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Although many professionals are familiar with both ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000, the fundamental differences between them are often misunderstood. These differences can significantly influence company certification, customer requirements, and export opportunities in international markets.

In this article, we will explain the key differences between the two systems and answer the following questions:

• When is ISO 22000 the right choice?
• When do you need FSSC 22000?
• What are the advantages of each system, and why do some organizations choose one over the other?

The following sections will provide clear answers to these questions.

An Important Concept That Many Professionals Confuse

You may have heard that ISO 22000 is internationally recognized, while FSSC 22000 is recognized by GFSI.

Do these two statements mean the same thing?

The answer is: No.

ISO 22000 is an International Standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Therefore, it is internationally recognized as a management system standard and can be implemented by organizations worldwide.

In contrast, FSSC 22000 is a Certification Scheme built upon ISO 22000. It has achieved GFSI Recognition after successfully meeting the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements established by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

In other words:

• ISO 22000 → Internationally recognized as an International Standard.
• FSSC 22000 → Recognized by GFSI as a Food Safety Certification Scheme.

It is important to understand that GFSI recognition is not the same as international governmental recognition. Rather, it is recognition granted by the Global Food Safety Initiative and widely accepted by multinational companies, retailers, and food supply chains worldwide. We will explain this concept in greater detail in a future article.

This is why many multinational companies and global retail chains require their suppliers to hold a GFSI-recognized certification scheme, whereas regulatory authorities in some countries may only require compliance with ISO 22000 or other applicable food safety regulations.

First: What Are the Main Components of FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000?

To better understand the difference, FSSC 22000 consists of three fundamental components:

1. ISO 22000:2018 Requirements

These requirements establish the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), including:

• Management system requirements
• Risk management
• HACCP principles
• The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology for continual improvement

2. Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)

PRPs provide the operational and environmental conditions necessary for producing safe food.

They are implemented using the relevant sector-specific technical specifications, such as ISO/TS 22002-x, which contains different parts applicable to various sectors across the food chain.

3. FSSC Additional Requirements

The Foundation FSSC has introduced additional requirements to strengthen the management system, including:

• Food Defense
• Food Fraud Prevention
• Allergen Management
• Food Safety & Quality Culture
• Food Loss & Waste Management

What About ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 requires organizations to establish, implement, and maintain Prerequisite Programs (PRPs) as part of their Food Safety Management System.

However, the standard itself does not prescribe the detailed PRP requirements. Instead, organizations should refer to the appropriate technical specifications, such as ISO/TS 22002-x, depending on their sector.

Therefore, the fundamental difference is that FSSC 22000 combines:

• ISO 22000 requirements
• Sector-specific PRPs
• FSSC Additional Requirements

Whereas ISO 22000 focuses on the Food Safety Management System requirements and requires PRPs without including the additional FSSC requirements.

What Does This Mean When Choosing the Right System?

The decision between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 depends on your organization's objectives and customer expectations.

Choose ISO 22000 if your organization aims to:

• Build a robust Food Safety Management System.
• Comply with legal and regulatory food safety requirements.
• Operate primarily in markets where GFSI-recognized certification is not required.
• Integrate food safety with other management systems such as ISO 9001.

Choose FSSC 22000 if your organization:

• Exports to international markets.
• Supplies multinational companies or major retail chains.
• Has customers requiring a GFSI-recognized certification scheme.
• Wants to implement additional requirements such as Food Defense, Food Fraud Prevention, and Food Safety & Quality Culture.

Simply put:

• ISO 22000 = Food Safety Management System.
• FSSC 22000 = Food Safety Management System + Additional Requirements + GFSI Recognition.

Third: Structural and Certification Differences

Certification and Registration

When an organization is certified to ISO 22000, the certification body issues a certificate accredited by the relevant accreditation body.

With FSSC 22000, certified organizations are also registered in the official Foundation FSSC global database, allowing customers and retailers worldwide to verify certificate validity online.

Updates and New Versions

ISO 22000 has undergone two editions:

• ISO 22000:2005 (First Edition)
• ISO 22000:2018 (Current Edition)

FSSC 22000, however, is updated more frequently to reflect evolving GFSI benchmarking requirements and emerging food safety challenges.

The current edition is FSSC 22000 Version 7, which incorporates the latest GFSI requirements and recent developments in food safety management.

Fourth: When Should You Choose ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000?

Choose ISO 22000 if your organization:

• Wants to establish a strong Food Safety Management System.
• Primarily serves local markets.
• Does not have customers requiring GFSI-recognized certification.
• Wishes to integrate with other ISO management system standards.

Choose FSSC 22000 if your organization:

• Targets export markets such as Europe or North America.
• Supplies multinational companies or large retail chains.
• Has customers requiring a GFSI-recognized certification scheme.
• Wants to strengthen its system with additional requirements covering Food Defense, Food Fraud, Food Safety Culture, and Food Loss & Waste.

Conclusion

Both ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 share the same ultimate objective: ensuring safe food and protecting consumers.

ISO 22000 provides a strong foundation for establishing an effective Food Safety Management System.

FSSC 22000 builds upon that foundation by incorporating sector-specific PRPs, additional requirements, and GFSI recognition, making it the preferred choice for organizations supplying global markets and multinational customers.

About Khtowat

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