FSSC 22000 · Food safety
FSSC 22000 — the scheme recognised by global retail chains
When a customer asks for a "GFSI-recognised scheme", ISO 22000 on its own is not enough. FSSC 22000 is the upgrade that fills that gap.
What is FSSC 22000?
FSSC 22000 has three parts: ISO 22000 as the management system, sector prerequisite programmes from the ISO/TS 22002 series (different for food processing, packaging, transport and animal feed) and the additional requirements of the scheme itself. Only that combination is recognised by GFSI, which is what the customer is actually asking for.
Compared with ISO 22000, most of the work usually comes from the prerequisite programmes — specific requirements for the building, equipment, maintenance, pest control and personal hygiene, sometimes including construction changes. Scheme audits also include unannounced visits. The scheme is released in new versions from time to time, so at the start of the project we check which one is current and which one your customer requires.
When is FSSC 22000 required?
When the customer asks for a GFSI-recognised scheme and not just ISO 22000. It is a common requirement of large manufacturers and retail chains towards their suppliers — in food production, animal feed production, food packaging manufacturing, storage and transport.
If you already have ISO 22000, part of the work is done: what is missing are the prerequisite programmes under the relevant part of ISO/TS 22002 and the additional scheme requirements.
Road to certification
The scheme is more demanding than ISO 22000 precisely because of the last two steps:
Who issues the certificate
The certificate is issued by a certification body licensed by the scheme owner and accredited to ISO/IEC 17021 — not by just any body that does ISO certification. The scheme also requires unannounced audits within the cycle, which means the system has to be kept up even on a day when nobody is expected. We do not issue the certificate: we prepare the documentation, the PRPs and the people, and we stand by you during the audit.
Scope of our support
Setting up PRPs under the relevant part of ISO/TS 22002 for your category.
Flow diagrams, hazard analysis and critical control points verified on the shop floor, not copied from a template.
Food defence, fraud prevention, management of services and labels — the part most often left out.
A system maintained every day, with internal audits that confirm it.
Related standards
ISO 22000 is the basis of the scheme, and HACCP is its foundation. IFS Food and BRCGS are alternatives other customers ask for — which one you need depends on who you supply.
Industries where this standard is most often required:
Training for food safety teams — prerequisite programmes, the HACCP study and additional scheme requirements, including food defence and fraud prevention. Delivered at your premises, online or as a combination of both.
FSSC 22000 — frequently asked questions
Is FSSC 22000 the same as ISO 22000?
No. FSSC 22000 contains ISO 22000, but adds sector prerequisite programmes and its own requirements, and it is recognised by GFSI — which ISO 22000 on its own is not.
Are unannounced audits mandatory?
Part of the audits in the certification cycle is unannounced — that is part of the scheme, not the certification body's choice. That is why the system is set up to hold even on a day without preparation.
Does HACCP stop applying if we have FSSC?
No. HACCP is a legal obligation for food business operators and remains the foundation — FSSC does not replace it, it builds on it.
How much does FSSC 22000 cost?
It depends on the category, the size of the site and whether you already have HACCP or ISO 22000. Send a short description of your production for an indicative quote.
📋 Check the exact price for your organisation →The EU, the US and other markets
FSSC 22000 is the same standard wherever you certify it — what differs is the designation, the accreditation behind the certificate and what your customers ask for.
In the European Union the standard is adopted with an EN prefix, and what your buyer in the Netherlands, Germany or France looks at is not the prefix but the accreditation behind the certificate: a body accredited by a signatory of the international recognition arrangement (Global Accreditation Cooperation, formerly IAF) is recognised in other markets too. What EU partners and EU regulation expect is on the page about the EU market.
For companies with customers in the United States — supplier audits, security questionnaires and how ISO sits alongside SOC 2 — see the page about the US market.
Wherever your customer is, we run the project remotely in English — over Teams, WhatsApp or Viber, with documentation and records in English — and on site when that is easier.
Some of our references
More than 400 organisations in Montenegro and the region have gone through implementation with us — from banks and public bodies to manufacturing, IT, laboratories and hospitality.
These are only some of our clients. More about us →
Request a free consultation
We will assess the scope of work and propose a realistic plan and budget for your product. Call us or send an inquiry — we reply within 24 hours.