Webinar Recap: Ensuring Food Compliance in Shifting Trade Dynamics: Preparing for New Market Entry

Hosts: Mzingaye Ndubiwa - Global Market Analyst - (South Africa) 

Presenters: Bojan Mijatovic - Global Market Analyst (Serbia) and Marija Slovic - International Food Safety Assessor (Serbia)

Speakers: Emad Fathy Abdelkader - Quality Control Specialist (Egypt) and Kevin López - Assistant Manager (Colombia)

Agenda:

• Global Trends in Food Safety and Compliance
• Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting Regional Retail Requirements
• Panel Discussion

Global Trends in Food Safety and Compliance

Driven by factors such as climate change, globalization, evolving consumer demands, and technological innovation, the global food safety sector is undergoing significant transformation. Consequently, regulatory frameworks worldwide are becoming more stringent, emphasizing food safety as a shared responsibility critical for sustainable agrifood systems and public health. 

Tridge experts collaborated with Drina SIF, an international business consulting and advisory firm with deep expertise in standardization and management systems, to offer perspective on quality control standards and global trends.

While foundational systems like the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) remain essential, HACCP is more than just controlling critical points; it's a systematic, preventive approach to food safety. It involves identifying potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards throughout the food production process and establishing specific controls at critical points (CCPs) to prevent, eliminate, or reduce these risks to acceptable levels. According to Drina SIF expert, Marija Slovic, an International food safety assessor, the dominant trend is towards broader, more comprehensive standards benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). These include the International Featured Standard (IFS), the British Retail Consortium (BRC), and the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000, which are often mandated by major retailers and manufacturers united under GFSI. 

These advanced standards extend beyond basic hazard control,encompassing quality management, regulatory compliance, robust traceability, and continual improvement. Beyond basic hazard control, it adds layers covering broader business operations, quality consistency, detailed regulatory adherence across different markets, sophisticated tracking systems, and formalized processes for ongoing improvement, not just the immediate prevention of unsafe food. This reflects a global push for enhanced supply chain trust and consumer protection. This evolution is further supported by the growing use of digital compliance tools and technologies like blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) to bolster traceability. 

However, shifting trade dynamics, including tariff adjustments, introduce complex compliance challenges, particularly for businesses entering new markets. This often requires careful investigation of specific regional requirements like labeling variations and strategically adopting relevant certifications, often at the GFSI level. Taking all into consideration is crucial for international market access and meeting partner demands.

Figure 1. List of GFSI-Recognized Standards

Source: Food Ready

The journey towards comprehensive food safety assurance begins with foundational Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) establishing essential operational hygiene, upon which the systematic, process-focused Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system builds to control identified hazards specifically. ISO 22000 then elevates this by embedding GMP and HACCP within a structured Food Safety Management System (FSMS) framework, emphasizing organizational management and continual improvement. Culminating this progression, GFSI-recognized schemes (like BRCGS, SQF, FSSC 22000) represent the most comprehensive level demanded for significant market access; they incorporate all preceding elements while adding stringent requirements for quality, legality, traceability, food defense, and specific customer specifications, directly addressing the complex landscape businesses must navigate to meet diverse global retailer expectations and transform compliance into a competitive advantage.

Figure 2. Gradation in Food Safety Standards

Source: Drina SIF

Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting Regional Retail Requirements

Understanding regional and retailer-specific food safety requirements presents significant challenges for businesses, demanding more than basic compliance. These hurdles include identifying and implementing the correct, often rigorous standards (like IFS for German/European Union retailers or BRC), which focus intensely on product, process, and packaging, alongside managing multiple, overlapping requirements from various major retailers such as Walmart, Carrefour, Tesco, Aldi, and Costco. 

Businesses must also contend with the substantial costs of obtaining and maintaining necessary certifications (like GFSI-recognized schemes), continuously evolving regulations, and the need to meticulously adapt sourcing, labeling (addressing diverse rules on language, nutrition, and health claims), traceability systems, and documentation—including ethical trade aspects—for specific buyer needs, private labels, and new market entry. 

However, successfully overcoming these obstacles offers substantial opportunities. Achieving mandated certifications builds crucial trust, unlocks access to lucrative markets and key retail partnerships, and provides a distinct competitive advantage, particularly for private-label suppliers. Strategic approaches, such as adopting recognized GFSI-benchmarked standards to satisfy multiple retailers, conducting thorough pre-entry market research and gap analyses, forming local partnerships for regulatory guidance, implementing tailored adaptation strategies, and utilizing expert guidance for system setup and audit preparation, can effectively transform compliance from a burdensome obligation into a powerful strategic asset.

To illustrate the complexity and granular detail involved in meeting specific buyer and market requirements, consider the following example:Tridge’s usual practice is outlining the quality control standards for Hass avocados originating from Colombia in this example. It details the required characteristics for the fruit upon arrival, including quality score definitions (on a 1-6 scale), firmness, dry matter content, sizing, and temperature requirements. It also specifies external and internal quality checks. Furthermore, the document lays out detailed requirements for packaging, covering box dimensions, material (carton or plastic), quality standards to withstand the supply chain, compliance with EU food contact regulations, and net weight per box. Finally, it lists mandatory labeling information: exporter, packer Global Location Number (GLN), grower GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN), product details, origin, class, count, weight, traceability code, waxing declaration, and the necessary details for the packing list accompanying each shipment.

Figure 3.Quality Control Requirements for Fresh Avocado from Tridge Fulfillment Team

Sources: Tridge

Figure 4. Overview of Countries Certified in Food Safety BRC, IFS, and FSSC

Source: Drina SIF

Panel Discussion: 

Tridge panel discussion speakers Kevin Lopez and Emad Fathy Abdelkader, along with Marija Slovic from Drina SIF, identified how HACCP, ISO 22000, and GFSI differ in their approach to food safety, and how suppliers can determine which standard is most relevant for their operations. 

HACCP is a fundamental preventive system focused on controlling hazards in food production, often the initial step for suppliers. ISO 22000 expands on HACCP, providing an international standard for a comprehensive food safety management system applicable across the entire supply chain (farm to fork). It integrates key elements like interactive communication, HACCP principles, system management, and prerequisite programs (like GMP). GFSI benchmarks various global standards like the Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS) and the Safe Quality Food (SQF), which major retailers frequently require. Suppliers often adopt these standards progressively—starting with HACCP, moving to ISO 22000 for broader system management and export potential, and pursuing GFSI-benchmarked certifications to meet the requirements of large international buyers.

During the panel discussion, Tridge’s experts Lopez and Fathy shed light on how technology, such as blockchain or IoT, enhance traceability and transparency in the food supply chain. Blockchain ensures secure, tamper-proof records and data flow security across the supply chain, which is particularly beneficial for agriculture business models. IoT provides real-time sensor data (like temperature and location), which helps optimize internal processes within the agricultural sector. Together, these technologies significantly enhance food traceability, reduce risks, and increase buyer confidence, which is especially important for exporters targeting premium markets. The design of these integrated solutions can involve collaboration between technicians and producers and incorporate user-centered design principles.

About emerging trends or innovations that are shaping the future of food safety and compliance, Tridge and Drina SIF speaker, Marija Slovic, pointed out that HACCP provides a systematic approach to identifying and controlling food safety hazards throughout the food supply chain. Its adoption is increasingly vital for businesses to gain consumer trust and meet regulations, especially as consumers become more conscious of food origin and quality. 

HACCP principles continue to shape future trends in food safety. Expect stricter regulations and the integration of technologies like blockchain and IoT for enhanced transparency and traceability. Consumers will likely gain greater access to information alongside developments in innovative packaging. A significant trend also involves the shift towards more sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, expanded education programs, increased international collaboration, and continuous monitoring systems will be crucial for addressing emerging threats. The future points towards a safer, more transparent, and sustainable food system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping predict food safety risks before they occur. Compliance is going digital, with platforms streamlining audits and traceability. Responding to growing consumer demand for transparency, companies are now using QR codes to give easy access to detailed information about products and their supply chains.

Click here to view the webinar recording, or click here to see the presentation slides from Tridge, and here from Drina SIF.