GFCO Buyer & Distributor Guide

FAQ’s
Gluten-Free Certification Organization
(GFCO)
What is GFCO’s standard for gluten?
GFCO’s standard is 10 ppm or less gluten in finished products.
What is the cost for certification?
The costs listed on the right side of this page are involved in GFCO certification.
There are no other fees or charges to companies for certification.
Is certification given to products?
Yes. Individual products meeting GFCO standards can be certified. Manufacturers
producing certified products undergo an audit in each location certified products
are produced.
Can a manufacturing plant be certified?
Yes. Manufacturers who produce gluten-free products can certify the facility.
Certified manufacturers may produce GFCO-certified products for their clients if
specified contract terms are met.
Is an audit required for all my manufacturing plants?
Any location that produces GFCO-certified products must be audited. The
audit frequency is determined by the risks associated with the ingredients,
manufacturing facility and products. Manufacturing plants will have a minimum
annual audit, but may be audited more frequently. Audits may be announced or
unannounced.
How often is a product inspected or tested?
The number of times an inspector is in the plant to review processes depends
on a number of factors including the products being certified, the type of plant,
etc. Risk of potential for cross-contamination with gluten is established for each
ingredient in the final product, as well as the processing aids. Products may be
randomly tested in the plant or sent out for independent testing as requested by
GFCO.
How often is testing of equipment required?
Testing of equipment is based on identifying and testing high risk areas of the
equipment. GFCO encourages the use of test kits testing at 10 ppm or less for
testing equipment.
What testing methods does GFCO recommend?
GIG provides companies with a document of testing kits and methods that
have been GFCO-approved for use as part of our certification program. GFCO
encourages the use of third-party validated test methods and certified labs. GIG
does not endorse a specific testing method or lab.
Do ingredients have to be tested?
GFCO assigns a risk assessment to all ingredients. High risk ingredients are
required to be tested prior to use in a certified product. Some materials, such as
grain products, may require increased testing if they are not certified gluten-free
by a GFCO-recognized certification program, before being used in production.
Audit fees
An annual audit is
required for each plant
producing certified
gluten-free products.
A flat rate of $600 is
charged for US audits.
This rate may be
reduced for companies
with multiple plants.
Applications and desk
audits are free of charge.
Auditor travel
expenses
GFCO makes every effort
to group audits together,
and when applicable will
combine GF audits with
other audits (HACCP,
GFSI, GMO, Organic, etc)
in order to reduce cost
to companies.
Licensing/
Certification
A flat rate is charged for
each certification and is
not based on the number
of SKU’s, Brand sales,
etc. GFCO extends a
Small Business Offer
to small companies
with 5 or less products.
However, the Small
Business Offer uses a
‘per SKU’ pricing matrix
rather than a flat rate.
To learn more about
GFCO certification
visit www.gluten.org