Food businesses in Malta operate under European Union food law and Maltese national controls. For supermarket suppliers, legal compliance is only the starting point. Retailers, importers and export customers can also require recognised third-party certification.
Eight systems are especially relevant: HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food Safety, IFS Food, GLOBALG.A.P., EU Organic certification and Malta’s Products of Quality National Scheme.
They serve different purposes. HACCP-based controls support legal food-safety management. ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 cover management systems. BRCGS and IFS are widely used in international retail. GLOBALG.A.P. applies mainly to farms. EU Organic certification supports regulated organic claims. Malta’s Products of Quality scheme is a national quality certification for eligible agricultural products.
: Maltese suppliers do not need every certification on this list. The correct combination depends on the product, customer and market. HACCP-based food-safety control is the foundation. International certifications are usually added when retailers or export customers require them.
Top food safety certifications in Malta
| Certification | Main use | Typical users | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HACCP | Hazard control and food-safety management | Food manufacturers, catering, storage and retail | HACCP-based procedures form part of legal compliance |
| ISO 22000 | Food-safety management system | Manufacturers, logistics and food-chain businesses | Voluntary |
| FSSC 22000 | GFSI-recognised food-safety certification | Larger factories, exporters and packaging suppliers | Voluntary, often customer-driven |
| BRCGS Food Safety | Retail and private-label supplier assurance | Food factories supplying international chains | Voluntary, often commercially required |
| IFS Food | Retailer-focused manufacturing assurance | Private-label and export manufacturers | Voluntary |
| GLOBALG.A.P. | Farm-level assurance | Fresh produce and agriculture | Voluntary, often buyer-driven |
| EU Organic | Organic production and labelling | Growers, processors, traders and retailers | Required for regulated organic claims |
| Products of Quality National Scheme | Maltese agricultural quality certification | Farmers and cooperatives | Voluntary |
Food safety in Malta: what suppliers need to know first
Malta is an EU member state, so European food-safety and hygiene legislation applies directly.
Malta also created a dedicated Food Safety and Security Authority under the Food Safety and Security Authority Act 2025.
The authority is responsible for strengthening oversight of food produced, processed and imported into Malta.
Food businesses remain responsible for the safety and traceability of the products they place on the market.
That means a certificate cannot replace:
- hygiene;
- traceability;
- legal labelling;
- temperature control;
- allergen management;
- safe ingredients;
- recall capability;
- HACCP-based controls.
Certification should sit on top of a working food-safety system.
1. HACCP
HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.
It is the core food-safety risk-control system used across European food businesses.
What does HACCP do?
HACCP identifies hazards and determines how they are controlled.
Common hazards include:
- pathogenic bacteria;
- allergens;
- chemical contamination;
- foreign bodies;
- temperature failure;
- cross-contamination;
- incorrect cooking or cooling.
Is HACCP mandatory in Malta?
Food businesses must operate suitable HACCP-based procedures where required under EU food-hygiene law.
That is different from purchasing a private HACCP certificate.
The legal obligation is the system itself.
Who needs HACCP most?
It is especially important for:
- food manufacturers;
- bakeries;
- meat processors;
- dairies;
- restaurants;
- catering;
- warehouses;
- retail food operations.
For Malta’s private-label manufacturers, strong HACCP controls are particularly important because retailer reputation is attached directly to the finished product.
2. ISO 22000
ISO 22000 is an international food-safety management-system standard.
It combines HACCP principles with wider management requirements.
The standard covers:
- leadership;
- planning;
- communication;
- food-safety controls;
- verification;
- internal audits;
- continual improvement.
Who should use ISO 22000?
It can suit:
- food factories;
- wholesalers;
- logistics businesses;
- packaging suppliers;
- ingredient companies;
- foodservice operators.
Does ISO 22000 guarantee supermarket approval?
No.
A retailer may specifically require BRCGS, IFS or FSSC 22000.
The supplier should check customer requirements before choosing a standard.
3. FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is a GFSI-recognised certification scheme built around ISO 22000.
It adds sector-specific prerequisite programmes and extra scheme requirements.
Why does FSSC matter?
Large international food companies and retailers often use GFSI-recognised certification as part of supplier approval.
This makes FSSC 22000 especially relevant to Maltese factories that want to export or manufacture for multinational customers.
Who benefits most?
FSSC 22000 can fit:
- large food factories;
- beverage businesses;
- dairy processors;
- food-packaging plants;
- ingredient manufacturers;
- export-oriented suppliers.
ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000?
If a buyer asks only for an ISO-based food-safety system, ISO 22000 may be enough.
If a buyer requires a GFSI-recognised scheme, FSSC 22000 is usually more relevant.
4. BRCGS Food Safety
BRCGS Food Safety is widely used by factories supplying major retailers and food brands.
It is particularly strong in UK-linked and international private-label supply.
Why is BRCGS relevant to Malta?
Malta imports and exports food through close commercial links with the UK and mainland Europe.
A Maltese producer seeking an international retail contract may therefore encounter BRCGS requirements.
What does BRCGS assess?
It covers:
- management commitment;
- HACCP;
- site standards;
- product control;
- process control;
- traceability;
- personnel;
- food defence;
- food fraud.
Is BRCGS mandatory?
No.
It becomes commercially necessary when the customer makes certification a condition of supply.
5. IFS Food
IFS Food is another major international food-manufacturing standard.
It is especially relevant to continental European retail and private label.
What does IFS focus on?
IFS assesses:
- food safety;
- quality systems;
- product specifications;
- process control;
- traceability;
- food defence;
- fraud prevention;
- customer requirements.
BRCGS or IFS?
The correct choice depends on the retailer.
A supplier serving several markets may hold more than one scheme.
Malta’s relatively small domestic market means export-focused manufacturers should pay particular attention to the standard preferred in the destination country.
6. GLOBALG.A.P.
GLOBALG.A.P. is a farm-assurance standard widely used in supermarket fresh produce.
It focuses on primary production rather than factory processing.
What does it cover?
Areas include:
- traceability;
- crop-protection products;
- fertiliser;
- water;
- harvest hygiene;
- worker health and safety;
- farm records.
Why is it relevant in Malta?
Malta has limited agricultural land, so farms tend to operate on smaller scale than in major European produce countries.
That does not remove retailer requirements.
Growers supplying structured supermarket programmes or export customers may still need recognised farm assurance.
Is it mandatory?
No.
But supermarkets can make it a contractual requirement.
7. EU Organic certification
Organic certification in Malta operates under EU organic law.
The Maltese authorities supervise certification and control arrangements.
Who needs organic certification?
Operators involved in:
- organic production;
- processing;
- importing;
- wholesaling;
- trading;
- certain retail activity.
need to understand whether their operation falls within certification requirements.
Malta’s organic control structure
The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has provided organic certification services, while the Agriculture Directorate acts as the competent authority for organic production and labelling.
Organic operators are inspected and must demonstrate compliance before using regulated organic claims.
Organic logo requirements
Organic products can need:
- the EU organic logo;
- origin wording;
- the control-body or authority code;
- full traceability.
Malta uses control-code formats beginning with MT.
Does organic certification guarantee food safety?
No.
Organic rules and food-safety rules serve different purposes.
An organic food business still needs hygiene, HACCP and normal food-safety control.
8. Products of Quality National Scheme
Malta operates a national Products of Quality scheme for agricultural products.
The scheme is designed to certify and improve the quality of eligible Maltese agricultural production.
Who can apply?
The government service is aimed at:
- farmers;
- cooperatives.
What does the scheme provide?
Successful participants receive recognised certification for quality agricultural products.
The process includes:
- application;
- assessment;
- approval;
- certification.
Why is this scheme important?
This is one of the clearest Malta-specific quality schemes.
It can help local producers differentiate Maltese agricultural products rather than relying only on international standards.
Does it replace GLOBALG.A.P.?
No.
The national scheme and GLOBALG.A.P. serve different purposes.
A supermarket may value national quality certification while still requiring GLOBALG.A.P. for farm assurance.
Which certification is legally required in Malta?
The most important requirement is compliance with food law, including HACCP-based procedures where applicable.
ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS and IFS are generally voluntary certifications.
Organic certification becomes mandatory when making regulated organic claims.
Which certification is best for Maltese supermarket suppliers?
| Supplier type | Most relevant systems |
|---|---|
| Food manufacturer | HACCP plus customer-required certification |
| Private-label factory | BRCGS, IFS or FSSC 22000 |
| Fresh produce grower | GLOBALG.A.P. where customer requires it |
| Organic operator | EU Organic plus normal food-safety controls |
| Local quality producer | Products of Quality National Scheme where eligible |
| Food packaging manufacturer | FSSC 22000 Packaging or BRCGS Packaging Materials |
How should a Maltese supplier choose a certification?
Start with the customer, not the consultant.
- Identify the retailer or importer.
- Ask which schemes are accepted.
- Check accreditation requirements.
- Review the factory against the standard.
- Fix weak controls.
- Train staff.
- Complete internal audits.
- Book the certification audit.
Why Malta’s small market changes the decision
Certification costs can be proportionally high for small Maltese producers.
A factory should therefore avoid collecting certificates without a commercial reason.
If a standard opens access to a large export customer, the investment can make sense.
If no customer asks for it, another certification may deliver better value.
How much does certification cost?
There is no fixed price.
Cost depends on:
- standard;
- factory size;
- employees;
- product risk;
- audit duration;
- number of sites;
- travel;
- laboratory testing;
- consultancy;
- corrective work.
Can certification help Maltese exporters?
Yes.
Recognised certification can reduce buyer uncertainty when a Maltese manufacturer approaches a retailer abroad.
But export readiness also requires:
- competitive pricing;
- production capacity;
- correct labelling;
- transport planning;
- packaging;
- commercial support.
What does a supermarket technical team check?
Beyond certificates, supermarket technical teams often review:
- audit history;
- complaints;
- recalls;
- traceability tests;
- allergen controls;
- foreign-body control;
- microbiology;
- supplier approval;
- cleaning;
- staff competence.
How does certification connect to Malta’s FMCG market?
Malta’s food manufacturers serve a market that relies heavily on both local production and imports.
Our Maltese FMCG companies guide shows how local manufacturers compete alongside international brands.
Certification can help local companies prove that small market size does not mean weaker technical standards.
How does packaging fit into food safety?
Food packaging can directly contact the product and affect shelf life.
Malta’s packaging companies and importers therefore need correct food-contact documentation and supplier controls.
For more demanding customers, packaging-specific certification can also be required.
Frequently asked questions
Is HACCP mandatory in Malta?
Food businesses must implement suitable HACCP-based procedures where required under EU food-hygiene rules.
Is ISO 22000 mandatory?
No. It is voluntary unless a customer contract requires it.
Can Maltese companies get BRCGS certification?
Yes. Certification bodies can audit Maltese factories to BRCGS where the site meets the requirements.
Is IFS relevant in Malta?
Yes, especially for manufacturers supplying continental European retailers.
What is Malta’s organic control code?
Maltese organic control codes use the MT country identifier followed by the organic control-body reference.
Who certifies organic operators in Malta?
Organic control is overseen by Maltese competent authorities, with certification and inspection performed through approved structures.
What is the Products of Quality scheme?
It is a Maltese national scheme that certifies eligible quality agricultural products.
Does GLOBALG.A.P. apply to Malta?
Yes. Maltese farms can use GLOBALG.A.P. where supermarket or export programmes require recognised farm assurance.
Can one factory hold several certificates?
Yes. Export factories often hold several schemes because customers have different requirements.
What should a supplier do first?
Build a strong HACCP-based legal food-safety system, then add certification that supports a real customer or market objective.
Editor’s Note: Requirements were checked against current Malta government and EU food-control information.
