FSSC 22000

The FSSC (Food Safety Certification Scheme) 22000 standard is based on an expansion of the requirements that can be found in the ISO22000 Standard and is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standard.

FSSC 22000

The FSSC (Food Safety Certification Scheme) 22000 standard is based on an expansion of the requirements that can be found in the ISO22000 Standard and is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standard. Like all GFSI benchmarked standards it has an emphasis on managing food safety through a HACCP based food safety management system and incorporates the quality management system elements of ISO9001. The scope of the Standard covers all within the food chain, including packaging and food producers and can also cover the needs of food storage and logistics. It requires that:

  • A food business plans, implements, operates, maintains and updates a food safety management system
  • A food business can demonstrate compliance to all applicable statutory and regulatory food safety requirements
  • It communicates with customers to determine their precise needs and can demonstrate conformity to those needs
  • It has an excellent communication programme with stakeholders including customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies, certification body and other relevant interested parties
  • It conforms fully to its stated food safety policy and the objectives that are set to continually improve food safety management.

The ISO 22000 standard is broken into five sections, all with clauses that are written for an organisation to read and determine the required outcomes. It is considered less prescriptive than some of the other clause-dependant GFSI Standards in that an organisation is able to determine the level of documentary requirements and the manner by which it achieves these stated objectives, so long as they are compliant with the fundamental requirement to manage the food and quality management system.

It is supported by a guidance document on managing the prerequisite programmes, called PD / ISO / TS 22002 and further requirements specified by FSSC in order to ensure that there is complete control to satisfy the benchmarking process of the GFSI.

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