In some cases you may be required to be certified to more than one standard because the food industry around the world is not standardized, governments in some countries may require you to have a specific certification (e.g. Germany IFS) and some retailers or manufacturers may demand another. In China, for example, the government sets their own standards but in order to export their products they might also need to meet other international standards that are acceptable to country of export or a retailer is asking their suppliers to be certified to a specific scheme i.e. BRC, HACCP, or SQF. Being certified to one of the food safety schemes under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) should help reduce a businesses overall costs and duplication because these standards are increasingly being recognized and accepted by governments and retailers worldwide.
Certification to an industry specific standard i.e. PacSecure, in addition to HACCP or other certification, can also give a company a competitive advantage in its particular sector. For instance, a sustainable packaging company would seek PacSecure certification to demonstrate that its products were safe from contamination or leeching. If a company is not certified it does not mean that its products are not safe or sustainable, but third party validation gives businesses and consumers confidence in a company’s products providing a competitive edge from a business that is non-certified.