve digital records.
For more practical steps, use our food safety audit step by step guide and our post on how to prepare for a food safety audit.
Do’s and don’ts on audit day
Do
- Answer the question that was asked, and be honest if you do not know.
- Provide records quickly and in an organized way.
- Keep production and sanitation running as normal.
- Take notes on every finding and ask for clarification if needed.
Do not
- Hide problems, rewrite records or coach staff to say what the auditor wants to hear.
- Argue findings in the moment. Discuss evidence calmly and raise disputes through the proper channel afterward.
- Leave frontline staff unprepared. A nervous operator who has never met an auditor can cause avoidable findings.
Where sanitation fits
Cleaning and hygiene findings are among the easiest to prevent and the easiest for an auditor to see. A documented, verified sanitation program with trained crews makes the whole audit smoother. Learn more about our food processing plant hygiene approach, and read about why BRC certification matters for food plants.
To see how audit types differ across the industry, read types of food safety audits. To place BRCGS within the wider US rule set, see our guide to food safety compliance for US food manufacturers.
Prepare with Sanitation Specialist
Sanitation Specialist offers mock audits, readiness reviews and nightly sanitation for food plants across the United States. Contact our team and we will help you walk your plant the way a BRCGS auditor will.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a BRCGS audit take?
Many audits take one to several days depending on plant size, complexity and the scope of products. Your certification body will confirm the number of audit days.
What is the difference between announced and unannounced BRCGS audits?
An announced audit has an agreed date. An unannounced audit happens within a window without a fixed date. Check current BRCGS rules for how often unannounced audits are required.
What happens if I get a major non-conformance?
You must submit a root cause and corrective action response with evidence within the required period, and the certification body decides whether certification can proceed or be granted.
How should I prepare staff for a BRCGS audit?
Train them on their own procedures, explain the audit process, and make sure they know who to call. Honest, confident answers are better than rehearsed ones.
Is BRCGS better than SQF?
Neither is better in every case. The right choice usually depends on your customers. Our BRC vs SQF guide explains the differences.