ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000, which is the most suitable for your company?

ISO 22000 is a food safety management system used in the food industry at all stages of the supply chain. The system provides the basis for a management system based on the ISO 9001 system. ISO 22000 places more emphasis on management systems that include guidelines and procedures. The standard also provides a list of prerequisite programs (PRS) with actions to be implemented, but does not specify how they should be implemented. It should also be noted that the ISO 22000 standard is being implemented in conjunction with another ISO standard for compliance with technical requirements or other standards for good manufacturing practice (GMP) to ensure compliance with the minimum GMP requirements.

The FSSC 22000 standard consists of ISO 22000 and other independent standards, such as relevant technical standards and additional requirements required by the FSSC. The primary standard used to obtain FSSC 22000 certification is ISO 22000, together with one of the following ISO technical standards, depending on the industry:

• ISO / TS 22002-1: 2009, Food production
• ISO / TS 22002-2: 2013, Catering
• ISO / TS 22002-3: 2011, Agriculture
• ISO / TS 22002-4: 2013, Manufacture of food packaging
• ISO / TS 22002-6: 2016, Production of feed and animal feed
• PAS 221: 2013, Retail / Supermarkets
• NEN / NTA 8059: 2016, Transport and storage (ISO 22002-5).

FSSC 22000 must also meet the compliance with other additional requirements at the request of customers, national regulations and binding regulations:

1. Service management
2. Product labeling
3. Food protection – threat assessment
4. Reduction of food fraud
5. Use of the logo
6. Allergen management (food chain categories C, E, FI, G, I and K)
7. Environmental monitoring food chain categories C, I and K)
8. Product composition (food chain category D)
9. Transport and delivery

But what is the difference between these schemes and how to understand which will be right for your company?

One of the main differences between the two certificates is that the FSSC 22000 scheme, unlike the ISO standard, is recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative). Recognition of the GFSI provides confidence that the scheme meets the highest global standards, and this provides more opportunities for a food company to offer its products internationally.

In the FSSC 22000 scheme, ISO 22000 will be used to comply with the requirements of the management system, but the FSSC 22000 includes additional requirements including a more detailed Pre-Requisite Program (PRP) or other procedures to control and monitor the food processing plant to meet specific FSSC requirements and to ensure system consistency, integrity and governance.

Customers, partners, European and global markets require the company to implement a standard recognized by the GFSI, so the FSSC 22000 takes precedence over ISO 22000.

In most cases, the FSSC 22000 is the next step for those companies that are already ISO 22000 certified and are planning to expand their capabilities by gaining international recognition for food safety or as required by one of their existing or future partners.

Both standards have a 3-year cycle – 1 – Certification, 2/3 Surveillance, 4 – Recertification.

! Recommendation – If you plan to cooperate with international companies or offer your products in Europe or abroad in the near future – we recommend introducing FSSC 22000 in the company.

It should be understood that both of these standards ensure food safety and that the quality of food is not compromised in any way.

Please contact us if you want to know more about ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 and about which of the schemes is most suitable for your company.