There are many food safety management systems around the globe but only the ones that exhibit par excellence in terms of implementation and audit are exactly the ones your organisations needs. Initially, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) with its globally accepted standards became the most logical choice for developing an international food safety management standard. ISO 22000 made its foray in the year 2005 and was well received by hundreds of companies worldwide within a short span of time. ISO 22000 standard applies to any organisation within the food chain – right from farming to packaging businesses.
The only setback of this standard was that it did not make it to the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) list that soon became an important criterion for acceptance by many significant retailers. Retailer giants such as Walmart, Tesco, Metro, etc., have made GFSI benchmarking mandatory and that has left major food companies with no choice but to get GFSI recognised. Presently, GFSI list includes IFS, SQF, BRC and Dutch HACCP. GFSI reviewed the standard requirements and decided that all food manufacturers will have to comply with the requirements of a more specific Prerequisite Program, and this led to the PAS 200 document creation. GFSI benchmarked scheme falls under FSSC 22000. FSSC 22000 certification is a judicious blend of regulations of the PRP document, PAS 220 document, and ISO 22000 standard. So naturally any company that wishes to register itself under FSSC 22000 certification will have to implement the requirements of ISO 22000 as well as the PRP programs in PAS 220. FSSC 22000 standard applies to food manufacturers solely, while other organisations in the food chain shall continue to implement ISO 22000 standard. FSSC 22000 is purely owned by the Foundation for Food Safety certification (FSSC).
Before deciding on the ideal standard implementation for your business you should first consider factors that are market driven. If you’re not a food manufacturer, ISO 22000 standard shall be applicable and on the contrary, and if your business is into food manufacturing, then your decision is dependent on the needs of your customers and suppliers. Transition from ISO 22000 to FSSC 22000 certification is a smooth one and only requires a review against the PAS 220 document by a duly accredited registrar.
Conclusion: Consumers are becoming exceedingly aware of food safety. From adulterated milk to contaminated juice, food safety related incidents also happen with even the most reputed food brands. FSSC 22000 is helpful in bringing organisations in the food chain a step closer to an internationally recognised and accredited superior food safety management standard.