The grade summarises how many non-conformities were raised at the audit and how serious they were. Grades run from AA at the top down through A, B, C and D, with a separate marker distinguishing unannounced audits. A weaker grade shortens the interval to the next audit. A critical failure or too many majors means no certificate at all.
The severity ladder
- **Critical.** A failure of a legal requirement or of a food safety control with a direct risk to the consumer.
- **Major.** A substantial failure to meet a clause, or significant doubt that the product is safe or legal.
- **Minor.** A clause is not fully met but the conclusion is not in doubt.
Grades are calculated from the mix of these findings. The site then has a fixed window to submit evidence of corrective action before the certificate is issued.
How to read a grade as a buyer
A single B grade on an otherwise clean history is not a reason to stop buying. A pattern is. Ask for the last three audit results and look at whether the same clause keeps reappearing, which points at a system that never really closed the finding.
The exact non-conformity thresholds and the grade notation are defined by the issue of the standard in force at the audit date. Read the certificate together with the report rather than translating a letter into a judgement on its own.