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FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements

In the Foundation’s quest to deliver trust and impact beyond certification, we continuously revise and improve the FSSC 22000 Scheme Additional Requirements, which all organizations must comply with and that form part of FSSC 22000 Certification. The Additional Requirements are also covered under GFSI benchmarking.

Benchmarked to GFSI and aligned with ISO standards, FSSC supports the consumer goods industry in protecting brands and achieving targets sustainably. FSSC has incorporated several new Additional Requirements under Version 6 of the FSSC 22000 Scheme.

New Additional Requirements Version 6

Food Loss and Waste

The Additional Requirement on Food Loss and Waste (FLW) contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of halving global FLW per capita by 2030. From a food safety standpoint, the additional FLW requirement enhances the production of safer food globally. You can download the specific Guidance Document on Food Loss and Waste for free. We also recommend reviewing the documents related to the FSSC Insights webinar on Food Loss & Waste that took place on 6 December 2023.

Equipment Management

The Additional Requirement on Equipment Management integrates equipment management processes into the FSMS to ensure adequate control measures are implemented, relevant hazards are addressed and that new and existing equipment meets food safety requirements. You can download the Guidance Document on how to implement the requirements on Equipment Management for free. Please also have a look at the documents related to the FSSC Insights webinar on Equipment Management, organized on 19 March 2024.

Food Safety and Quality Culture

The Additional Requirement on Food Safety and Quality Culture fosters a solid organizational culture centered around food safety and quality that increases awareness, commitment, and accountability at all levels of FSSC 22000 Certified Organizations. This helps mitigate food safety risks, prevent food safety incidents, enhance product quality, and ultimately provides trust in the safety and quality of the products and services offered. Feel free to download the FSSC Guidance Document on Food Safety and Quality Culture.

Quality Control

The Additional Requirement on Quality Control assists Certificated Organizations in ensuring conforming and consistent product quality. FSSC 22000 requires Certificated Organizations in all food chain categories to systematically monitor and evaluate product quality and quantity by incorporating a quality control policy, quality control objectives, and quality control parameters into their FSMS. This helps identify and address quality issues promptly and reduces the likelihood of nonconforming products reaching the consumer. Please download the FSSC Interpretation Article for further clarification on the quality control requirements and the mandatory implementation thereof.

Communication Requirements

The Additional Communication Requirements in the Scheme address mandatory notification of serious events and situations to the Certification Body and require organizations to implement suitable emergency preparedness and response processes.

Pre-existing Additional Requirements

The FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements that were already established before Version 6 remain an integral part of Scheme Version 6 including Food Defense, Food Fraud Mitigation, Management of Allergens, Environmental Monitoring, and Hazard Control & Measures for Preventing Cross Contamination, among others. Some of these additional requirements have also been updated to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness. FSSC has Guidance Documents available on how to implement the highlighted requirements.

For a comprehensive overview of the FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements, download the FSSC 22000 Scheme Version 6 and consult Part 2, Section 2.5 FSSC 22000 Additional Requirements. You can also look at the documents related to the FSSC Insights webinar on the new Version 6 of the FSSC 22000 Scheme, organized on 11 May 2023.