About this course
About this course
The BRCGS Global Standard for Consumer Products Issue 4 covers non-food consumer goods, including personal care, household and general merchandise. This five-day Lead Auditor programme qualifies professionals to conduct third-party audits against the Standard and is delivered by a BRCGS Approved Training Partner.
Who should attend
The course is designed for experienced auditors already working for a certification body, consultants preparing to deliver second-party audits for major retailers, and senior technical managers with substantial prior audit experience. A minimum of five years experience auditing quality or safety standards is strongly recommended before enrolment. Delegates without significant prior audit experience should complete the Sites Training and Auditor Training programmes before attempting this qualification.
What the programme covers
Each day combines clause-level teaching, practical audit exercises and daily assessment. Topics include the full scope of the Consumer Products Standard, product risk categories, product safety management, supplier approval, site standards and personnel, along with BRCGS Scheme rules for auditors, audit report writing, non-conformity grading and the ethical obligations of a third-party assessor. The programme gives substantial attention to the particular audit challenges of Consumer Products, including product risk category determination, the regulatory interface with cosmetics and toy safety legislation, and the handling of supplier audit findings that cross regulatory and certification boundaries.
Assessment and certification
Assessment runs across all five days, combining written examinations, a practical audit assignment and continuous observation of participation. A pass earns the official BRCGS Lead Auditor Certificate of Achievement, which certification bodies typically recognise when registering new auditors to the Consumer Products Scheme. The certificate is recognised internationally.
Course format and delivery
The programme runs over five consecutive days in a live virtual format with a BRCGS Approved senior trainer. Each day combines methodology teaching with practical audit exercises, structured peer feedback and case study discussion. Delegates complete pre-course reading and have access to the trainer throughout the programme for questions and technique coaching.
Why this matters
Consumer Products audits require distinctive technique, particularly around product risk category determination and the interface between retail specification and Standard requirements. Formal qualification is a common prerequisite for auditors joining the scheme at any major certification body. The qualification is also increasingly referenced by brand owners and retailers when appointing senior technical staff responsible for supplier approval across consumer goods categories. Delegates typically complete this after several years of experience and after the Consumer Products Sites Training and Auditor Training courses. Additional credibility is often built through the BRCGS HACCP programme for sites combining food and consumer product manufacturing.
View the full BRCGS courses and training catalogue for related programmes or contact the team to discuss progression.
