BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 in 2026: what applies now?
On 5 September 2026, BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 is the valid edition. The official BRCGS page names Issue 9 as the current standard. F926 version 4 contains additional position statements with effect from 10 August 2026.
BRCGS is also working on Issue 10. The progress update on Issue 10 describes development and working groups. It gives no publication or effective date for a new audit basis. The BRCGS update on GFSI Benchmarking Requirements 2024 is also not an announcement that Issue 9 is already fully recognised against BMR2024.
If you plan an audit in September 2026, check the applicable F926 documents alongside the standard. Ask your certification body which document version is used in the audit file. The BRCGS hub gives the basis, and the unannounced audit page covers the audit regime.
On this page
Use the timeline to keep three statuses apart: what can be audited now, which Issue 9 clarifications already apply, and what is still in development. That way you avoid treating a draft message as a new requirement.
Auditable now
On the reference date, Issue 9 is the applicable BRCGS Food Safety framework. Use the official standard, interpretation and relevant protocol documents for your internal preparation. An older presentation or checklist may miss information, so note the document title and version in your file.
The recognition status must be worded precisely. MyGFSI lists BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 as a programme undergoing benchmarking against BMR2024 . The recognised BRCGS listing still falls under BMR2020. Therefore, do not state that Issue 9 is already fully GFSI v2024 recognised without a new official recognition announcement.
F926 from 10 August 2026
F926 version 4 contains additional Issue 9 position statements. BRCGS treats such statements as an extension of the standard for audit practice. Check the statements before your audit and turn them into questions for your own processes.
The PDF includes, among other things, a position statement on protective clothing and other clarifications that align with GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2024. Do not copy the text into a checklist. Decide which method, instruction or verification is relevant at your site.
Issue 10 in development
On 5 September 2026, Issue 10 has no published requirements, transition date or mandatory implementation period yet. You can follow developments and carry out improvements that make sense anyway. Do not present them as an Issue 10 requirement.
A site might, for example, improve its version control because new documents make that easier. That is an internal choice, not evidence that a future audit will require exactly that approach.
What do you do now?
Make a short version overview with the standard, position statements, protocol, interpretation guide and check date. Discuss any conflicting information from a customer letter or consultant presentation with the certification body before you plan the audit.
| Status on 5 September 2026 | What you record |
|---|---|
| Issue 9 applies | Standard and interpretation version |
| F926 applies from 10 August | Relevant position statements and actions |
| Issue 10 in development | Official update, not a predicted requirement |
| GFSI v2024 benchmarking | Exact recognition wording from a current source |
This status page is time-sensitive. Check it again when BRCGS publishes something new officially, when F926 changes or when Issue 10 is formally announced.
Frequently asked questions
Must I audit against Issue 10 now?
No. On the reference date, Issue 10 is in development and does not yet form a new audit basis. Prepare for Issue 9 and the applicable F926 statements.
Is F926 optional?
The position statements are intended as an extension of Issue 9. From 10 August 2026, they matter for audit practice. If you are unsure how to apply them, discuss this with your certification body.
Where do I find the current status?
Use the official BRCGS Food Safety page, and check the publication date and version number of PDFs. Record your check in your quality system.