About this course
About this course
Agents and brokers operate in the food supply chain without taking physical possession of product, which creates a distinctive compliance challenge. The BRCGS Global Standard for Agents and Brokers Issue 3 sets out the quality and food safety management requirements these businesses must meet. This two-day virtual programme covers the Standard clause by clause and is suitable for both sites preparing for certification and auditors preparing to assess.
Who should attend
The course is aimed at senior managers, quality managers, technical managers and supply chain leads working for agents, brokers, traders and importers. It is equally useful for consultants supporting clients through certification and for auditors adding the Standard to their BRCGS scope. Staff at trading arms of larger food manufacturers often attend the programme to ensure their non-manufacturing operations meet customer expectations, as do import and export professionals handling food and drink product across international supply chains.
What the programme covers
Sessions work through the Standard systematically: senior management commitment, the hazard and risk analysis system for non-manufacturing operations, supplier approval, product and service specifications, traceability, site standards where applicable, and the control of outsourced activities. Practical time is given to the particular challenges of evidencing compliance when an operation holds no stock and does not transform product. The programme covers how to handle traceability documentation when intermediate storage is outsourced, how to structure supplier approval programmes across jurisdictions with very different regulatory environments, and how to integrate the Standard with any customer-specific additional requirements.
Assessment and certification
A written exam at the end of day two confirms competence. Delegates who pass receive the official BRCGS Certificate of Achievement, recognised by retailers and certification bodies as evidence of training for staff working to the Standard.
Course format and delivery
The programme runs over two consecutive days in a live virtual format. Sessions combine clause-level teaching with worked examples from real brokerage and importer certifications, anonymised where necessary. Delegates receive supporting materials and example procedures for use after the programme.
Why this matters
Agents and brokers are increasingly scrutinised in the wake of high-profile food fraud incidents, and major retailers now require certification as a precondition of trading. A team trained on the Standard handles customer onboarding, supplier assurance and audit preparation with significantly less friction. The course is often taken alongside the Storage and Distribution Sites Training for businesses combining brokerage with warehousing, and with the BRCGS HACCP programme for teams supporting hazard analysis on behalf of downstream manufacturers. For audit leads, the Internal Auditor qualification provides natural progression.
Explore the full BRCGS courses and training catalogue for related programmes or read what BRCGS stands for for background on the Global Standards framework.
