Food safety consultants since 2011 · Ahmedabad
Food Safety Certification Made Practical — From Gap Analysis to Certificate
HL Associates helps food, feed and pharma businesses across India implement and achieve FSSC 22000, BRCGS, ISO 22000, HACCP, SQF, FAMI-QS, Halal, Kosher, Organic and FSSAI compliance — with lead auditors who work shoulder to shoulder with your team.
- FSSC 22000
- BRCGS
- ISO 22000
- HACCP
- Halal
- FSSAI
- Food safety consulting
- Since 2011
- Certification projects delivered
- 100+
- Associate consultants & lead auditors
- 20+
- States served across India
- 8+
Implementation, not just certification
Our team: microbiologists, biotechnologists and food technologists with 10+ years each.
About HL Associates
Your partner for safe food and certified quality
Headquartered in Ahmedabad, HL Associates is a professional consulting firm focused on certification for the food, feed and pharma industries. Our consultants are qualified lead auditors for ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 14001, ISO 13485 and more.
With an association of 20+ consultants, we serve clients across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand — and have supported audits with Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, TÜV, DNV, LRQA, BSI and Eurofins.
- Gap assessment & plant design review
- Documentation, SOPs & HACCP plans
- Risk, allergen & vulnerability assessments
- Food safety & internal auditor training
- Internal, supplier & mock audits
- Certification body audit & NC closure
Certifications
Global standards we help you achieve
GFSI schemes, food and feed safety, religious and lifestyle claims, quality and regulatory approvals — one experienced team for all of them.
- GFSI
FSSC 22000
GFSI-recognised food safety scheme built on ISO 22000, ISO/TS 22002 prerequisite programmes and FSSC additional requirements.
Learn more ISO 22000
The international risk-based food safety management system standard for every organisation in the food chain.
Learn more- GFSI
BRCGS Food Safety
The GFSI-recognised global standard demanded by UK and international retailers, graded on audit performance.
Learn more HACCP
The internationally accepted, Codex-based system for preventing biological, chemical and physical hazards.
Learn more- GFSI
SQF
A GFSI-benchmarked HACCP-based programme preferred by US retailers and food service providers.
Learn more FAMI-QS
Quality and safety system for specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures.
Learn moreGMP+
Complete feed safety assurance module for every link of the feed chain.
Learn moreHalal Certification
Assures products are prepared and processed in accordance with Islamic dietary law.
Learn moreKosher Certification
Globally respected certification that opens the Kosher consumer and bulk-buyer market.
Learn moreVegan Certification
Verifies products contain no animal ingredients, no animal testing and no animal-derived GMOs.
Learn moreOrganic Certification
Certifies organic production, processing and trade under NPOP, USDA NOP and EU regulations.
Learn moreISO 9001
The world's most widely used quality management system standard.
Learn moreFSSAI Licence
Mandatory registration and licensing for every food business operator in India.
Learn moreUSFDA Registration
Mandatory FDA registration and FSMA compliance for facilities exporting food to the USA.
Learn moreNABH Accreditation
QCI's accreditation programme for patient safety and healthcare quality.
Learn more
What we do
End-to-end food safety consulting
Everything between today and a certificate on your wall — and everything needed to keep it.
Gap Assessment & Plant Audit
On-site evaluation of documentation, practices and infrastructure against your target standard before the certification audit.
DetailsFSMS Implementation & Documentation
Policies, manuals, SOPs, HACCP plans and risk assessments written for your plant — then implemented with your team.
DetailsFood Safety Training
Practical training on HACCP, GMP, hygiene, allergens, FSSAI Act and food safety culture — on site or online.
DetailsInternal Audits & Auditor Training
Independent internal audits and training that equip your team to audit FSSC 22000, BRCGS, ISO 22000 and other standards.
DetailsSupplier Audits & Qualification
Second-party audits and supplier approval programmes that secure your raw materials and packaging.
DetailsAnnual Maintenance (AMC)
Year-round support that keeps your food safety system audit-ready — internal audits, updates, reviews and NC closure.
DetailsPlant Design & Laboratory Setup
Hygienic plant layout, product flow and zoning, plus microbiological and chemical laboratory establishment and method validation.
DetailsFSSAI & Export Compliance
FSSAI licensing, USFDA registration, labelling review and export documentation support.
Details
Our approach
A proven 6-step path to certification
It is a two-way process — we work shoulder to shoulder with your team from the first visit to the final certificate.
- 01
Gap Assessment
Our expert visits your site and reviews infrastructure, practices and documents against the standard.
- 02
Training
Food safety awareness for all staff and focused training for the food safety team.
- 03
Documentation
Policies, SOPs, HACCP plan and all risk assessments prepared for your plant.
- 04
Implementation
We implement with your team, close gap points and make the plant audit-ready.
- 05
Internal Audit
An independent audit checks effectiveness and readiness before the CB is invited.
- 06
Certification
CB selection, pre-audit preparation, audit support and closure of nonconformities.
Industries
Built for every link of the food chain
From farm and feed mill to factory, warehouse and restaurant.
Food Processing & Manufacturing
Snacks, spices, edible oil, ready-to-eat and processed foods.
Dairy & Beverages
Milk processing, dairy products, juices and packaged drinking water.
Bakery & Confectionery
Bread, biscuits, cakes and confectionery units.
Animal Feed & Feed Additives
Feed mills, premixes, feed additives and pet food.
Agriculture & Organic Produce
Farms, producer groups, pack houses and organic exporters.
- Organic NPOP/NOP
- Global G.A.P.
- SQF
Food Exporters
Market access for the US, UK, EU, Middle East and Asia.
Why HL Associates
Serving safe food is not an option — it's an obligation
Qualified lead auditors
Graduates and post-graduates in microbiology, biotechnology and food technology with 10+ years of implementation experience.
Valid domestic & international
Certificates through reputed, accredited certification bodies — accepted in India and export markets.
Reply within 24 hours
Free expert consultation. Tell us your requirement and we revert within a day.
Startup-friendly pricing
We understand startup budgets — premium quality services at a practical price.
Long-term relationship
We stay with you after certification with AMC, surveillance and recertification support.
Strict confidentiality
Your formulations, layouts and data are handled under NDA and never shared.
Trusted by industry
Our esteemed clients
- ITC Limited
- Gulab Oils
- Iscon Balaji Foods
- Mother's Recipe
- Monginis
- Chill Fill
- Agristo
- Keventer
- Spectacle Foods
Audits supported with Eurofins · Bureau Veritas · Intertek · UL-DQS · DNV · LRQA · BSI · TÜV Rheinland · TÜV NORD · TÜV SÜD · SGS
Insights
Food safety guides & updates
Food Safety Standards6 min readISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 vs BRCGS: Which Do You Need?
A side-by-side comparison of the three most requested food safety certifications, and how to choose between them.
- FSSC 220004 min read
FSSC 22000 Version 7: Timeline and How to Prepare
Version 7 is here. What the transition timeline means for certified and new sites in India.
HACCP5 min readThe 12 Steps and 7 Principles of HACCP Explained
HACCP is the foundation of every food safety standard. Here is how to build a plan your shop floor will actually follow.
FAQ
Questions food businesses ask us
Can't find your answer? Call or WhatsApp us — we reply within 24 hours.
What does a food safety consultant do?
A food safety consultant assesses your plant against a standard, prepares documentation (SOPs, HACCP plan, risk assessments), trains your staff, conducts internal audits and supports you through the certification body audit. HL Associates does all of this end to end.
Which food safety certification is best for export?
Most international buyers ask for a GFSI-recognised standard — FSSC 22000, BRCGS or SQF. UK retailers often prefer BRCGS, US retailers SQF, and multinational brands FSSC 22000. Halal and Kosher are added for religious markets.
How long does food safety certification take?
Typically 2–4 months for HACCP, 3–6 months for ISO 22000 and 4–9 months for FSSC 22000 or BRCGS, depending on your current systems and any infrastructure upgrades.
Does HL Associates issue certificates?
No. As consultants we implement your system and prepare you for audit. Certificates are issued by independent accredited certification bodies such as Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, TÜV, DNV or LRQA — which keeps the certificate credible worldwide.
Which areas do you serve?
We are headquartered in Ahmedabad and serve clients across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and other states.
Ready to get certified — and stay audit-ready?
Talk to a lead auditor about your plant, your customers and your timeline. Free expert consultation — we reply within 24 hours.