3PL Warehouse Certifications Explained: A Global Glossary

When you compare 3PL warehouses, you will see a long string of acronyms on their websites: HACCP, BRCGS, GDP, TAPA, CTPAT and more. Some are genuine third-party certifications, some are government licences, and some simply mean staff have done a training course. This glossary explains what each one means, who issues it, and when it matters for your products, grouped by category so you can jump to what is relevant.

Certification, registration and licence: what is the difference?

Certification

A voluntary, independent audit against a published standard, carried out by a certification body. The warehouse receives a certificate with a defined scope and expiry date. Examples include ISO 9001, BRCGS and TAPA FSR.

Registration or licence

A legal requirement set by a government regulator. Without it, the warehouse is not allowed to store or handle certain goods. Examples include FDA food facility registration in the US, a UK wholesale dealer’s authorisation for medicines, and a DEA registration for controlled substances.

Compliance or training

The warehouse says it follows a set of rules, such as the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, and its staff hold the required training. This is important, but it is not the same as a site certification, so ask to see training records.

Quality, safety and management systems

ISO 9001 (quality management)

The world’s most widely used quality management standard. It shows the warehouse has documented processes, measures performance, manages complaints and works on continuous improvement. A new version, ISO 9001:2026, was published on 16 September 2026, and certificates to the 2015 version remain valid during a transition period expected to run for about three years.

ISO 14001 (environmental management)

Shows the warehouse identifies and manages its environmental impacts, such as waste, energy use and emissions, and complies with environmental law.

ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety)

Shows the warehouse has a system for managing workplace health and safety risks, which matters in an environment with forklifts, racking and manual handling.

ISO/IEC 27001 (information security)

Shows the 3PL manages information security risks, including the customer, order and inventory data held in its warehouse management system.

ISO 28000 (supply chain security)

A security management standard for organisations in the supply chain, covering risks such as theft, tampering and smuggling.

ISO 50001 (energy management)

Shows the warehouse systematically measures and reduces its energy use. It is common at large, temperature-controlled sites.

SOC 2

Not a certification but an independent audit report under AICPA standards on how a service provider controls security, availability and confidentiality of data. US enterprise customers often request it from technology-heavy 3PLs.

Food safety and food handling

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)

A food safety method, based on the Codex Alimentarius principles, for identifying hazards and controlling them at critical points. Most food-grade warehouses run a HACCP plan. Some hold a standalone HACCP certificate, but on its own this is less rigorous than the GFSI-recognised schemes below.

GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative)

Not a certificate itself. GFSI benchmarks food safety schemes, and major retailers and food brands often require their suppliers’ warehouses to hold a GFSI-recognised certificate such as BRCGS, SQF, IFS or FSSC 22000.

BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution

A UK-founded, internationally used standard written specifically for logistics operations that handle food, packaging and consumer products. The current version is Issue 4. Optional modules cover areas such as e-commerce, cross-docking, wholesale, contracted packing, inspection and waste management.

SQF Storage and Distribution

The Safe Quality Food code for storage and distribution, run by the SQF Institute. It is widely used in the US, Canada and Australia. Edition 10 was published in March 2026, with audits expected from January 2027; until then sites are audited to Edition 9.

IFS Logistics

The International Featured Standards scheme for logistics providers, common in Europe. Version 3 has been mandatory for audits since 1 December 2024 and covers storage, distribution, transport and some related services such as labelling.

FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000

ISO 22000 is an international food safety management standard. FSSC 22000 builds on it, is GFSI-recognised, and includes a category for transport and storage services.

AIB International

A US-based food safety inspection and audit organisation. AIB inspections of food warehouses, which focus on pest control, cleanliness and storage practices, are widely requested by US food manufacturers.

FDA Food Facility Registration (US)

A legal requirement, not a certification. US warehouses and distribution centres that hold food, beverages or dietary supplements generally must register with the FDA and renew every two years, between October and December of each even-numbered year. There are limited exemptions, for example for cross-docks that only move food between vehicles.

Organic certification (USDA Organic, EU organic, ACO and others)

Certifies that organic products are kept separate and not contaminated or mislabelled. Warehouses that repack, relabel or handle unpackaged organic product usually need to be certified. In the US, since the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule (March 2024), only operations that store retail-labelled product in sealed, tamper-evident packaging and never open or relabel it may be exempt, and they must still keep records. Check with your certifier.

Halal and Kosher certification

Certification by a recognised religious authority that products are handled in line with Halal or Kosher requirements. It matters most when goods are repacked, or stored unsealed alongside other products.

Medicines, health and medical devices

GDP (Good Distribution Practice)

The quality standard for storing and distributing medicines so that their quality is maintained. It covers temperature control and monitoring, traceability, recalls, counterfeit prevention and a qualified responsible person. The best-known versions are the EU GDP guidelines and the WHO good storage and distribution practices.

GMP and cGMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Required for manufacturing medicines and, in many countries, for steps that count as manufacturing, such as repackaging, labelling or release for supply. A 3PL that only stores and ships finished, packed medicines usually works under GDP instead.

DSCSA 3PL licensing (US)

Under the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act, third-party logistics providers that handle prescription drugs must hold a licence in each state that requires one (a federal FDA licensing rule has been proposed but is not yet in force) and report their state licences and any significant disciplinary actions to the FDA every year.

DEA registration (US)

Required for any facility that stores or distributes controlled substances. It comes with strict security, record-keeping and reporting obligations.

Wholesale Dealer’s Authorisation, WDA(H) (UK)

An MHRA licence required to store and distribute human medicines in the UK. The site must comply with GDP and name a responsible person.

TGA manufacturing licence and medicines wholesale licence (Australia)

Many Australian 3PLs describe themselves as “TGA licensed”. Storing and distributing medicines is generally covered by a state or territory wholesale licence and the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice. A TGA manufacturing licence (GMP) is needed for steps such as packaging, labelling or releasing therapeutic goods for supply. Ask exactly which licence is held and what it covers.

Drug Establishment Licence, NHP site licence and MDEL (Canada)

Health Canada licences. A Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) covers activities such as importing, distributing and wholesaling drugs. A site licence covers natural health products, and a Medical Device Establishment Licence (MDEL) covers importing and distributing medical devices.

Medsafe wholesale licence (New Zealand)

A licence to sell medicines by wholesale, issued by Medsafe and required to store and distribute medicines in New Zealand.

ISO 13485 (medical devices)

A quality management standard for organisations in the medical device supply chain, including storage and distribution.

ISO 22716 (cosmetics GMP)

Good manufacturing practice guidelines for cosmetics, which also cover storage and shipping. It is useful for beauty brands selling into markets that reference it, such as the EU.

Dangerous goods

Dangerous goods (DG), or hazmat in the US, include items such as lithium batteries, aerosols, perfumes, flammable liquids and some cleaning products. Rules apply to both transport and storage, and staff training is mandatory.

UN classes

All dangerous goods are classified into nine UN classes, for example Class 3 flammable liquids and Class 9 miscellaneous, which includes lithium batteries. A 3PL should ask for your Safety Data Sheets so it can classify your products correctly.

IATA DGR (air)

The International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations, updated every year, govern dangerous goods shipped by air. Staff who prepare air shipments need current IATA DG training.

IMDG Code (sea)

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, from the International Maritime Organization, covers dangerous goods shipped by sea.

ADR (road, Europe and beyond)

The international agreement covering the carriage of dangerous goods by road, used across Europe and in many neighbouring countries.

49 CFR hazmat regulations (US)

US Department of Transportation (PHMSA) regulations for shipping hazardous materials, including mandatory hazmat employee training.

ADG Code (Australia)

The Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail, published by the National Transport Commission.

TDG Regulations (Canada)

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, administered by Transport Canada.

DG storage standards

Storing dangerous goods is governed by local workplace safety and fire codes, for example AS 3833 and AS 1940 in Australia and NFPA 30 in the US. Ask whether the site has a DG-rated area, a manifest and any required licence from the local regulator.

Security, customs and biosecurity

TAPA FSR (Facility Security Requirements)

A security standard from the Transported Asset Protection Association for warehouses handling high-value, theft-targeted goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and luxury items. The current version is FSR 2026, which replaced FSR 2023 for new audits from October 2026, with levels A (highest), B and C. Existing FSR 2023 certificates stay valid until they expire. TAPA TSR is the equivalent standard for trucking.

CTPAT (US)

Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a voluntary US Customs and Border Protection programme. Members agree to supply chain security criteria and may face fewer inspections.

AEO (Authorised Economic Operator)

The international trusted-trader status based on the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Framework, used in the EU, UK and many other countries. Equivalent programmes include Australian Trusted Trader, Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP) and New Zealand’s Secure Exports Scheme. Many of these have mutual recognition arrangements with each other.

Bonded or licensed customs warehouse

A warehouse licensed by customs to store imported goods before duties and taxes are paid, so payment is deferred until goods are released. Read more in what is a bonded warehouse.

Foreign-Trade Zone (US)

A designated US area where imported goods can be stored or processed with duties deferred, reduced or, if goods are re-exported, avoided.

Excise and alcohol licences

Warehouses storing alcohol or tobacco before excise is paid need a specific licence, such as a TTB permit in the US or an excise warehouse licence elsewhere.

Biosecurity approved arrangements (Australia)

Department of Agriculture approvals that let a site receive and handle imported goods under biosecurity control. For example, Class 1.1 and 1.3 cover sea and air freight depots (unrestricted and restricted).

MPI transitional facility (New Zealand)

An MPI-approved site where imported goods that may pose a biosecurity risk can be held, inspected or treated before clearance.

Sustainability and buildings

LEED, BREEAM and Green Star

Green building ratings for the warehouse building itself: LEED is mainly used in the US, BREEAM in the UK and Europe, and Green Star in Australia.

SmartWay (US)

A US Environmental Protection Agency programme for carriers, shippers and logistics companies to track and reduce freight emissions.

B Corp

A company-wide certification of social and environmental performance, held by a growing number of 3PLs.

Other specialist standards

ANSI/ESD S20.20

A standard for controlling electrostatic discharge, relevant for warehouses handling sensitive electronic components.

Which certifications does your product need?

How to check a 3PL’s certifications

1. Ask for the certificate, not the logo. A logo on a website is not proof.
2. Check the site address. Certificates are issued per site, and a 3PL with several warehouses may only have certified one of them.
3. Read the scope. A BRCGS certificate for ambient storage does not cover chilled storage, and a food certificate does not cover cosmetics.
4. Check the expiry date and the latest audit grade or result.
5. Check who issued it. The certification body should be accredited, and many schemes have public directories you can search, including BRCGS, SQF and TAPA.
6. Put certification requirements in your brief. Our 3PL RFP template shows where to include them.

Related: What is a bonded warehouse · 3PL RFP template · Choosing the right 3PL warehouse