FSSC 22000/ISO 22000

Who has to comply

Voluntary, but many global food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging makers, and retailers require a GFSI-recognized certificate such as FSSC 22000 from suppliers. ISO 22000 alone is not GFSI-recognized, so buyers who need GFSI usually ask for FSSC 22000, SQF, or BRCGS.

What the assessor asks to see

Food safety policy, objectives, and scope; context and interested parties; food safety team and competence; hazard analysis, HACCP plan, and operational prerequisite programs with validation; prerequisite program documentation mapped to the applicable ISO/TS 22002 part; monitoring and verification records; calibration; allergen management; food defense threat assessment and food fraud vulnerability assessment with mitigation plans; environmental monitoring program; supplier approval and incoming material verification; traceability and mock recall results; emergency preparedness; nonconformity and corrective action records; internal audit and management review records; food safety culture plan; labeling and product information controls.

Where the requirement sits: ISO 22000 7.5 documented information; 7.2 competence; 7.3 awareness; 8.5 hazard control plan

Version 6 timeline

FSSC 22000 Version 6 was published in April 2023. Audits against Version 6 started April 1, 2024, and every certified site had to complete an upgrade audit by March 31, 2025. Version 6 added requirements on food safety and quality culture, quality control, food loss and waste, equipment management, and communication of requirements.

Check the FSSC scheme documents page for any later amendments or a Version 6.1 (not confirmed in the sources reviewed here).