FSSC 22000

Overview

The FSSC 22000 contains a complete certification scheme for Food Safety Systems. It combines the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management standard with sector-specific PRPs and other additional FSSC requirements.

FSSC 22000 was given Global Recognition by the GFSI (https://www.mygfsi.com/) (Global Food Safety Initiative).

The scheme was developed and is owned by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification and the GFSI approval means that the scheme is at the same level as the other GFSI approved standards (BRC, IFS, SQF).

Organizations that are already certified against ISO 22000 will only need an additional review against the requirements of the sector specific PRPs and the additional FSSC requirements to meet certification scheme.

FSSC 22000 SCHEME

The Scheme requirements consist of separate components that shall be audited as a single system:

• The requirements of the recognized Food Safety Management Standard ISO22000/
• The requirements specified in the sector-specific PRPs defined in standards that include ISO/TS 22002-1:2009, ISO/TS 22002-2:2013, ISO/TS 22002-3:2011, ISO/TS 22002-4:2013, etc.
• Additional FSSC requirements.

An overview of the requirements for certification of the applicable version of FSSC (ver 5.1) can be found to the website of the foundation www.fssc22000.com/

The technical standards of ISO22002 series that are complement to ISO 22000 provide a common set of pre-requisite programmes for use for each specific sector and have requirements for.:

• Construction and layout of buildings
• Layout of premises and work space
• Utilities – air, water, energy
• Waste disposal
• Equipment suitability, cleaning and maintenance
• Management of purchased materials
• Measures for prevention of cross contamination
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Pest control
• Personnel hygiene and employee facilities
• Rework
• Product recall procedures
• Warehousing
• Product information/consumer awareness
• Food defense, bio-vigilance and bio-terrorism

KEY BENEFITS

FSSC 22000 is the most comprehensive food safety management systems standard because it:

• It is an international food safety scheme
• Is approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
• Provides access to – or a “license” to sell – the major international retail chains
• Integrates food safety management easily with other management systems, such as quality, environmental and safety management systems
• It is based on recognized standards as it fully incorporates ISO 22000:2005, Sector Specific Pre-requisite Programmes (PRPs), HACCP, and the application steps of CODEX
• Controls/reduces food safety hazards and promotes continuous improvement on Food Safety Aspects
• Fosters legal compliance
• Increases transparency throughout the food supply chain
• In addition, FSSC 22000 incorporates many of the principles of other GFSI approved food safety standards and combines them in a single approach.

STEPS TO CERTIFICATION