FSSC new version
The new version, version 6, of the FSSC 22000 standard was released in April 2023.
What are the main reasons for the revision?
- Inclusion of the ISO 22003-1:2022 requirements
- Strengthening conditions to support organizations in their efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Editorial changes and updates as part of continuous improvement
The certification scheme consists of 5 parts and two annexes merged into a single document. It includes five annexes, all containing mandatory requirements for the scheme. The BOS (Board of Stakeholder Decision List) continues to serve as the basis for certification.
What are the main changes in version 6?
- Qualitative and quantitative traceability of labels and printed packaging (including secondary packaging) with information relevant to food safety, such as expiry dates, allergens, and nutritional values
- Comprehensive allergen management, including training, declaration, validation, and verification
- Food and quality culture
- Systemic approach to quality control
- Foreign body management and handling of all breakages
- Equipment management
- Food loss and waste
- Communication requirements
Notable changes in the food chain categories:
- The primary production category (Category A) for animal and plant products has been removed and replaced with category BIII “Activities on harvested crops.”
- Category C0 “Carcass transformation for further processing…” has been included.
- Categories DIIa and DIIb for pet food have been removed, and pet food is now included in food categories CI to CIV.
- The transport and storage categories have been combined into one category, G.
- A NEW category FII for brokerage activities has been added.
The description of categories has become more precise. Special dietary food and food for medical purposes may be included in Category C if legally qualified as food in the country of production. Products classified as pharmaceutical or medical by law are not within the scope of FSSC certification.
Category I, Packaging, includes napkins and packaging materials used in the food industry, but packaging materials and napkins used in private households are excluded from the scope.
FSSC 22000 – Quality has been removed from the scheme. An additional requirement for quality control is included in version 6. However, it only contains elements of quality control and is not equivalent to a QMS. Organizations seeking complete quality management system certification must do so under the requirements of ISO 9001.
The organization must have a documented policy and goals detailing the strategy for reducing food loss and waste within the organization and the supply chain. Food donated to non-profit organizations, employees, and others must be safe, and this must be controlled, ensuring proper handling. Products intended for animal feed must not be contaminated.
Food safety and quality culture is a completely new chapter. Previously, FSSC’s stance was that if food safety culture was properly implemented, it was sufficiently covered under ISO 22000. The aspects to consider regarding food safety and quality culture include communication, training/orientation, employee feedback, and measuring engagement and performance.
The certification body must be notified within three days about events impacting food safety, legality, and/or certification integrity (e.g., force majeure, natural or human-made disasters such as war, strikes, terrorism, crime, floods, earthquakes, hacking, etc.).
Quality control is also a new chapter, requiring a systematic quality control procedure, including establishing, implementing, and maintaining quality parameters in line with finished product specifications and product release.
What is the transition period to the new version?
Audits according to version 5.1 can be conducted until March 31, 2024. Audits for the upgrade to version 6 must be carried out from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
With the release of version 6, a document titled “V6 Requirements – Upgrade Process” was also published. This document explains, among other things, the removal of the primary production/agriculture verification area, Category A: FSSC 22000 audits for version 6 will not be allowed for organizations with Category A, and this will apply to audits starting from April 1, 2024. FSSC 22000 certificates with certification scope in agriculture will be withdrawn, or if multiple categories were applied, the certification scope will be reduced from December 31, 2024.