The difference between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000: the right safety certificate for food producers

A clear requirement is often placed before a food producer by a large retail chain or an overseas buyer: a food safety certificate recognised by GFSI. It is at exactly this point that the question of whether ISO 22000 is enough, or whether you need to move to FSSC 22000, becomes critical. The two certificates are frequently confused; yet the relationship and difference between them produce a direct commercial result depending on which market you are selling to.

What is ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 is the food safety management system standard. It combines HACCP principles, prerequisite programmes, and a management system structure under one roof. It can be applied to every link in the chain from farm to fork, that is, from the producer to the packer, from the logistics provider to the feed producer. It is an internationally accepted, reliable management system foundation.

What is FSSC 22000?

FSSC 22000 is not a standard but an independent certification scheme. It consists of three components: ISO 22000, sector-specific technical prerequisite requirements (the ISO/TS 22002 series; for example 22002-1 for food manufacturing), and FSSC's own additional requirements. In other words, FSSC 22000 contains ISO 22000 and adds to it. Its most important feature is that it is a scheme recognised by GFSI.

What is the core difference?

In short: ISO 22000 is a management system standard, while FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme with GFSI recognition. On its own, an ISO 22000 certificate most often does not meet the large retail or export requirement that seeks GFSI recognition; FSSC 22000 does. FSSC also brings stricter rules on matters such as scope definition, audit depth, and unannounced surveillance audits.

Which food producer should choose which?

• If your buyer or the retail chain you want to enter clearly asks for a certificate with GFSI recognition, the right target is FSSC 22000.
• If you are setting up your system for the first time and have not yet faced a GFSI requirement, ISO 22000 builds a solid foundation and prepares the ground for a later move to FSSC.
• If you are on a different link such as packaging, feed, storage, or transport, confirm the ISO/TS 22002 technical requirement that applies to you from the start; the wrong technical requirement nullifies all the preparation.

The certification process

• Carry out the hazard analysis and build the HACCP plan.
• Set up the prerequisite programmes and keep them operational.
• Complete the system-specific documentation in a lean way.
• Carry out the internal audit and management review.
• Plan the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits with an accredited certification body.
• For FSSC 22000, be prepared for the possibility of an unannounced surveillance audit.

Frequently asked questions

We have ISO 22000; is moving to FSSC 22000 difficult?

Usually not. ISO 22000 already builds most of the system; what remains are the sector-specific technical prerequisite requirements and FSSC's additional clauses. For this reason the move is a more manageable step than building from scratch.

Is HACCP a separate certificate?

HACCP is a method; ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 run this method within a system. A standalone HACCP implementation does not meet a buyer requirement that calls for GFSI recognition.

How many years is the certificate valid?

The certificate is valid for three years, and during this period the operation of the system is confirmed by annual surveillance audits; at the end of the third year recertification is carried out.

How do you choose between BRCGS or IFS and FSSC?

All three are schemes recognised by GFSI. The choice is most often determined not by technical superiority but by which one your buyer or your target market requires; clarify the customer requirement first.

Where to start?

Eurocert is a conformity assessment body that has worked in testing, inspection, and certification since 1999. If you are undecided between starting with ISO 22000 and targeting FSSC 22000 directly, to clarify the plan suited to your buyer requirements and your sector, review our ISO 22000 food safety certification service or contact us; let us prepare a road map suited to you together.