FSSC 22000 certification is a GFSI-benchmarked food-safety scheme built on ISO 22000 plus sector-specific prerequisite programmes and additional FSSC requirements, widely accepted by retailers and food manufacturers as evidence of systematic hazard control.
In trade practice
Certification is granted by an accredited third-party certification body following a two-stage audit covering the HACCP system, prerequisite programmes such as allergen management and pest control, and FSSC-specific additional requirements including food fraud and food defence. Buyers in the EU commonly list FSSC 22000 as an approved alternative to BRCGS or IFS Food in their supplier approval procedures. Freezing plants, ingredient processors and honey packing facilities in Ukraine increasingly hold this certificate to access retail and food-service supply chains. Certificates are publicly verifiable through the FSSC 22000 online database and must be current at the time of each shipment.
In a specification
Supplier approval forms and purchase contracts typically require a valid FSSC 22000 certificate covering the relevant product category and processing scope, with the certificate expiry date confirmed before each order is placed.