FSSC 22000 Version 6 FAQ

FSSC 22000 fits perfectly into an IMS, as it is based on the ISO harmonized structure. Although V6 includes additional requirements on Quality Control and Quality Culture, the overall management system approach remains the same. Beyond food safety, the additional Food Loss and Waste requirements support a silo-breaking approach contributing towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The preparation time remains the same. However, for V6, the reporting time has been increased to at least 1.0 auditor days (8 working hours) to ensure sufficient time is provided for auditors to construct the audit report following the requirements of Annex 2 of the Scheme.

A full remote audit is only applicable in the case of a serious event and can only be applied where the requirements of the Full Remote Audit Addendum have been met. Category FII (Trading and Brokering) is the exception to this rule, where a full remote audit is allowed under normal circumstances in the case of surveillance audits; the requirements of the Full Remote Audit Addendum must also be met.

In addition to the COID (Certified Organization Identification Code) introduced to the Scheme via the BoS Decision List in December 2022, Version 6 of the Scheme also includes a requirement for a QR Code to be included on the certificate.

The upgrade audit may be conducted, announced, or unannounced if the latter meets the 3-yearly unannounced audit requirements.

For upgrade audits using the ICT Audit Approach method, both the remote and onsite components shall be completed against V6 from 1 April 2024 onwards. It is not possible to conduct part of the audit to a different Scheme version.

Version 6 of the Scheme covers (sub)categories: BIII, C (C0, CI, CII, CIII, CIV), D, E, F (FI, FII), G, I, and K.

Certified organizations shall use the FSSC 22000 logo only for marketing activities such as the organization’s printed matter, website and other promotional material. In case of using the logo, the certified organization shall request a copy of the latest FSSC logo from their Certification Body.

Additional requirement 2.5.5 ‘Logo use (all food chain categories)’ of the FSSC 22000 Version 6 Scheme document covers requirements around this topic.

The Foundation has revised and published a Food Safety and Quality Culture Guidance Document.

Download the Guidance Documents here

Currently, the Foundation does not have a Guidance Document on Allergen Risk Assessments. We have Guidance Documents on the following subjects:

• Environmental Monitoring,
• Equipment Management,
• Food Defense,
• Food Fraud Mitigation,
• Food Loss and Waste,
• Food Safety and Quality Culture, and
• Transport Tanker Cleaning

All documents have been updated to align with Version 6 and were published in 2023. These guidance documents can be downloaded from our website.

Download the Guidance Documents here

Yes, there is a free FSSC Guidance Document available on Food Loss and Waste. You can download it from the V6 Scheme page on our website.

Download the Food Loss and Waste Guidance Document here.

FSSC 22000-Quality has been removed from the Scheme. An additional requirement is now included in Scheme Version 6 on Quality Control. However, this only contains elements of Quality Control and is not equivalent to a Quality Management System (QMS). Organizations wanting a complete QMS certification still need certification against ISO 9001.

Find more information here.

The organization must have a documented policy and objectives detailing its strategy to reduce Food Loss and Waste within the organization and the related supply chain. The Foundation has published a Guidance Document on this topic.

You can download it for free from our website here.

Audit duration has increased to ensure a robust audit is delivered, meeting the audit objectives and accommodating the new additional requirements included in V6 of the Scheme. The audit duration calculation has also been revised to take into account the requirements of ISO 22003-1:2022.

Please take a look at Section 2.2.3.1 of FSSC 22000 Version 6 Upgrade Process, which details the requirements for sub-category licensing.

Take a look at Section 2.2.3.1. here.

You can find more information on this under Section 2.2.6 of the Version 6 Upgrade Process, which details the FSSC 22000-Quality Transition Plan.

See the Version 6 Upgrade Process here.

Please refer to Section 2.2.5 of the Version 6 Upgrade Process, which details the transition process.

See the Version 6 Upgrade Process here.

The Scheme interpretation articles further clarify requirements and the application or implementation thereof. These interpretation articles need to be adhered to by CBs and certified organizations, as applicable. The CB is responsible for keeping up to date with these interpretation articles and communicating them to the relevant parties within the CB and the Certified Organizations.

Therefore, CBs may sometimes reference and share interpretation articles published by the Foundation with their certified organizations to assist in clarifying specific requirements included within the Scheme.

These Scheme interpretation articles are in place to assist with the clarification of existing requirements rather than to include new requirements. Any further requirements or changes to existing requirements are done through the BoS Decision list or a Scheme version update.

Please take a look at Part 2, Section 2.2 of the V6 Scheme for more details.

Audits against Version 6 commenced as of 1 April 2024, and V5.1 audits are no longer possible. Upgrade audits against FSSC 22000 Scheme V6 shall be completed by 31 March 2025.

Both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit must be conducted to Version 6 when the audit takes place from 1 April 2024 onwards

OR

Conduct the Stage 1 audit to Version 5.1 (when conducted before 1 April 2024) and Stage 2 to Version 6 (when conducted on or after 1 April 2024). This is as per the Version 6 Upgrade Process document, Section 2.2.2.1 (1). Download the V6 Upgrade Process Requirements document here

All remaining V5.1 certificates will automatically be set to withdrawn in the Assurance Platform after 31 May 2025 and will no longer be visible on the FSSC 22000 public register of certified organizations on the FSSC website.

Yes, the FSSC 22000 V6 Scheme has been translated into different languages. These languages are: Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish. You can download the V6 Scheme documents in your preferred language.

Download the V6 Scheme documents here.

Please note that the English Scheme version is the official and binding version.

At least one (1) surveillance audit is undertaken unannounced after the initial certification audit and within each three (3) year period after that; therefore, either the first or the second surveillance audit in the first cycle can be unannounced.

One of the most important differences is that FSSC 22000 uses globally independent ISO standards. ISO 22000 is used for food safety management systems and sector-specific technical specifications cover our prerequisite programs.

On top of this, there are additional requirements, for instance, concerning food fraud and food defense. These ISO standards ensure a robust and effective food safety management system that is risk-based and focused on continuous improvement. Designated for the different food supply chain sectors, the technical specifications for prerequisite programs ensure a solid base for the primary conditions of food safety.

Yes, it is. FSSC 22000 includes the ISO 22000 requirements fully, so you must meet them, but it is not mandatory to be certified for ISO 22000 first. A company can move directly to FSSC 22000 certification at any time.

However, there are some advantages if your organization already meets ISO 9001. As ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 are both management system standards and the management system requirements are generally very similar, it is relatively straightforward to satisfy FSSC 22000 requirements when ISO 9001 is already implemented.

Plus, combining FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001 leads to an integrated Food Safety and Quality Management System. That is a win for food safety!

Foundation FSSC has released a short instructional video on “How to verify an authentic FSSC 22000 certificate,” which is available on our website.

Watch our instructional video here.

It provides insight to all organizations on verifying the authenticity of an FSSC certificate.

Using the FSSC website and our public register, you can check not only the validity of an FSSC certificate but also the status of a CB. Both the register & CB database are free to use.

Check our public register here.

Check our CB database here.

For organizations that cannot meet the FSSC 22000 requirements in one step, we recommend the FSSC 22000 Development Program.

See our FSSC 2000 Development Program page.

The program is a stepping-stone model with staged requirements at level 1 and level 2. It includes a voluntary conformity assessment program conducted by a recognized Assessment Body. Organizations that meet level 1 or 2 are published on our website as conforming organizations.

There is a free requirement and self-evaluation document available.

Check out the document here.