Introduction

Food Safety System Certification 22000 is the abbreviation FSSC 22000. It is a standard for food safety management systems that offers a framework for assuring the quality and safety of food across the whole food supply chain. The internationally recognised ISO 22000 standard for food safety management systems serves as the foundation for the FSSC 22000 certification, which adds additional standards that are exclusive to the food industry

Key Points

1. Comprehensive Food Safety Management System: The Food Safety Standard Control Commission 22000 (FSSC 22000) provides a comprehensive framework for managing food safety throughout the whole food supply chain, beginning with primary production and continuing through manufacturing, processing, storage, and distribution of food products.

2. Based on ISO 22000: The standards for a food safety management system are outlined in the internationally recognised ISO 22000 standard, which serves as the foundation for the FSSC 22000 certification. It emphasises using a methodical approach to ensuring that food is safe to eat and integrates the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) concepts.

3. Recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI): The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), a benchmarking organisation that promotes the harmonisation of food safety standards, has acknowledged FSSC 22000 as meeting its requirements. GFSI certification demonstrates that the FSSC 22000 system satisfies internationally recognised standards for food safety.

4. Integration of Prerequisite Programmes: The Good Manufacturing Practises (GMP), Good Agricultural Practises (GAP), and Good Hygiene Practises (GHP) are some of the prerequisite programmes that are integrated into the FSSC 22000 system. These programmes serve as a basis for food safety and are necessary for the upkeep of an environment that is hygienic and under control.

5. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP): The use of HACCP principles is required by FSSC 22000 in order to detect and control potential threats to the safety of food. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) method requires one to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment and identify critical control points in order to prevent, remove, or minimise potential hazards to an acceptable level.

Advantages

1. Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: FSSC 22000 provides assistance to organisations in meeting the requirements of applicable regulations pertaining to food safety. It is possible for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to food safety and fulfil the expectations of regulatory bodies by applying the standard. This reduces the risk of non-compliance issues and penalties, which in turn reduces the likelihood of those issues occurring.

2. Improved Food Safety: The FSSC 22000 standard offers a comprehensive framework for controlling the dangers and risks associated with food safety across the supply chain. It includes the ideas of HACCP and other necessary programmes to identify, control, and avoid potential risks. As a result, food safety practises are improved, and the number of people who get sick from eating contaminated food is reduced.

3. Risk Mitigation: The FSSC 22000 standard provides assistance to organisations in identifying and mitigating risks associated with potential threats to food safety. Organisations are able to minimise the risk of food safety events, product recalls, and the financial losses that are connected with them by putting preventative measures into place. These preventive measures include control points, monitoring systems, and corrective actions.

4. Advantage in the Market: Obtaining FSSC 22000 accreditation can provide businesses with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. When it comes to making purchases, the safety of food is a consideration for a lot of customers, retailers, and consumers. Organisations have the opportunity to differentiate themselves from their rivals, establish trust with their customers, and improve the reputation of their brand when they earn the FSSC 22000 certification.

5. Continuous Improvement: FSSC 22000 places a strong emphasis on fostering an environment that encourages ongoing improvement. By putting the standard into practise, businesses are able to set up procedures for the continuous monitoring, measuring, and assessment of the food safety management system they have in place. Because of this, they are able to recognise areas in which there is room for improvement, put corrective actions into place, and work towards achieving greater levels of food safety performance.

6. Training and Competence Development: The FSSC 22000 certification encourages both the training of employees as well as the development of their competence in food safety procedures. Organisations have the ability to increase staff knowledge, skills, and engagement, which ultimately results in a more strong food safety culture. This is accomplished through offering training and raising awareness about the criteria for food safety.

FAQ’s

What is FSSC 22000?

It is a certification programme for food safety management systems that is recognised all around the world. In accordance with the concepts of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), as well as additional requirements linked to good manufacturing practises (GMPs) and prerequisite programmes (PRPs), FSSC 22000 lays out the standards for food safety management systems that must be met in order to be certified. It offers a framework that organisations in the food sector can use to assure the safety of their products and fulfil the requirements set forth by customers as well as regulatory bodies.

What are the most important criteria for FSSC 22000 certification?

The following are some of the primary requirements of FSSC 22000:

· The creation and execution of a food safety management system that is founded on HACCP principles.

· Adoption of good manufacturing practises, often known as GMPs, in order to create a production environment that is hygienic.

· Implementation of precondition programmes (PRPs) in order to address particular operating circumstances and control measures, such as allergen management, cleanliness, and pest control.

· Carrying out a hazard analysis in order to locate, evaluate, and eliminate potential threats to the safety of food.

· The establishment of operational controls, which should consist of critical control points (CCPs), monitoring methods, and corrective measures.

· documentation as well as record-keeping in order to demonstrate conformity with the prerequisites.

· The efficiency of the food safety management system is evaluated on a regular basis through internal audits as well as management reviews.

How to obtain FSSC 22000 certification?

An organisation should normally follow these steps in order to get certified to the FSSC 22000 standard:

· A review of the FSSC 22000 standard and an understanding of the specific requirements and implementation instructions should be undertaken by the company in order to become acquainted with the FSSC 22000 standards.

· It is necessary for the organisation to design and carry out the implementation of a food safety management system that is in accordance with the standards of FSSC 22000. This entails performing a hazard analysis, putting in place the controls that are required, and establishing both PRPs and GMPs.

· The organisation has to conduct an internal audit to evaluate how well its food safety management system is working. It is imperative that corrective steps be taken in the event that any non-conformances are found.

· It is necessary for the organisation to choose an accredited certification body in order to carry out an independent audit and certification process. The FSSC must acknowledge the certification organisation before it can be used.

· The certification procedure is often divided into two stages. The initial step involves the certification body conducting an evaluation of the organization's paperwork and determining whether or not it is ready for the certification audit.

· During the second stage, the certifying authority will conduct an on-site audit at the establishment in question in order to evaluate the execution of the food safety management system as well as its overall efficacy.

· The certification body will form their decisions on certification on the findings of the audit. The FSSC 22000 certification will be granted to the organisation if it can demonstrate that it satisfies the requirements.

· Once the organisation has been certified, the certification body will conduct periodic audits of surveillance to ensure that the organisation is continuing to comply with requirements and develop.

Is the FSSC 22000 standard relevant to all kind of food-related businesses?

The answer is that the Food Safety and Security Certification Council (FSSC) 22000 is relevant to different kinds of food enterprises, such as those who manufacture food, process food, package food, distribute food, and retail food. The certification programme encompasses the entirety of the food supply chain, beginning with the primary manufacturing stage and continuing all the way through to the point when food is purchased or consumed.

It is essential to be aware that the FSSC 22000 scheme may have particular standards or additional