FSSC 22000 Version 6

ISO 22000 plus sector prerequisite programmes and scheme-specific additional requirements.

Food Safety

ISO 22000, sector PRPs, additional requirementsThree components
Benchmark statusGFSI
Audit cycleUnannounced element

Overview

FSSC 22000 is a complete certification scheme for food safety management systems, recognised under GFSI benchmarking. It combines ISO 22000:2018, sector-specific prerequisite programmes (for food manufacturing, ISO/TS 22002-1) and FSSC additional requirements covering topics such as food defence, food fraud mitigation and management of services.

Version 6 was published in April 2023, and audits against Version 6 apply from April 2024. Certification follows a three-year cycle with annual surveillance audits. Because the scheme is ISO-based, it integrates well with other management system standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, which makes it a frequent choice for multi-site and group structures.

Built from three documents
ISO 22000:2018 supplies the management system, the ISO/TS 22002 series supplies sector-specific prerequisite programmes, and the scheme owner adds its own requirements on top.
Management system first
Suited to organisations that already run ISO-style systems, because the structure and the audit language are familiar.
Unannounced audits in the cycle
The scheme includes an unannounced element, which is a large part of why buyers treat the result as representative of ordinary operation.

Structure of the Standard

How the requirements are organised.

Ref	Requirement
4	Context of the OrganizationScope of the FSMS, interested parties and the processes that affect food safety.
5	LeadershipFood safety policy, roles, responsibilities and management commitment.
6	PlanningRisk-based thinking, FSMS objectives and planning of changes.
7	SupportResources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.
8	OperationPRPs, HACCP-based hazard control, traceability and emergency preparedness.
9	Performance EvaluationMonitoring and measurement, internal audit and management review.
10	ImprovementNonconformity, corrective action and continual improvement of the FSMS.
PRP	Prerequisite ProgrammesISO/TS 22002-1 requirements for construction, hygiene and operations in food manufacturing.
ADD	FSSC Additional RequirementsFood defence, food fraud mitigation, product labelling, services and transport requirements.

Where it Applies

Industrial and ingredient supply
Common where the customer is a manufacturer rather than a retailer.
Multi-site organisations
The management system approach travels well across sites in different countries.
Sites already certified to ISO 22000
The step up is a prerequisite programme and additional requirements exercise, not a new system.
Sites choosing between ISO 22000 and a recognised scheme
Processors already running an ISO 22000 management system and finding that buyers will not accept it on its own. FSSC 22000 adds the sector prerequisite programme and the scheme requirements that close the recognition gap, without rebuilding the management system.
Ingredient and bulk supply into industry
Industrial customers buying bulk frozen and dried material for further processing, where the buyer's own certification depends on the supplier being certified to a recognised scheme.

How it Compares

Positioning against neighbouring schemes.

Versus ISO 22000 alone
ISO 22000 is not GFSI-recognised on its own. FSSC is the recognised programme built on it.
Versus BRCGS or IFS
FSSC prescribes less about site fabric and more about system architecture. Retail buyers sometimes still name BRCGS or IFS by name.

Products Covered

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Markets that Expect It

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FAQ

Do we need ISO 22000 certification first?

No. FSSC certification assesses conformity with ISO 22000 as part of the audit; a separate ISO 22000 certificate is not a prerequisite.

Which ISO/TS 22002 part applies to frozen fruit?

The part covering food manufacturing. Confirm the applicable part with your certification body, because the scheme maps categories to documents.

Is the certificate accepted by retailers?

Generally yes, as a GFSI-recognised scheme, but individual retailer specifications still govern.

Sources & References

GFSI Benchmarking RequirementsGlobal Food Safety Initiative, The Consumer Goods Forum · accessed August 22, 2026The document against which BRCGS, IFS Food and FSSC 22000 are benchmarked, and the reason a buyer can accept any of them. It covers scheme content, auditor competence, certification body accreditation and scheme integrity. Recognition is granted by version, and a scheme can lose it, so a purchasing clause should reference recognition rather than a scheme name frozen in time.
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffsEUR-Lex, European Union · accessed August 22, 2026HACCP-based procedures. Annex II Chapter IV covers transport conditions.
Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffsEUR-Lex, European Union · accessed August 22, 2026Consolidated text. Check the version in force before quoting a limit.

Evidence confidence: partial

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Vorezan publishes reference information for buyers and suppliers. We are not a certification body, a customs broker or a guarantor of any third party. Regulatory references point to the framework in force at the review date; verify the current consolidated text and your own obligations before relying on them commercially.

Last updated: August 22, 2026Sources & references

FSSC 22000 Version 6

Overview

Built from three documents

Management system first

Unannounced audits in the cycle

Structure of the Standard

Where it Applies

Industrial and ingredient supply

Multi-site organisations

Sites already certified to ISO 22000

Sites choosing between ISO 22000 and a recognised scheme

Ingredient and bulk supply into industry

How it Compares

Versus ISO 22000 alone

Versus BRCGS or IFS

Products Covered

Markets that Expect It

FAQ

Sources & References

At a Glance

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