From 28 October to 1 November, FSSC’s Technical Director, Elsabe Matthee, and Manager of Quality & Safety, Kelly Mulholland, attended ISO meetings in Lima, Peru. The gathering brought together experts from around the world to work on essential updates to the ISO PRP standards and initiate the review of ISO 22000—crucial standards that underpin Food Safety Management Systems across industries.
Working Group 11: Finalizing the New ISO PRP Standards
The first two days of the meetings focused on advancing the ISO PRP standards, with the FSSC team joining Working Group 11 to address feedback and finalize draft documents. The updates to the ISO 22002 series are particularly significant as they introduce a unified structure to enhance consistency and applicability across various sectors in the food industry.
The revised ISO 22002 series will include a new foundational document, Part 100, which outlines general requirements applicable across all sectors. This document will be supported by sector-specific parts (Parts 1-7). One of the most notable additions is Part 7, which introduces new standards for the Retail and Wholesale sector. ISO anticipates publishing the complete ISO 22002 series by April or May of 2025, although the transition timeline for organizations to adopt these changes is yet to be determined.
As a member of the ISO Action Item Groups, we will continue to actively participate and provide input in this important review of both the ISO 22002 PRP series and the ISO 22000 standard. This collaboration underscores FSSC’s commitment to shaping standards that address today’s food safety challenges. By participating in these updates, we help keep our FSSC 22000 Scheme robust, relevant, and aligned with the latest best practices.Elsabe Matthee, FSSC Technical Director
Working Group 8: Beginning the ISO 22000 Review
The middle of the week marked the start of discussions in Working Group 8 regarding the review of ISO 22000. This review aims to bring the standard up to date with emerging global food safety trends and industry requirements. Key topics discussed, included:
- Evaluating the impact of the New CODEX Requirements: The group will evaluate how recent updates to the CODEX standards will influence ISO 22000.
- Food Fraud, Food Defense, and Food Safety Culture: to address evolving food industry risks.
- Supplier Approval and Continuous Improvement: Enhancing these processes will help drive transparency, accountability, and resilience across the food supply chain.
The ISO 22000 review process is in its early stages, with the revised standard expected to be released by early 2027.
SC17 Plenary Meeting: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
The week concluded with the SC17 plenary meeting, where participants aligned on action items and the way forward. FSSC will continue to play an active role in these action groups to ensure that its FSSC 22000 Scheme stays current with evolving standards and best practices. This commitment to ongoing engagement ensures that the FSSC 22000 Scheme remains a robust, and globally recognized benchmark for food safety.
The work carried out in Lima demonstrates FSSC’s dedication to advancing food safety standards and supporting a culture of continuous improvement across the food industry.
