FSSC 22000 Certification - Food safety (food products and packaging)

What is the FSSC 22000 Scheme?

FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) is a food safety management system certification scheme intended for organizations throughout the food chain. Unlike a single standard, FSSC 22000 combines an international management standard, sector-specific technical requirements and additional requirements established by the Scheme, providing a robust and internationally recognized framework for controlling food safety risks and hazards.

The version of the FSSC Scheme currently in force can be consulted  here.

The three components of the Scheme

The FSSC 22000 Scheme is based on three components which, together, form the certification scheme:

• ISO 22000:2018 – the international standard for food safety management systems, applicable to any organization in the food chain;
• sector-specific technical specifications (prerequisite programmes / PRPs) – for example, ISO/TS 22002-1:2009 for food manufacturing and ISO/TS 22002-4:2013 for food packaging manufacturing;
• additional requirements established by the FSSC Foundation, which supplement the standard with requirements specific to the Scheme (see the requirements currently in force here or on the FSSC Foundation website here).

FSSC 22000 and GFSI recognition

The FSSC 22000 Scheme has benefited from full recognition by GFSI (The Global Food Safety Initiative) since 2010. This recognition demonstrates that the Scheme meets the highest global standards and is widely accepted by retailers, manufacturers and accreditation bodies worldwide. For organizations, an FSSC 22000 certificate means easier access to markets and supply chains that require GFSI-recognized certification.

FSSC 22000 for food products and food packaging

An important advantage of the Scheme is its broad scope: FSSC 22000 is intended for both food manufacturers and food packaging manufacturers. With regard to the food safety of packaging, the Scheme uses specific prerequisite programmes (ISO/TS 22002-4:2013), which address risks associated with materials that come into contact with food products. Therefore, an organization manufacturing packaging intended for the food industry can demonstrate, through FSSC 22000 certification, that its products comply with food safety requirements.

SRAC CERT provides auditing and certification services for food safety management systems in accordance with the requirements of the FSSC 22000 Scheme, for both food products and food packaging.

FSSC 22000 Version 6 – requirements and key changes

FSSC 22000 Version 6 is the version currently used as the basis for certification audits. Published by the FSSC Foundation in April 2023, with mandatory audits starting on 1 April 2024, this version introduced several important changes:

• integration of the requirements of ISO 22003-1:2022 regarding the duration and conduct of audits;
• strengthened requirements relating to food safety and quality culture;
• new provisions relating to quality control, equipment management, allergen management, production environment monitoring, and the reduction of food loss and waste;
• support for organizations in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Transition to FSSC 22000 Version 7

In May 2026, the FSSC Foundation published FSSC 22000 Version 7, which adopts the new ISO 22002-X:2025 series of prerequisite programmes and aligns with the GFSI 2024 benchmarking requirements. According to the transition timeline, audits conducted against Version 6 will remain valid until 30 April 2027, and certified organizations will transition to Version 7 through a transition audit, in accordance with the deadlines established by the FSSC Foundation.

Transition audits to Version 7 of the FSSC 22000 Scheme will take place between 1 May 2027 and 30 April 2028.

Organizations currently certified against Version 6 can plan the transition within their regular audit cycle in order to ensure continuity of certification.

Quality and food safety management through FSSC 22000

Although FSSC 22000 is, in essence, a scheme dedicated to food safety, Version 6 has strengthened the relationship between quality management and food safety. Requirements relating to quality control and food safety and quality culture bring the quality dimension into the management system. In addition, because FSSC 22000 is based on ISO 22000, which shares the common high-level structure of ISO standards, the Scheme can be easily integrated with ISO 9001 (quality management). Organizations can therefore build an integrated, coherent and effective quality and food safety management system.

Benefits of FSSC 22000 certification

FSSC 22000 certification provides concrete benefits:

• international recognition through GFSI, valued by retailers and major buyers in the food industry;
• rigorous control of food safety risks and hazards throughout the production chain;
• the possibility of improving existing systems compliant with ISO 22000, with lower certification costs compared with other GFSI-recognized schemes;
• a foundation based on Codex Alimentarius documents, which underpin food safety legislation;
• flexibility for integration with other management systems, such as ISO 9001;
• increased confidence among customers and business partners, as well as a genuine competitive advantage in the market.

How can FSSC 22000 certification be obtained?

The FSSC 22000 certification process with SRAC CERT involves auditing the food safety management system against the requirements of the Scheme.

Audit and certification stages

1. Submission of a request for quotation and definition of the certification scope (food products or food packaging).
2. A two-stage certification audit: documentation review and on-site assessment of the implementation of the food safety management system.
3. Resolution of any nonconformities and implementation of corrective actions.
4. Issuance of the FSSC 22000 certificate, valid for 3 years.
5. Annual surveillance audits (announced or unannounced) and a recertification audit at the end of the certification cycle.

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Cost of FSSC 22000 certification

The cost of FSSC 22000 certification depends on the size of the organization, the number of employees, the complexity of its processes, the number of sites and the scope of certification. In addition to the audit cost, an annual fee established by the FSSC Foundation applies for each audit report uploaded to the FSSC portal. To determine the exact cost, the best solution is to request a personalized quotation.

Why SRAC?

SRAC CERT is the first Romanian certification body licensed by the FSSC Foundation (The Foundation for Food Safety System Certification), based in the Netherlands, to perform accredited certification against the FSSC 22000 Scheme (see here). SRAC CERT is accredited by RENAR (certificate no. SMFS 002) for the certification of food safety management systems in accordance with the FSSC 22000 Scheme. Certified organizations are entitled to use SRAC conformity marks for promotional purposes and are informed about developments in the field of certification, as well as relevant courses and events.

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Who is FSSC 22000 intended for?

FSSC 22000 is intended for any organization in the food chain that wishes to demonstrate a high level of food safety. The Scheme is particularly relevant to food manufacturers and food packaging manufacturers, but also to other categories of organizations throughout the food chain. It is especially useful for organizations supplying retailers and customers that require GFSI-recognized certification or for organizations seeking access to international markets.