Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000)

Aligned with the ISO Management System and ISO Harmonised Structure, the Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000) is an internationally accepted certification scheme for the entire food and feed supply chain, from farms and food processing facilities to packaging, transport, and other production sites. More than 32,000 organisations worldwide are certified by FSSC 22000 Certification scheme. 

The Global Standard for Food Safety System Certification focuses on: 

• Strengthening the licensing process and therefore the integrity programme 
• Complying with GFSI Benchmarking Requirements (Version 2020.1) 
• Including the most recent Board of Stakeholders list of selections and continual improvement process 

FSSC certification is delivered by Eurofins Assurance India Pvt Ltd in India. You can view relevant scope of accreditation here.

Food Safety System Certification and GFSI 

FSSC 22000 is recognised by Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), one of world’s largest coalitions of consumer goods corporates and businesses. Applying for FSSC 22000 Certification is the logical next step for ISO 22000 certified facilities who are eager to upgrade their certification to a GFSI-recognised standard. 

Food Safety System Certification Version 7 

FSSC Version 7 adds a completely new dimension to the implementation of Relevant Prerequisite Program’s (PRP) by introducing the concept of one common PRP standard, with additional sector specific parts to standardize these requirements. This in turn will help organizations by simplifying the implementation requirements, and providing clearer audit expectations which will support more effective implementation.

Reasons for the revision to FSSC Version 7:

• Incorporating the new ISO 22002-x series on Prerequisite Programs.
• Alignment of the Certification Scheme with the GFSI benchmarking requirements 2024.
• Strengthening requirements to help organizations meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Providing a more defined structure for the division of the food chain (sub)categories.
• Editorial changes and amendments as part of continuous improvement.

From the existing standard perspective, some new elements have been added and some requirements have been elaborated:

• Sub-subcategory classification has been introduced for some of the categories like C0, CI, CIV, I, K.
• Further elaboration in some of the additional requirements including:

• • Laboratory analysis
  • Food fraud and Food defense
  • Food safety and Quality culture
  • Allergen management
  • PRP verification
  • Product design and development
  • Food loss and food wastage
• A new additional requirement ‘Traceability’ has been introduced for category C0.
• Change to Tfssc to provide more flexibility in minimum audit duration for different Food Chain Categories.
• Exemption rules for small organizations.
• Specific rules related to remote audits and multisite audits.

Version 7 Transition rules and timelines:

• Audits against the FSSC 22000 Scheme V6 are only allowed to be delivered up to 30 April 2027.
• Upgrade audits against FSSC 22000 Scheme V7 shall be conducted from 1 May 2027 until 30 April 2028.
• All FSSC Version 7 upgrades shall be completed on the FSSC Assurance platform by no later than 30 June 2028.

Food Safety System Certification process   

Businesses must go through a seven step certification process. Surveillance and re-certification are required every year and every three years respectively. 

FSSC 22000 Certification steps:   

1. 1. Submit application form to any FSSC Certification Body. Eurofins is an approved Certification Body for FSSC 22000.  Apply to us to get a quick quote! 
2. 2. Confirm quotation and scope 
3. 3. Stage 1 audit scheduling 
4. 4. Stage 2 audit scheduling 
5. 5. Closing of findings/ non-conformances raised 
6. 6. Audit file review 
7. 7. Issuance of FSSC 22000 Certificate 

Benefits of Food Safety System Certification 

• Improved food safety: FSSC 22000 certification provides a comprehensive and standardised framework for managing food safety risks, which can help reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and improve the safety of food products.  

• Increased consumer confidence: FSSC 22000 certification demonstrates a company's commitment to food safety, which can help build trust and confidence with consumers. This can boost customer loyalty and thus business growth.  

• Enhance reputation: Adopting FSSC 22000 can enhance a company's reputation as a responsible and trustworthy food manufacturer, which can improve relationships with business partners and stakeholders.  
• Continuous improvement: FSSC 22000 requires companies to implement a continuous improvement process, which can help identify areas for improvement and drive innovation in food safety management. 

Why choosing Eurofins 

Eurofins Assurance India Pvt. Ltd. is approved for almost the full scope of Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) , making us a natural choice for gaining your certification. We are approved for: 

• Full scope in Animal – Primary Conversion (CO) 
• Full scope in Processing of perishable animal products (CI) 
• Full scope in Processing of perishable plant products (CII) 
• Full scope in Processing of perishable animal and plant products (mixed products) (CIII)
• Full scope in Processing of ambient stable products (CIV)
• Full scope in Trading, Retail, E-commerce (F) 
• Full scope in Production of food packaging and packaging materials (I)
• Full scope in Production of (bio) chemicals  (K)

Partner with us on your FSSC 22000 Certification for 

• High-quality audit reports 
• Stringent compliance with protocols 
• Robust experience and competences of auditors 
• Reliable turnaround time  
• Customer-centric attitude  

Send your enquiry to us or call us anytime for your next FSSC 22000 Certification!