What is FSSC 22000?
FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme for food safety, recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) . The scheme builds on the international standard ISO 22000. It is managed by Foundation FSSC , a foundation under Dutch law. Certification takes place through accredited bodies under RvA (Dutch Accreditation Council) supervision.
FSSC 22000 is not a standalone ISO standard. It combines three building blocks: the ISO 22000 management system requirements, sector-specific prerequisite programmes (PRPs) and a set of additional requirements from Foundation FSSC. Together they form a complete and auditable food safety system.
The big difference from ISO 22000: FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised. Many large retailers and international brands only accept GFSI-recognised schemes as evidence of food safety.
FSSC 22000 follows the same structure as other ISO management systems. If you combine it with quality management, it fits well with ISO 9001.
FSSC 22000 at a glance
| What is it? | GFSI-recognised certification scheme for food safety |
| Managed by | Foundation FSSC (foundation, Netherlands) |
| Built on | ISO 22000 + PRPs + additional requirements |
| Current version | Version 6 (version 7 published, in transition) |
| GFSI-recognised? | Yes, since 2010 |
| Mandatory? | Not required by law, but often a customer or retailer requirement |
| Certificate validity | 3 years, with annual checks |
| Indicative cost (year 1) | €12,000 to €40,000+ (indicative) |
| Unannounced audit | Mandatory, at least once per three-year cycle |
| Starting point | Find out whether FSSC 22000 suits you |
What does FSSC 22000 consist of?
FSSC 22000 combines three parts. Each part answers its own question.
| Building block | What does it cover? | Further reading |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 22000 | The management system: policy, hazard analysis, improvement | Requirements of the scheme |
| PRPs (ISO/TS 22002-x) | Sector-specific prerequisites, such as hygiene and building | HACCP and PRPs |
| Additional requirements | 18 extra FSSC requirements, such as food fraud and food defence | Additional requirements |
Why organisations choose FSSC 22000
The main reasons are usually:
- Market access in retail and export through GFSI recognition. You can read exactly what that recognition means on GFSI recognition explained.
- One scheme for international customers instead of several audits.
- A stronger position in the supply chain with large brands and buyers.
- Growth from ISO 22000 without rebuilding the system.
Who is FSSC 22000 mainly relevant for?
FSSC 22000 is mainly intended for organisations that produce and supply food, ingredients or packaging to demanding buyers. Think of a sauce producer that supplies an international supermarket chain.
- food producers and processors;
- ingredient and packaging suppliers;
- transport and storage companies that handle food;
- animal feed and catering organisations.
Further reading: Who is FSSC 22000 relevant for?
FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000?
Not sure which to choose? In brief: ISO 22000 is the basis, and FSSC 22000 adds GFSI recognition and extra requirements. If you supply large retailers, they often ask for FSSC explicitly.
This site covers the FSSC perspective: what FSSC adds on top of ISO 22000. If you want to read it from the ISO side, see ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000.
Frequently asked starting questions about FSSC 22000
| Question | Short answer | Further reading |
|---|---|---|
| What are the extra requirements? | 18 additional requirements on top of ISO 22000 | Additional requirements |
| Which version applies now? | Version 6 is the audit framework, version 7 is in transition | Versions 6 and 7 |
| Is the audit unannounced? | Yes, at least once per cycle is mandatory | Audit process |
| What does certification cost? | Often €12k to €40k+ in year 1 | Costs and timeline |
| FSSC, BRCGS or IFS? | Depends on your sales market | FSSC vs BRCGS vs IFS |
Next steps
Sources
- Foundation FSSC - FSSC 22000 scheme
- GFSI - Global Food Safety Initiative
- ISO 22000:2018 - Food safety management systems
- RvA - Accreditation