FSSC 22000 Version 6 – The Road to a Smooth Transition
FSSC 22000 certification is a popular option for food safety around, particularly considering its ease of integration with ISO standards and GFSI recognition! Version 6 of the standard is now published and available, and includes a number of meaningful changes that were implemented to increase the efficacy and usefulness of the standard for a variety of organizations.
But why change in the first place? First and foremost was the need to integrate ISO 22003-1:2022, which are requirements for entities providing FSMS (food safety management system) audits and certification. While not a standard applicable to client organizations, ISO 22003-1:2022 contains the criteria necessary for certifying bodies such as PJR to properly conduct audit activities. The updates found in Version 6 also aim to strengthen areas of the standard that may help organizations meet or exceed the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a set of 17 goals standing as an outline to bring about peace and prosperity for people and the planet worldwide. Finally, the updated standard will incorporate the vital feedback received on the survey which was open to input from food safety professionals at large.
Within the updated Version 6, there are several key areas of change, including:
- Changes to and clarification of certification process requirements
- A QR code added to certificates for increased traceability
- Integration of food safety and quality culture requirements
- Removal of Farming and FSSC 22000 – Quality
- Expansion of the scope to include Trading and Brokering (FII)
- Further development of existing additional requirements for allergen management and environmental monitoring as found in Part 2
- Realignment of Food Chain Categories (in line with ISO 22003-1:2022 requirements mentioned above)
The timeline for transition spans a 12-month window, which should allow time for certified organizations to prepare for the new version as well as for certification bodies to implement the necessary changes and achieve accreditation. Version 6 audits will begin from April 1 , 2024 onward, and the cutoff date for participating entities to conduct their upgrade audit is March 31, 2025.
PJR is here to help you during the transition period of FSSC 22000 in whatever way we can! Look forward to new webinar and whitepaper content as well as transition timeline information as it becomes available. If you have any questions about how to prepare for the transition (or if you are looking for a first-time certification to FSSC 22000), reach out to PJR today – (248) 358-3388!