New edition of the FSSC 22000 Scheme - version 5 already in May 2019

The FSSC 22000 Scheme  is the world leading, independent certification Scheme for food safety management systems throughout the entire supply chain. The FSSC 22000 Scheme is based on the requirements of the ISO 22000 standard, ISO/TS 22002 (1-6), depending on the nature of activity, and the FSSC guidelines. The standard is approved by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and is considered to be equal to the standards of BRC or IFS.

The Foundation for Food Safety Certification plans to publish a new edition of the FSSC 22000 certification requirements in May 2019 – version 5.

The main reasons for the changes and issue of the 5th version of FSSC 22000 Scheme

• Publication of the new edition of ISO 22000 in 2018
• Incorporation of the list of decisions of the FSSC 22000 Board of Stakeholders into the Scheme requirements
• Compliance with GFSI requirements
• Continual improvement process

Important information about the transition process to the requirements of version 5 of the FSSC 22000

• Audits in accordance with the requirements of the FSSC 22000 version 4.1 shall be only allowed until 31 December 2019
• All FSSC 22000 certificates issued for compliance with version 4.1 shall no longer valid after 29 June 2021
• Transition audits in accordance with the requirements of the FSSC 22000 version 5 shall be carried out between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020
• Transition audits related to the requirements of the FSSC 22000 version 5 (carried out from 1 January 2020) shall be announced audits
• Scheduled surveillance and re-certification audits shall be used as audits of the transition to version 5 of the FSSC 22000
• In exceptional cases, the transition audits can be carried out unannounced, but only if agreed by the certification body with the organization
• The FSSC 22000 certificate for compliance with version 5 can be issued after the audit of the transition to the requirements of version 5 of the FSSC 22000 Scheme closed with a positive decision

Detailed information on changes to the FSSC 220000 Scheme will be provided in separate communications along with the procedure for the implementation of transition audits.