FSSC

FSSC stands for Food Safety System Certification. It is a global certification scheme for food safety management systems used by organizations throughout the food supply chain. The scheme is administered by the Foundation FSSC 22000 and is supported by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which recognizes it as an accepted route to demonstrate food safety compliance.

The FSSC 22000 scheme combines three components: ISO 22000, the international standard for food safety management systems; sector-specific prerequisite programs (PRPs) such as ISO/TS 22002-1 for food manufacturing and ISO/TS 22002-4 for packaging manufacturing; and the FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements, which cover governance, risk management, and other scheme-specific criteria. This structure allows organizations to prove they have implemented a HACCP-based food safety plan along with appropriate PRPs to control operational hazards.

Scope and applicability: FSSC 22000 is open to organizations of all sizes across food manufacturing, packaging, storage, distribution, and related sectors. It is widely recognized by retailers, foodservice operators, and manufacturers, facilitating access to global markets through a single, harmonized certification framework.

Certification process: Certification involves an on-site audit conducted by an approved Certification Body. The audit assesses conformity with ISO 22000, the applicable sector PRPs, and the FSSC Additional Requirements, including hazard analysis, CCPs, traceability, recall readiness, and internal auditing. Certification cycles typically span three years, with annual surveillance audits to maintain validity.

History and status: FSSC 22000 was launched in 2009 under the Foundation FSSC 22000 and has since evolved through version updates. It remains a leading GFSI-recognized scheme, complementing broader food safety programs and supplier compliance efforts.