While FSSC 22000 certification is usually not a legal requirement for food businesses under local government food regulations, global food retail chains, service chains, and export companies increasingly treat it as a key commercial criterion. All legal systems require at least HACCP approval or local product registration, but world-class standards now expect all large food suppliers to obtain FSSC 22000 certification.
What Is FSSC 22000 and Why Is It a Must?
The Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) was developed as a recognised comparator to ISO standards under the GFSI Food Safety scheme. It is based on ISO 22000 certification, complemented with sector-specific PRPs, and additional FSSC-specific requirements. With more than 30,000 companies globally holding FSSC 22000 certification, FSSC 22000 has proven to be an efficient tool for food safety prevention and provides end consumers and buyers in the worldwide supply chain with assurance.
| Standard / System | Legal Requirement? | Global Recognition | Key Focus Area |
| Basic Food Registration / License | Mandatory by local laws | Local / National | Baseline hygiene and operating clearance |
| HACCP System | Mandatory for many food sectors | Global standard | Hazard analysis & critical control points |
| FSSC 22000 Certification | Commercial Requirement (Voluntary by law) | GFSI Benchmarked (Global) | Integrated management system (FSSC 22000 V6) |
What Are the Requirements of FSSC 22000 V6?
The requirements of FSSC 22000 V6 are primarily centered on creating a safer food environment by ensuring optimal management of equipment and quality control; reducing food loss; creating a stronger food safety culture and allergen control.
Published under FSSC 22000 version 6, these criteria bring the minimum requirements for raw material suppliers and contractors up to date with contemporary food safety standards. Auditing to deploy FSSC 22000 V6 will help your company to upgrade its basic FSSC 22000 certification requirements.
How Does the FSSC 22000 Certification Work?
The FSSC 22000 audit process includes these significant steps:
1. Application- Receiving enquiries in various forms such as letters, emails, telephone, or online.
2. Application/Contract Review- The certification review manager will verify the application.
3. Initial Cert. Audit – Stage 1 & Stage 2- It's the initial stage of application assessment for auditing compliance documents.
4. Audit Review- This audit is for verifying compliance with standard requirements by the concerned auditor.
5. Certification Decision- The certification decision is taken by the Director for granting or not granting certification.
6. Issuance of Certificate- The certificate will be issued to the client after completing all the applicable requirements.
7. Continual Assessment- Its on-site assessment includes several types of surveillance activities (Surveillance Audit).
8. Recertification Audit- Conducted every third year of ISO certification, followed by re-audit and surveillance.
The total number of years for an FSSC 22000 certification varies depending on the company's risk profile, number of locations, and operating risks. Read more about how to get ISO certification and what a food safety management system is so that you can prepare yourself.
Why Choose AQC World?
AQC World is an accredited ISO certification body providing end-to-end consulting and support for building customer trust. FSSC 22000 certification helps maintain the highest standards. We have helped thousands of companies enter the list of best ISO certified companies or clearly understand what is required to meet FSSC 22000 v6 standards.
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