This article explores what FSSC 22000 certification means for your organization, its benefits, and how to achieve the certification.
What is FSSC 22000?
FSSC 22000 is a complete Certification Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems, which is flexible enough to cover multiple sectors in the supply chain.
It is based on ISO 22000, which uses a risk-based approach that incorporates the globally recognized HACCP principles, includes sector-specific prerequisites, and adds extra FSSC requirements to meet the highest food safety standards.
It is governed by a non-profit Foundation with an independent Board of Stakeholders, ensuring it is free from bias, and putting the organization’s needs first.
Over 40,000 organizations worldwide are now FSSC 22000 certified, making it a gold standard for food safety management.
Why is FSSC 22000 Globally Recognized?
FSSC 22000 is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and approved by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
FSSC 22000 is trusted by global supply chains and opens doors to markets around the world. It ensures high-quality and consistent audits that are monitored by a robust integrity program for measuring and maintaining audit performance worldwide.
You can find all the Certified Organizations under the Public Register available on the FSSC website.
What Are the Benefits of FSSC 22000 Certification?
FSSC 22000 requires implementing a management system and creating an organization-wide food safety and quality culture that optimizes efficiency, ensures compliance, and drives continuous improvement.
Beyond Compliance
FSSC 22000 requires implementing a management system and creating an organization-wide food safety and quality culture that optimizes efficiency, ensures compliance, and drives continuous improvement.
Flexibility and Meeting Requirements
The Certification Scheme is flexible and can be tailored to your organization’s needs, helping you meet regulatory and customer requirements and foster stakeholder trust.
Integration with Other Standards
The FSSC 22000 Certification Scheme can seamlessly integrate with other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and the FSSC 24000 Scheme for social sustainability.
The additional requirements on Quality Control elevate not only food safety but also the quality of products and services, adding value to your certification and improving customer satisfaction.
Contribution to Sustainability
The Certification Scheme uniquely targets reducing food loss and waste. By choosing FSSC 22000, you are not just safeguarding your organization but actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How to Achieve FSSC 22000 Certification
You can achieve your certification in 5 steps:
- Understand the Requirements
- Implementation
- Choose a Certification Body
- Undergo and Audit
- Achieve Certification
Step 1 – Understand the Requirements
It is essential to understand the requirements before you start your certification process. You can download the FSSC 22000 Scheme documents free of charge from the FSSC website.
In addition to the requirements included in the Scheme document, the requirements of ISO 22000 and the relevant sector-specific PRP standard(s) also apply, which can be purchased from the ISO store. It is crucial to identify what specifically applies to your organization.
Step 2 – Implement the Requirements
Apply the requirements to your operations and conduct an internal audit to identify any gaps. The FSSC website offers free downloads of Guidance Documents to help you implement the requirements and Interpretation Articles for further clarification.
Step 3 – Choose a Certification Body
When you are ready, contact an FSSC 22000-licensed Certification Body from our website database to discuss your needs and arrange a certification audit. You can also ask the Certification Body to conduct a pre-assessment.
Step 4 – Undergo a Certification Audit
The Certification Body will evaluate your Food Safety Management System for compliance with the FSSC 22000 requirements. When nonconformities are identified, appropriate actions must be taken.
Step 5 – Achieve Certification
If your Food Safety Management System meets all the FSSC 22000 requirements, you will receive your FSSC 22000 certificate, and your company will be listed in the FSSC Public Register. Your certificate is valid for three years, during which your CB will conduct the relevant annual audit to maintain compliance.
Start Your FSSC 22000 Certification Journey
Take the final step towards your commitment to food safety and global standards. Get certified today by visiting our website: fssc.com
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is FSSC 22000? A: FSSC 22000 is an internationally recognized certification Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems. It is based on ISO 22000, incorporates HACCP principles, sector-specific prerequisite programs, and additional FSSC requirements.
Q: Who governs FSSC 22000? A: FSSC 22000 is governed by a non-profit Foundation and managed by an independent Board of Stakeholders, making it free from commercial bias.
Q: Is FSSC 22000 recognized internationally? A: Yes. FSSC 22000 is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and approved by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), making it accepted by supply chains and markets worldwide.
Q: How long is an FSSC 22000 certificate valid? A: Your certificate is valid for three years, during which your Certification Body will conduct annual audits to maintain compliance.
Q: Can FSSC 22000 be integrated with other management standards? A: Yes. FSSC 22000 can be integrated with ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and the FSSC 24000 Scheme for social sustainability.
Q: How do I find a licensed Certification Body? A: You can find an FSSC 22000-licensed Certification Body in our database available on our website under Public Register
Q: Where can I find Certified Organizations? A: All Certified Organizations are listed in the publicly available FSSC Register on our website.
Q: How can I check the authenticity of my FSSC 22000 Certificate? A: You can check by following the step-by-step guide available on our website.
