Title: FSSC 22000:2010 Food Safety System Certification

Food Safety Management Systems

FSSC 22000:2010
What is FSSC 22000?
FSSC 22000:2010 (Food Safety System Certification) is an international standard developed for the certification of Food Safety Management Systems for food manufacturing organisations. It combines the requirements of ISO 22000:2005 (Food Safety Management Systems Requirements) and PAS 220:2008 (Prerequisite Programmes on Food Safety for Food Manufacturing). The FSSC 22000:2010 scheme is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the benchmarking body for the harmonization of international food safety standards, along with other food safety management schemes like the BRC, IFS and SQF. The inclusion of ISO 22000 requirements in the FSSC 22000 standard makes it align with other generic management systems such as the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 to enable effective system integration. Perishable animal products, excluding slaughtering and pre-slaughtering (i.e. meat, poultry, eggs, dairy and fish products); Perishable vegetal products (i.e. fresh fruits and fresh juices, preserved fruits, fresh vegetables, preserved vegetables) Products with long shelf life at ambient temperature (i.e. canned products, biscuits, snacks, oil, drinking water, beverages, pasta, flour, sugar, salt) (Bio)chemical products for food manufacturing (i.e. vitamins additives and bio-cultures) but excluding technical and technological aids. Note: transport and storage on site and as part of the operation are included (e.g. cheese ripening). It is applicable to all food manufacturing organisations in these categories, regardless of size and complexity, whether profit-making or not and whether public or private.

Brief background to FSSC 22000

ISO 22000 was not approved through the GFSI benchmarking process primarily because the specific requirement for prerequisite programmes for food manufacturing was not detailed in the standards, due largely to its entire food chain coverage. This led to further work championed by the large food manufacturers including Kraft, Nestle, DANONE and Unilever under the aegis of the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union (CIAA); that led to the introduction in 2008 of the PAS 220:2008 (Prerequisite Programmes on Food Safety for Food Manufacturing). The Foundation for Food Safety developed and has ownership of the FSSC 22000:2010 standard based primarily on the combination of the requirements of ISO 22000:2005 and PAS 220:2008. Licensed certification bodies like NQA can audit against the requirements and issue certificates for FSSC 22000.

Benefits of achieving certification:

Proven business credentials through independent verification against recognised standards Ability to win more business particularly where procurement specifications require certification as a condition to supply Customer satisfaction through delivery of products that consistently meet customer requirements including quality, safety and legality Reduced operating costs through continual improvement of processes and resulting operational efficiencies Operational efficiencies by integrating pre-requisite programs (PRPs & OPRPs), HACCP with the Plan-Do-Check-Act philosophies of ISO 9001, the effectiveness of the Food Safety Management System is improved Improved stakeholder relationships including staff, customers and suppliers Legal compliance by verifying conformity to statutory and regulatory requirements Improved risk management through greater consistency and traceability of product.

Who is it applicable to?

Unlike ISO 22000 which is applicable to all organisations along the food chain; FSSC 22000 is specifically designed for food manufacturers. The scheme is intended for the audit and certification of the food safety management system of food manufacturers that process or manufacture:

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What if my company is currently ISO 22000 certified?

If your company is currently ISO 22000 certified, then the only requirement will be an additional and typically shorter audit to verify compliance of your system to the requirements of PAS 220:2008. An FSSC 22000 certificate will be issued following successful audit.

Stage 2 the purpose of this visit is to confirm that the food safety management system fully conforms to the requirements of FSSC 22000 in practice. The assessor will: Undertake sample audits of the processes and activities defined in the scope of assessment including production methods, controls, PRPs (PAS 220:2008 requirements), HACCP plans and procedures Verified personnels application of their knowledge and skill in food safety Document how the system complies with the standard Report any non-compliances or potential for non-compliance Produce a visit plan for the first surveillance visit Please note that if any major non-conformance is identified, the organisation cannot be certified until corrective action is taken and verified.

How to achieve certification

NQA provides third party audits and issue certification to organisations compliant to the FSSC 22000 standard. The process of registration follows three simple steps: Application for registration is made by completing the FSMS questionnaire Assessment to FSSC 22000 is undertaken by NQA in two stages known as the Initial Certification Audit Registration is granted by NQA and maintained by the organisation. Maintenance is confirmed through a programme of annual surveillance visits and a three yearly re-certification audit.

Initial Certification Audit

Stage 1 the purpose of this visit is to confirm the readiness of the organisation for full assessment. The assessor will: Confirm that the management systems manual conforms to the requirements of ISO 22000 and PAS 220:2008 Confirm its implementation status Confirm the scope of certification Check PRPs, OPRPs, HACCP legislative , compliance and customer requirements Produce a report that identifies any non-compliance or potential for non-compliance and agree a corrective action plan if required Produce an assessment plan and confirm a date for the Stage 2 assessment visit.

Making your journey to certification comfortable

NQAs global presence reflects its ability to connect organisations with the resources and guidance that best fit their unique culture and operations, thus promoting certification to British, European and internationally recognised Standards. NQA proudly promote certified organisations achievements with appropriate media channels in recognition of their commitment to stakeholders.

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For more information about this service, contact our friendly team today. We will be pleased to help you.

Contact us
NQA, Warwick House, Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5ZX, United Kingdom 0843 318 3490 | enquiries@nqa.com | www.nqa.com/fssc
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