Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Melissa Lazaro

Why Integration Saves Time, Money, and Stress

When I help companies that already have ISO 22000 or FSSC in place and are now working toward BRC certification, the first reaction is usually relief — not panic. Why? Because a big portion of the food-safety structure already exists.

Still, integration isn’t automatic. ISO-based systems rely heavily on risk-based thinking and flexible interpretation, while BRC takes a more operational and detailed approach. If you treat them as two separate systems, you’ll double the workload. If you harmonize them properly, you’ll streamline documentation, simplify training, reduce audit stress, and strengthen consistency across shifts.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a practical strategy to align the standards, remove duplication, and build one integrated food-safety system that works smoothly — not three competing frameworks.

Understand the Core Differences and Overlaps

It helps to start with a clear understanding of how the standards differ in purpose and personality:

• ISO 22000 focuses on a food-safety management system built around PDCA and risk-based thinking.
• FSSC 22000 builds on ISO by adding PRP requirements (ISO/TS 22002 series) and additional scheme elements.
• BRC V9 is more prescriptive, operational, and audit-focused, with clear expectations around evidence, documentation, facility conditions, and product integrity.

Here’s what I’ve noticed: companies familiar with ISO appreciate flexibility — BRC removes some of that flexibility by specifying how things should be done.

Pro Tip: A clause-to-clause mapping exercise is the fastest way to identify what’s already compliant and where BRC requires additional operational detail.

Common Mistake: Assuming ISO compliance automatically satisfies BRC expectations. The structure may overlap, but the execution requirements differ.

Harmonize Documentation and Policies

The next step is reviewing your documentation structure. Most ISO and FSSC-certified companies already have strong documents — they just need refinement for BRC clarity.

Start with what you already have:

• Food safety and quality policy
• Objectives and KPI tracking
• HACCP plan and verification
• Supplier approval process
• Allergen and contamination control
• Internal audit and deviation management

Then update formatting and level of detail to match BRC’s operational style. BRC expects more specificity — for example, exact cleaning frequencies, verification steps, and record formats.

A manufacturing site I worked with cut their documentation count by 40% simply by merging procedures instead of creating new BRC-specific ones.

Pro Tip: Keep one controlled format for all documents. Consistency wins both efficiency and auditor confidence.

Align Operational Controls (Where ISO and BRC Diverge)

ISO gives you freedom to build controls based on risk. BRC reinforces that — but adds operational detail that must be visible and consistent across the floor.

Pay special attention to areas where BRC expectations are more prescriptive:

• Foreign-body controls
• Zoning and segregation
• Cleaning validation and verification
• Labelling and packaging checks
• Product defense and culture requirements
• Traceability and recall testing frequency

ISO may say “manage the risk.”
BRC says “prove how you manage it — and show the evidence.”

That’s the shift.

Common Mistake: Updating procedures without updating the actual behavior on the floor. BRC audits validate practice first — paperwork second.

Streamline Internal Audits and Verification Programs

Instead of running separate internal audits for each standard, create one integrated internal audit schedule.

Use:

• ISO structure for management-system elements
• BRC checklist details for operational controls and site standards

This blended approach gives you structured oversight with practical depth.

Pro Tip: Train internal auditors to speak both “ISO language” and “BRC language.” It helps staff adjust before the certification audit — and improves cross-standard confidence.

Centralize Training and Competency Programs

Training is often where systems either integrate beautifully — or fall apart.

You don’t need separate training programs, but you do need one comprehensive competency matrix that includes:

• ISO management requirements
• PRP and scheme elements from FSSC
• Operational and behavioral expectations from BRC

Training should feel connected, not repeated.

One facility improved audit readiness dramatically when they linked training directly to job tasks instead of just standard clauses.

Pro Tip: Use short, job-specific refreshers instead of lengthy general training sessions — especially for production teams.

Plan Certification and Surveillance Audit Strategy

Integration also affects how you schedule audits. Some companies maintain all three certifications. Others transition fully to one. Some choose hybrid surveillance structures.

A typical transition plan looks like this:

1. Gap-analysis and system alignment
2. Updated documentation and floor practices
3. Combined internal audit using integrated checklist
4. Mock BRC assessment
5. Certification readiness review
6. Formal audit scheduling

Many certification bodies can coordinate surveillance timelines so you don’t go through three separate audit cycles.

Pro Tip: Ask certification bodies early whether they offer multi-scheme audit pathways — it can significantly reduce disruption and cost.

FAQs

Do we need separate manuals for each standard?
No — a single integrated manual is often more effective and easier to manage.

Is BRC more difficult than ISO?
Not necessarily — it’s just more explicit and evidence-driven. Once operational controls are aligned, compliance becomes routine.

Can we implement BRC using our existing ISO system as the backbone?
Absolutely. In many cases, ISO gives you the structure — BRC fills in the operational detail.

Conclusion: Integration Isn’t About More Work — It’s About Smarter Structure

When integration is done well, it reduces administrative burden, strengthens audit confidence, and aligns the entire food-safety system into one clear framework.

Over time, that translates to fewer errors, stronger consistency, and a system that supports operations — not just certification.

If you want to make the next step easier, I can provide a ready-to-use crosswalk matrix mapping BRC V9 to ISO 22000 and FSSC — or help tailor one to your industry.

Either way, now you have a clear direction — and that’s where integration truly begins.