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FSSC 22000

GFSI-recognised food safety management certification built on ISO 22000:2018. FSSC 22000 Version 6.0 — required by Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, and major food multinationals globally. Executed through licensed FSSC certification partners.

GFSI Benchmarked FSSC 22000 Version 6.0 | April 2023
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FSSC 22000 Version 6.0 | April 2023
FSSC
What is Food Safety System Certification?

FSSC 22000 is a GFSI-recognised food safety management system certification scheme owned and governed by Foundation FSSC, a non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands. The scheme is built on three pillars: ISO 22000:2018 (food safety management system requirements), sector-specific Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs — ISO/TS 22002-x technical specifications), and FSSC's own additional requirements. Version 6.0 (April 2023) is the current scheme, incorporating ISO 22003-1:2022 requirements and strengthened sustainability and food safety culture provisions.

Who Is This For?

Food manufacturers, animal feed producers, packaging manufacturers, transport and storage operators, catering companies, and food retailers whose customers — particularly major multinationals including Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, Mars, Mondelēz, and major retailers — require GFSI-benchmarked certification with the FSSC 22000 scheme.

Key Benefits
  • GFSI benchmarked — accepted by all major food multinationals and retailers globally
  • Recognised by Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, Mars, Mondelēz, Heinz, and most major food companies
  • Version 6.0 incorporates ISO 22003-1:2022 — latest food safety auditing standards
  • Stronger food safety culture, food fraud (VACCP) and food defence (TACCP) requirements
  • Built on ISO 22000 — straightforward transition for already ISO 22000-certified organisations
  • FSSC public register lists all certified organisations — searchable by buyers worldwide
  • Voluntary addenda available for sustainability, quality, and additional food safety modules
  • Allows integration with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 for Integrated Management Systems
Certification Process
1
Application & Review
Submit your application. CAS reviews your organisation's scope, personnel, sites, and activities to prepare a detailed audit time calculation and formal commercial proposal.
2
Stage 1 — Document Review
On-site or remote review of your management system documentation, readiness assessment, and confirmation of Stage 2 audit scope and plan.
3
Stage 2 — On-site Audit
Full on-site audit of the implemented management system against the standard's requirements. Findings are reported; nonconformities must be closed before certification.
4
Certification Decision
CAS's independent certification committee reviews the audit findings and issues the certificate. The certificate is valid for 3 years.
5
Surveillance & Recertification
Annual surveillance audits (~1/3 of initial audit time) maintain certification. Recertification audit (~2/3 of initial time) is conducted before certificate expiry to renew for a further 3 years.
Audit Time: FSSC 22000 certification is conducted by a licensed FSSC Certification Body (CB). The certification process follows ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 and includes Stage 1 (documentation review) and Stage 2 (on-site audit). Annual surveillance audits and recertification every 3 years apply. The certified organisation is listed on the FSSC public register. CAS supports clients through the process via established licensed FSSC certification partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO 22000:2018 is the core standard — FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme built on top of ISO 22000, adding sector-specific PRPs (ISO/TS 22002-x) and FSSC additional requirements including food fraud prevention, food defence, food safety culture, and allergen management. FSSC 22000 is GFSI-benchmarked; standalone ISO 22000 is not.
FSSC 22000 Version 6.0, published April 2023, is the current version. It incorporates ISO 22003-1:2022 audit requirements, strengthens food safety culture requirements, and adds sustainability provisions aligned with UN SDGs.
FSSC 22000 covers Categories B (pre-process plant handling), C (food manufacturing — all subcategories), D (animal feed), E (catering), F (trading and retail), G (transport and storage), I (food packaging), and K (biochemicals). Each category uses the relevant sector-specific PRP alongside ISO 22000:2018.
Yes. FSSC 22000 is required or strongly preferred by many major food multinationals including Nestlé (who helped develop the scheme), Unilever, Danone, Mars, and Mondelēz. It is increasingly required by European retailers and food service companies as their primary GFSI-benchmarked standard for suppliers.
Version 6.0 requires a documented vulnerability assessment (VACCP — Vulnerability Assessment and Critical Control Points) covering the entire supply chain for food fraud risks. This must identify vulnerable ingredients, assess likelihood and impact, and establish control measures — a significant addition compared to ISO 22000 alone.
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