What is the FSSC 22000 standard and what is its purpose?

• FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) is an international standard used in food production to ensure food safety and protect human health.

• Its purpose is to ensure that all steps in the food production chain, from raw materials to finished products, including transport, storage, and distribution, comply with strict safety requirements.

Who developed the FSSC 22000 standard and on what principles is it based?

• The standard was established in the Netherlands in 2009, in collaboration with organizations such as ISO, GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) i HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
• Integrates the requirements of the quality management system according to the standard ISO 9001 with the requirements of the food safety management system according to the standard ISO 22000.

To whom is certification according to the FSSC 22000 standard intended?

• Certification is intended for all organizations that produce, process, or distribute food and for whom food safety and compliance with international standards are important.

• It can be obtained for all types of products, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and others.

Who performs the assessment according to the FSSC 22000 standard and how long is the certificate valid?

• The assessment is carried out by accredited certification bodies, which assess and verify whether an organization meets all the requirements of the standard.

• The certificate has a limited validity period and requires additional (usually annual) checks to ensure its consistency and quality.

Since its establishment, FSSC 22000 has positioned itself as a leading certification scheme on a global level. Developed in response to the needs of the international food sector, FSSC 22000 provides an independent, ISO-based management scheme for food safety for third-party assessment and certification of their management systems.

FSSC 22000 is fully based on international, independent standards ISO 22000 and ISO 22003 with technical specifications related to this area for Prerequisite Programs and additional requirements related to the scheme.

FSSC 22000 is designed with the aim to help organizations establish and continuously improve management systems and good business practices. FSSC 22000 is a global leader among food safety management systems because:

• It fully encompasses existing ISO standards, technical specifications from this area for PRPs, HACCP, legal obligations, and the HACCP Codex Principles.

• It is fully recognized by GFSI.
• It enables the integration of food safety and food quality management with other management systems such as environmental protection, sustainable development, and occupational health and safety.
• It is led by a non-profit foundation headed by an independent Board of Directors.
• It increases the transparency of the supply chain.
• It enables small and medium-sized enterprises to introduce a robust food safety management system that is globally accepted.