FSSC 22000 v5.1

FSSC 22000 V 5.1 is the version 5.1 of the FSSC 22000, which is an internationally accepted food safety certification scheme, recognized by Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and other global schemes like BRC or IFS. The FSSC 22000 V 5.1 has basis in ISO food safety management systems and aligns with related ISO standard including ISO 9001, ISO 14000.

The FSSC 22000 scheme offers relevant and practical criteria for conducting audits within organizations in the food industry. This audit system is recognized by customers and suppliers all over the world as it integrates concepts that meet requirements of global organizations. In the day and age when safety of food and food products has become critical, this scheme offers a reliable and uniform set of rules that companies must abide by. This format offers simplicity and a structured approach to maintain hygiene and safety of food that the customers buy for consumption.

The FSSC 22000 certification scheme (hereafter the Scheme) outlines the requirements for the audit and certification of food safety management systems (FSMS) or FSMS and Quality Management Systems (QMS) of organizations in the food supply chain. The certificate confirms that the organization’s FSMS (FSSC 22000) or FSMS and QMS (FSSC 22000-Quality) is in conformance with the Scheme requirements.

The Scheme is based on the publicly available standards/technical specifications:

ISO 22000 requirements for any organization in the food chain;
ISO 9001 requirements (where FSSC 22000-Quality is required);
Relevant prerequisite programs (PRPs) based on technical specifications for the sector (e.g. ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS xyz); and
FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements as determined by our stakeholders.

The Scheme provides a voluntary certification model that can be applied across the entire food supply chain. It can cover supply chain sectors where specific prerequisite programs (PRPs) have been developed and accepted. The food chain category description used by this Scheme is defined according to ISO/TS 22003:2013 (see Chapter 3).

As of February 2010, the Scheme has been benchmarked and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) confirming global food industry recognition and acceptance.

Features & Benefits Applicability

The FSSC 22000 Scheme consists of three components: ISO 22000, sector-specific PRPs, and additional requirements. Besides these three components, there is an FSSC 22000-Quality option based on the additional requirements of ISO 9001.

For organizations wishing to integrate their food quality management system into the scope of their certification, FSSC 22000-Quality certification is available. FSSC 22000-Quality consists of a combined FSSC 22000 and a full ISO 9001 audit. With a growing world population, there is an increasing need for affordable, safe and good quality food products. To fulfil this need, FSSC 22000 provides a trusted brand assurance platform to the food industry. Key in this mission is the availability of the FSSC 22000 certification Scheme for food safety management systems. FSSC 22000 Scheme published in November 2020 and the main factors that initiated the development of this version have been:

Incorporating the GFSI benchmarking requirements version 2020.1
Strengthening the licensing process and the Integrity Program
Minor editorial changes or amendments to the V5 Scheme requirements

Having this certification offers many benefits to the company, the most prominent of which is building a strong brand on a global scale. With all processes in place, the company will have proven credentials to show and this will raise the confidence of consumers. Other benefits include:

Reduce product recalls and withdrawal
Stay prepared for unexpected situations
Building an image as a reputable supplier
Improved legal compliance
Have a strong footing to acquire more business
Provides a systematic methodology to effectively identify and manage food safety risks
ISO-based certification model can be used across the whole food supply chain
Recognized by the GFSI and by the European cooperation for Accreditation (EA)
Facilitates internal benchmarking and management through consistent application across multiple/international sites
Shows your commitment to food safety, providing confidence to your customers

FSSC 22000 can be applied to organizations of any size or complexity in the food/feed supply chain. This includes manufacturers of all food and beverage types, ingredients/additive manufacturers, pet and animal feed manufacturers, and packaging manufacturers.

The FSSC has also extended the scope of its standard to include transport and storage, retail operations and catering establishments.

We help companies systematically gain this certification within a set time-frame. We are dedicated to guiding our clients regarding the type of changes that are required and also with the monitoring of processes to acquire this certification for effective results.