PRIORITY business intelligence

FSSC 22000- Food Safety System Certification/ Certification scheme for food safety systems of food manufacturing

FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme specifically targeted at food manufacturers. It helps secure food safety standards within the production process of the supply chain.

FSSC 22000 combines the requirements of ISO 22000:2005 (Food Safety Management Systems requirements) and PASS220:2008 (prerequisite programmes on food safety for food manufacturing).

The requirements and guidelines of FSSC 22000 are described in four parts:

• Part I - requirements of food safety system and guidance on how to apply for certification
• Part II - requirements for providing certification, including the regulation for certification bodies and the harmonization committee
• Part III - requirements for providing accreditation, including the regulation for accreditation bodies
• Part IV - regulations for the Board of Stakeholders

FSSC 22000 combines three main characteristics:

1. A powerful management system framework, fully integrated in the overall company's management system and consistent with other aspects or standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

2. A robust "Hazard Analysis and Risk Management" methodology based on HACCP principles and ability to improve food safety effectiveness and efficiency

3. The use of a detailed guideline, the PAS 220, concerning the pre-requisite programmes, as requested by ISO 22000 § 7.2 and fitting the retailers needs for the due diligence and related issues. As an alternative to PAS 220, the new ISO TS 22002-1:2009 can be used; this is fully equivalent to PAS 220, making possible for the first time a "totally ISO standards based" food safety certification scheme.

Other benefits to be highlighted include:

• Independence (owned by a non profit foundation)
• Multiple stakeholder approach in the development, and in the governance
• International and ISO worldwide credibility, built over GFSI approval