What is the Global Standard Gluten-Free?
Celiac Canada works to ensure safe, gluten-free food is affordable and accessible.
Look for the Celiac Canada logo on food products and know they meet strict standards.
The Global Standard Gluten-Free, a management system for manufacturers with a focus on gluten control, was created by Celiac Canada and the Allergen Control Group in 2011. It is also licensed to Beyond Celiac in the US, making it the first and only North American program endorsed by leading celiac disease organizations in both the US and Canada.
BRCGS, a company based in London, England but with offices globally including in Canada, currently owns the Standard. Any product displaying the Celiac Canada trademark must adhere to Canadian legislation, gluten levels set by Health Canada, and the requirements of the Global Standard Gluten-Free.
The Global Standard Gluten-Free differs from other certification programs and is based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles. The Standard’s requirements address all potential hazards all the way along the manufacturing process, from supply to production to packaging to prevent gluten contamination. Final product testing for less than 20ppm of gluten, means a company’s certification to the Global Standard Gluten-Free assures you products carrying the mark are both safe and gluten-free.
Another key differentiator of the Standard is that it does not allow the intentional addition of gluten-containing ingredients, in any concentration, in products bearing the Celiac Canada trademark. This restriction also applies to ingredients which have been processed to remove gluten. This means that celiac and non-celiac, gluten-sensitive consumers can purchase these products with confidence.
A manufacturing facility which achieves certification to the Global Standard Gluten-Free has exclusive rights to use the Celiac Canada’s trademark on product packaging and on marketing/advertising materials Products displaying the Celiac Canada trademark allow you to identify safe products from the increasing clutter of gluten-free claims in today’s marketplace. Look for the Celiac Canada trademark on food products and know they meet the strict standards set out exclusively by the Global Standard Gluten-Free.
Learn to Read Labels for Gluten
Discover BRCGS
Health Canada's Position on Gluten-Free Claims
A Canadian Celiac Podcast chats with BRCGS.
Mar 22, 2023 – Sue Jennett, A Canadian Celiac Podcast
“When I was at the 50th Anniversary kickoff for Celiac Canada I spoke with the Technical Manager for the Gluten Free Certification with BRCGS. His name is Barry Meikle and I had so many questions. On Episode 176, I spoke with John Murthy from BRCGS in London, so it was appropriate to now speak with Barry to get the Canadian/North American take on Gluten Free Certification. We talk about how the program works and what assurances you can get from purchasing products with the CCA Gluten Free symbol.”
Jun 9, 2021 – Sue Jennett, A Canadian Celiac Podcast
On this episode I speak with Jon Murthy, Head of Global Marketing for BRCGS. This is the organization that certifies foods for the CCA gluten free logo, as part of their many certification programs. Originally, this operation was performed by a relatively small, but knowledgeable group in Canada, but moving this important function to a multi-national, multi-discipline certification body, brings an entirely new perspective to gluten free food safety. Jon discusses the process a company must go through to achieve certification, as well as the complexities of companies producing and exporting ingredients and prepared foods to maintain their certification status. This global perspective is a complicated concept, but BRCGS certainly seems up to the international challenge.
