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FSSC 22000 scheme: Food Safety System Certification

Application of ISO 22000 + Prerequisite programmes in the Agri-food Industry or Manufacture of food containers: Food Safety Guarantee

New in FSSC 22000. In April 2023, version 6 of the FSSC 22000 standard was published, which will enter into force for audits carried out from 1 April 2024, the date by which establishments must have adapted their procedures to this version and demonstrate their full implementation for audits carried out from that date, and compulsorily by 31 March 2025.

The most relevant changes in this version involve new requirements regarding the Culture of Food Safety, Quality Control, Equipment Management, Food Loss and Waste, and Communication. In addition, the new certificates issued will include a QR code, along with the existing COID.

FSSC 22000 scheme

It is a complete certification scheme for food safety management systems based on existing standards ISO 22000, ISO 22003and technical specifications for Prerequisite Programmes of the corresponding sector (food production, manufacture of packaging for the food industry or for the Transport and Storage of food products).

There is also a range of additional requirements established in the FSSC scheme regarding specifications for services, staff supervision, input material management, food defence, fraud prevention, allergen management, labelling and environmental control.

Organisations that obtain the certificate in accordance with FSSC appear in the FSSC Registry of Certified Organisations, which is publicly accessible on (https://www.fssc22000.com/certified-organizations/).

FSSC has implemented a new and unique COID (Certified Organization Identification Code) for each certified company in order to ensure the traceability of certified organizations. These codes have been available since 31 January 2023 in the FSSC database www.fssc22000.com.

The FSSC scheme 22000 has been approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative, as have other food security schemes such as BRC or IFS.
JTogether with this certification, AENOR offers the possibility of also obtaining the certificates for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and/or GMP based on the Codex Alimentarius. Find out about how to obtain three certificates.

If you are also an exporter of agri-food products, you must know the Food Safety Modernization Act 2016 (FSMA), drawn up by the United States FDA, which seeks to improve food safety, particularly in foodstuffs imported from third countries. This law establishes the requirements for the export of agri-food products destined for the United States, while also facilitating companies' consolidation in the American market.

Related sectors

The FSSC 22000 scheme applies to the following types of Agri-food industries and manufacturers of food containers:

1) Food processing: 

Processing of perishable animal products (p.ej. meat, free-range poultry, eggs, dairy and fish/seafood products)
Processing of perishable plant products (p.ej. fruits, fresh juices, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes)
Processing of mixed animal and plant products (p.ej. Pizza, lasagne, sandwiches, pastries, prepared food)
Processing of products stable at room temperature (p.ej. Canned products, cookies, aperitifs, oil, drinking water, drinks, pasta, flour, sugar, food-grade salt)
(Bio)chemical products for the food industry (food Ingredients - Additives, vitamins, minerals, biocrops, flavourings, enzymes and adjuvants; excludes pesticides, medicines, fertilizers and cleaning agents)

2) Manufacture of packaging material for the food industry (with direct or indirect contact)

3) Transportation and storage (throughout the food chain)

4) Animal feed (production of farm animal feed, production of pet food)

Integration with other systems

As its structure is based in risk management, the FSSC certification22000 can be easily integrated into any process management system, such as UNE-EN-ISO 9001.

It can also be carried out together with food safety audits of the private protocols of European large-scale distribution, such as BRC (Global Standard for Food Safety) and IFS (International Featured Standards) , using their standards for both food and container production, as long as these include requirements from a food safety system.

Now AENOR offers the opportunity to obtain—together with this certification—certificates in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and/or GMP based on the Codex Alimentarius. Find out about how to obtain three certificates.

Marks and certificates

Once the audit process has been completed, if the introduced system meets the requirements from the FSSC Scheme 22000, the organisation obtains:

The AENOR FSSC Certificate of Conformity 22000
When undergoing an audit of the ISO requirements 22000, if the customer wishes, it may also obtain the licence for use of AENOR's Food Safety mark.

In addition, organisations with management systems certified by AENOR have free access to AENORnet and a free monthly subscription to the UNE magazine.

According to the provisions of the FSSC 22000 scheme, the organisation that has been awarded a FSSC certificate has the right to use the FSSC 22000 logo on its printed material, website and another promotional material provided it meets the design specifications outlined in the FSSC 22000 scheme documentation; however, the company may not use the FSSC 22000 certification logo, nor mention the certificate on its products, packaging, labels or in any other way that might suggest that FSSC 22000 certifies a product, process or service.

FSSC 22000 Mark

Our experience

AENOR is authorised by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification (see Certification bodies at https://www.fssc22000.com/partners/certification-bodies/ ).