News & Insights
Compliance Insights
Practical articles on standards, audits and the Cornerstone platform — written by the team that implements them.
Compliance Insights
What Is a BRCGS ATP? How Auditor and Site Training Rollouts Work
A BRCGS ATP is an Approved Training Partner delivering official courses to auditors, sites and consultants. Here is how ATP training works and how the Issue 5 rollout will run.
Rob Low
Cornerstone team
Compliance Insights
14 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
BRCGS Product Defence and Vulnerability Assessment: TACCP and VACCP Basics
Product defence and vulnerability assessment are moving up the agenda in BRCGS Consumer Products. Here are the TACCP and VACCP basics, explained for non-food manufacturers.
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Compliance Insights
13 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
ISO 22716 and BRCGS: How Cosmetics GMP Maps to Enhanced Hygiene Expectations
Cosmetics manufacturers running ISO 22716 are better prepared for BRCGS Consumer Products Issue 5 enhanced hygiene expectations than they might think. Here is how the two map.
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Compliance Insights
12 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
How to Prepare for Your First BRCGS Consumer Products Audit
Facing your first BRCGS Consumer Products audit? Here is a practical preparation plan covering the system, the evidence, the people and the day itself.
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Compliance Insights
11 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
BRCGS Fundamental Requirements: Why One Major Non-Conformity Can Cost Your Certificate
Fundamental requirements are the clauses BRCGS considers crucial to an effective system. A major non-conformity against one means no certificate. Here is how to manage them.
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Compliance Insights
10 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
BRCGS Audit Options Explained: Announced, Unannounced and Blended Audits
BRCGS offers announced, voluntary unannounced and, from Consumer Products Issue 5, blended audit options. Here is how each works and which suits your site.
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Compliance Insights
9 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
BRCGS Audit Grades Explained: AA to D and the Plus Grades
BRCGS audit grades run from AA down to D, with plus grades for unannounced audits. Here is how grading works, what drives your grade, and why it matters commercially.
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Compliance Insights
8 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
How to Run a BRCGS Traceability Test Properly
Traceability is a Fundamental requirement across BRCGS standards, and the test is where sites most often stumble. Here is how to run a BRCGS traceability test that stands up to audit.
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Compliance Insights
7 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
HARA vs HACCP: What BRCGS Consumer Product Manufacturers Can Borrow From Food Safety
HARA and HACCP share the same DNA. Here is how the two methodologies compare, and what consumer product manufacturers can usefully borrow from thirty years of food safety practice.
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Compliance Insights
6 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
What Is HARA? Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment Explained for BRCGS Consumer Products
HARA, hazard analysis and risk assessment, is central to BRCGS Consumer Products Issue 5. Here is what the methodology involves and how to build one that works.
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Compliance Insights
4 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
BRCGS Foundation Level Is Going: What Foundation Certificated Sites Should Do Now
Issue 5 of BRCGS Consumer Products removes the Foundation and Higher levels. If your site is certificated at Foundation level, here is a practical plan for the next twelve months.
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Compliance Insights
19 Jun 2026 · 4 min read
ZenQMS Alternative for UK Food and Cosmetics Manufacturers: What to Look For
ZenQMS is built for medical device and pharma quality management. UK food and cosmetics manufacturers researching alternatives should check these specific gaps first.
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Compliance Insights
18 Jun 2026 · 4 min read
Supplier Approval Workflows: What Most Manufacturers Get Wrong
Supplier approval is often treated as a one-time gate rather than an ongoing process. Here is what a proper supplier approval workflow actually requires.
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