FSSC 22000 – Food Safety System Certification Scheme
Securing food safety standards within the production process of the supply chain.
ISO 22000 harmonizes the food safety management systems based on the HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) principles. The general nature of HACCP limits its suitability for retailers to guarantee their own supply chain, needing more specific and detailed pre-requisite programs specifically related to food manufacturing. The FSSC 22000 certification scheme accommodates this need, combining the management system approach, HACCP methodology and detailed guidelines regarding pre-requisite programmes.
What is the FSSC 22000 certification scheme?
FSSC 22000 is a food safety certification scheme based on the existing internationally recognized standard ISO 22000 and complemented by technical standards ISO/TS 22002-1, ISO/TS 22002-4 or PAS222 covering the prerquisites.
It specifically targets the food, feed and packaging manufacturing sector, and takes into consideration the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) gap analysis.
While the first editions of FSSC 22000 only applied to food manufacturers, the scope has been extended to packaging, through including the new technical specification PAS 223, the pre-requisite program and design requirements for food safety in the manufacture and provision of food packaging. FSSC will further expand the scope to manufacturers of animal feed in the near future, and are ready for scopes for additional sectors in the food industry as soon as technical requirements are developed.
The FSSC scheme, managed by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification based in the Netherlands, was first released on 15 May, 2009 and then benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) against the requirements laid out in the GFSI Guidance Document Version 5. The GFSI Guidance Document has been released in Version 6, and FSSC 22000 is undergoing benchmarking according to the new guidance document.
How can FSSC 22000 improve your business?
FSSC 22000 provides:
- A powerful management system framework, fully integrated in the company’s overall management system and consistent with other standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
- A robust Hazard Analysis and Risk Management methodology based on HACCP principles and ability to improve food safety effectiveness and efficiency.
- The use of the technical specification ISO/TS 22002-1, concerning the pre-requisite programmes, as requested by ISO 22000 § 7.2 and fitting the retailers needs for the due diligence and related issues.
Other benefits to be highlighted include:
- Independence, the standard being owned by a nonprofit foundation.
- Multiple stakeholder approach in development and governance of the standard.
- International and ISO worldwide credibility, built over GFSI approval.
- Common language through global standards, ensuring worldwide consistency in implementation and allowing for benchmarking.
Features of FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is based on ISO 22000, ISO/TS 22002-1 and ISO/TS 22003. Certification according to this scheme will be accredited under the standard ISO 17021 management system certification.
The distinctive item of this certification scheme is the use of ISO/TS 22002-1:2009, which specifies the requirements for prerequisite programs to assist in controlling food safety standards within the manufacturing processes of the food supply chain. Until early 2012, FSSC 22000 was based on PAS 220, which has been withdrawn and replaced by ISO/TS 22002-1. The technical requirements are the same, hence causing minimal changes to certified customers.
ISO/TS 22002-1, complements ISO 22000 and provides a common set of 18 pre-requisite programmes for use by food and food packaging manufacturers:
- 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
FSSC 22000 is the first food safety certification scheme that is fully consistent with all relevant ISO standards.
How can I prepare for certification?
The process described in FSSC 22000 includes the following steps:
- Identify, evaluate, and control the food safety hazards that may be expected to occur in order to avoid harming the consumer directly or indirectly
- Communicate appropriate information through the food chain regarding safety issues related to the product
- Communicate information concerning development, implementation, and updating of the food safety management system throughout the organisation
- Evaluate periodically and update, when necessary, the food safety management system to cover the company’s actual activities and the most recent information on food safety hazards
- Development, implementation, and certification of a food safety management system is a continuous journey, with the independent audit representing one element of the total assessment process.
Getting started with FSSC 22000 certification
We can:
- Provide training on FSSC 22000, ISO 22000 ISO TS 22002-1
- Perform gap-analysis, to help you understand your best route to certification
- Perform certification activities according to FSSC 22000:2010
Contact us to get started with your FSSC 22000 certification.
