FSSC 22000 certification

Product safety and quality is key in the food industry where a failure to supply safe product can potentially have devastating consequences on the health of consumers. To identify and mitigate risks along food supply chains, food suppliers must put appropriate control processes in place.

The Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000) is a systematic programme to managing food organisation's safety responsibilities, is fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and follows the food chain category description as defined in ISO/TS 22003.

Scope of FSSC 22000 certification

FSSC 22000 certification features a 3-year cycle. This cycle consists of annual surveillance audits and a recertification audit every 3 years. The initial audit is performed in two stages. Surveillance and recertification audits all take a process based approach, instead of a checklist based audit.

This audit scope is suitable for manufacturers of:

Perishable animal products (i.e. meat, poultry, eggs, dairy and fish products)
Perishable vegetal products (i.e. fresh fruits and fresh juices, preserved fruits, fresh vegetables, preserved vegetables)
Products with long shelf life at ambient temperature (i.e. canned products, biscuits, snacks, oil, drinking water, beverages, pasta, flour, sugar, salt)
(Bio)chemical products for food manufacturing (i.e. vitamins additives and bio-cultures) but excluding technical and technological aids

FSSC 22000 certification Version 6

Coming into effect in April 2024, Version 6 has incorporated latest requirements of ISO 22003-1:2022 and reinforced the relevance to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key revisions include:

Changes in scope categories:
Retained with Changes: CI, CII, CII, CIV, D (D1 is now only D), E, FI, G (no longer with GI and GII), I and K
Removed: AI, AII, DIIa, DIIb
Added: BIII, C0, FII
Requirements for organisations to be audited
Scheme interpretation articles are included in the Scheme (Part 2, Section 2.2) and are available to CBs in MyFSSC
CBs will communicate relevant interpretation articles with (certified) organisations, as necessary
Strengthened several FSSC 22000 additional requirements
Several new requirements in clauses 2.5.8, 2.5.9, 2.5.15, 2.5.16 and 2.5.17

Benefits of obtaining FSSC 22000 certificate

When a food company attains FSSC 22000 Certification, it can enjoy:

Meeting the HACCP requirement of retailers and food service customers
Improving food safety and management systems
Building higher consumer confidence in their products
Enhancing their brand and corporate image
Expanding their market presence to reach new and potential clients

Our certification activities are provided by independent companies and separate from consulting activities. Such services are also presented and sold to clients separately, not in bundle or packaged format. Impartiality is safeguarded by Eurofins Assurance’ relevant policies to avoid conflicts of interest.

Eurofins Assurance

Eurofins Consumer Products Assurance

Eurofins Food Assurance

Eurofins Healthcare Assurance