Who is it for?

The FSSC 22000 system is intended for all companies (regardless of size or legal form) within the food industry supply chain that are involved in the production or processing of products such as:

• perishable food of plant or animal origin,
• food products stable at ambient temperature,
• feed and pet food,
• functional ingredients and technical gases for food production,
• materials and packaging in direct contact with food.

As FSSC 22000 applies exclusively to manufacturers in the food industry, it contains very detailed guidelines on issues that are generally described in the ISO 22000 standard and the technical specifications ISO TS 22002-1 (for food production) and TS 22002-4 (for food packaging production). Consequently, FSSC 22000 can be easily implemented by organisations operating in accordance with the aforementioned standards. FSSC can also be effectively integrated with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

About the standard

The FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) standard is a modern food safety management system. It serves as a standard for the control, monitoring and certification of food products. It was developed in response to food producers’ need for a globally recognised system based on ISO requirements.

The FSSC 22000 system was developed by the Food Safety Certification Foundation with the support of the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries (CIAA, now FoodDrinkEurope), which includes global corporations such as Danone, Nestlé and Unilever. In line with the expectations of companies in the food industry, the FSSC 22000 standard has been accepted by the Global Food Safety Initiative (an organisation responsible for assessing international food safety standards and management systems). As a result, FSSC 22000 is regarded as being on a par with the BRC, IFS and SQF schemes.

Benefits of implementation

FSSC 22000 certification is a key component of a company’s reputation within the food supply chain. It serves as proof that the organisation meets the highest standards of food safety.

Implementing the FSSC 22000 standard brings a number of practical benefits:

• streamlining operations through clear and precise procedures,
• strengthening consumer confidence in manufactured products,
• the opportunity to attract new business partners from among those who require FSSC 22000 certification from their partners,
• increased competitiveness in the domestic market,
• the opportunity to enter global markets (FSSC 22000 certification allows for cooperation with companies operating under BRC, IFS and SQF standards),
• reduced operating costs due to the improvement of related processes,
• more effective risk management,
• confirmation of compliance with Polish and international food safety regulations, which leads to greater trust from regulatory authorities.