Difference between FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 - Food safety management

FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 are both food safety management system standards that provide guidance and requirements for organizations to ensure the safety of their food products. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences between the two that are worth exploring in more detail.

Scope:

ISO 22000 focuses solely on food safety management, providing a framework for identifying and controlling food safety hazards throughout the food chain. FSSC 22000, on the other hand, incorporates management system requirements for quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management, in addition to food safety.

Recognition:

FSSC 22000 is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which means it meets internationally recognized food safety management system standards. ISO 22000 is not GFSI recognized, but it is still widely used and accepted by many organizations.

Structure:

ISO 22000 follows the High-Level Structure (HLS) that is used in all ISO management system standards. This means that ISO 22000 has a similar structure to other management system standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, making it easier to integrate into existing management systems. FSSC 22000 is based on ISO 22000 but includes additional requirements specific to food safety.

Certification:

Certification for both standards is achieved through third-party auditing and certification bodies. However, the certification process for FSSC 22000 is more rigorous than ISO 22000 because it includes additional requirements for quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management.

Implementation:

While both standards require organizations to implement a food safety management system, the implementation process for FSSC 22000 is generally more complex than ISO 22000 due to the additional requirements. Organizations that are new to food safety management systems may find it easier to implement ISO 22000 first before moving on to FSSC 22000.

In summary, FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 are both important food safety management system standards that provide guidance and requirements for organizations to ensure the safety of their food products. While they share many similarities, FSSC 22000 is a more comprehensive standard that includes additional requirements for quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management, making it more complex to implement but also more recognized by industry regulators and certification bodies.