A comparison: ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 certification

In today's globalised food industry, food safety standards are essential to ensure consumer confidence and product quality. ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 are two globally recognised standards that help organisations to implement an effective food safety management system. However, customers are often faced with the question of which of these two?standards they should choose. To make this decision easier, we present both standards.?

ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management systems (FSMS) developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It integrates the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and covers the requirements for an?effective food safety management system along the entire food chain - from production to consumption. The main objectives of ISO 22000 are:?

• Ensure food safety through systematic management of risks.?
• Promote transparency and consistency in food production.?
• Improve communication along the food chain.?

This standard is suitable for all organisations in the food chain, regardless of their size or sector.?

The globally valid ISO 22000:2018 standard was developed by international food experts for organisations of all sizes in the food industry. The regulations do not only relate to the links in the actual food, but also to companies from upstream and downstream fields of activity.

Scope of application of ISO 22000??

ISO 22000 defines requirements for a food safety management system for organisations in the food chain that must demonstrate that they can control health hazards from food.?

The standard applies to all organisations in the food chain, regardless of their size and complexity.?

Specifically, the scope of ISO 22000 extends to the following organisations in the food supply chain:?

• Keeping or handling of animals (e.g. keeping animals for the production of meat, milk, honey, fish and seafood farming)?
• Growing or handling plants (e.g. cleaning grain, washing carrots or potatoes, sorting fruit and vegetables)?
• Processing food, ingredients and pet food (e.g. processing animal carcasses, processing and packaging fish and fish products, processing fruit and vegetables, making pizzas, lasagne and tinned food, filling and packaging fish and fish products)?
• Processing of animal feed and pet food?
• Catering/food service?
• Trade, retail and online trade?
• Transport and storage services?
• Services related to the safe production of food and animal feed (e.g. pest control)?
• Production of packaging materials?
• Equipment (e.g. equipment for processing food, animal feed or packaging)?
• Chemical and biochemical materials?

FSSC 22000?

FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification 22000) is also an international standard for food safety. It is based on ISO 22000 and extends it?with additional requirements of the technical specifications for prerequisite programmes (PRPs) and other requirements of the FSSC 22000 scheme. Developed by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification, FSSC 22000 aims to integrate and harmonise the requirements of major food safety standards.?

The main features are:?

• Combination of ISO 22000 and PRPs as well as additional FSSC-specific requirements.?
• Comprehensive management system to minimise risk and ensure food safety.?
• Recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), making it one of the most widely recognised standards in the world.?

FSSC 22000 is particularly suitable for large food manufacturers and suppliers who require comprehensive and internationally recognised certification.?

With FSSC 22000 certification, manufacturers of food and food packaging materials can contribute to safety within the supply chain and to the harmonisation of certification systems across borders.?

The standard is based on the ISO 22000 standards and the technical specifications for specific preventive food safety programmes.?

Scope of application of the FSSC 22000

The certification is aimed at companies that?process or manufacture products:?

• Pre-processing of plant-based products (e.g. cleaning, washing, rinsing, fumigation, sorting, repacking of food, also packaging, repacking and e.g. loading)?
• Resale and trade?
• Production of packaging materials?
• Chemical and biochemical materials (production of food and feed processing aids, additives such as vitamins and flavourings or gases and minerals)?

Requirements of FSSC 22000

The requirements for the development, implementation and maintenance of the food safety system are defined in the ISO 22000 standard and correspond to those for certification in accordance with ISO 22000.?

The FSSC 22000 standard is based on three main specification areas and standards, which are divided as follows:?

• ISO 22000:2018 Requirements for each organisation in the?organisation in the food supply chain?
• The corresponding pre-requisite programmes (PRPs) based on?technical specifications for the sector (e.g.?ISO/TS 22002-x; PAS xyz)?
• FSSC 22000 additional requirements?

In the course of introducing and implementing the preventive programmes (PRPs) addressed in Chapter 8 of the above-mentioned standard, the company must take into account the requirements of the sector-specific technical specifications in addition to the requirements of ISO 22000.?

• for food ISO/TS 22002-1:2009?
• for packaging materials ISO/TS 22002-4:2013?

Certification procedure and cycle?

The certification procedure and the certification cycle are the same as for certification according to ISO 22000.?

Comparison of ISO 22000 with FSSC 22000?

A comparison between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 shows that both standards are based on ISO 22000. However, FSSC 22000 goes one step further by?additional requirements for PRPs and other specific requirements. While ISO 22000 has more general requirements and is suitable for a wide range of organisations in the food chain, FSSC 22000 is aimed more at large companies seeking a more comprehensive and stringent certification. FSSC 22000 is widely recognised by the GFSI and provides additional assurance and market acceptance.?

When choosing between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000, the decision depends heavily on the specific requirements of the organisation and the market requirements.

ISO 22000 is particularly suitable for companies that operate as suppliers and service providers, for example, as the effort required for the QM system and in the audit is somewhat lower due to the elimination of PRPs and technical specifications.?

Both standards can be easily integrated into existing management systems in accordance with ISO standards and promote consumer confidence in the food chain by?improving food safety.?

A key advantage of ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 is that both standards already take aspects of climate change and sustainability into account. They promote sustainable practices in food production and contribute to reducing environmental impacts. This includes measures for energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable use of resources. These integrated approaches to sustainability represent a significant advantage over other food standards and position companies certified to ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 as leaders in environmental protection and social responsibility.?

Further information can be found on our website: ISO 22000: the comprehensive food safety management and FSSC 22000 certification.?

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