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Food-safety certification buying guide

ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000: choose the route your customers will actually accept.

Both routes use ISO 22000 as a management-system foundation. FSSC 22000 adds sector-specific prerequisite programmes and scheme requirements, and its GFSI recognition can be decisive when retailers or major manufacturers control supplier approval.

Written and reviewed by Vecta Standards certification specialistsGeneral information, not legal advice

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You can select more than one certification.Which certification do you need?

ISO 22000 is a certifiable international food safety management system standard.

FSSC 22000 combines ISO 22000, applicable sector PRPs, and FSSC additional requirements.

FSSC 22000 Version 7 was released in May 2026 with a defined transition schedule.

01

Let the customer requirement decide

Read supplier manuals, contracts, audit protocols, and approved-scheme language before selecting the route. If a buyer requires a GFSI-recognised programme, standalone ISO 22000 certification may not clear the gate even when the underlying food-safety system is strong.

  • Confirm the exact certification scheme accepted by each strategic customer
  • Check products, processes, food-chain category, sites, and outsourced activities
  • Identify retailer, brand-owner, distributor, and co-manufacturing expectations
  • Separate legal requirements from voluntary certification requirements

02

Understand the implementation difference

ISO 22000 establishes the FSMS requirements. FSSC 22000 certification also requires the applicable sector prerequisite programme and FSSC scheme requirements. The strongest implementation architecture can preserve ISO 22000 as the core while adding the controls required by the chosen scheme.

03

Plan around Version 7

FSSC states that Version 6 audits are permitted until 30 April 2027. Version 7 upgrade audits are scheduled from 1 May 2027 through 30 April 2028. Organisations should confirm their individual audit plan with the certification body and avoid waiting until the final window.

  • Map Version 7 changes to existing controls and records
  • Schedule training, internal audit, management review, and remediation
  • Protect certificate continuity and customer communications
  • Use the upgrade to remove recurring operational findings

Frequently asked questions

Is FSSC 22000 the same as ISO 22000?

No. FSSC 22000 uses ISO 22000 as a foundation and adds applicable sector PRP requirements and FSSC scheme requirements.

Is ISO 22000 GFSI recognised?

FSSC identifies its FSSC 22000 scheme as GFSI recognised. Buyers requiring GFSI-recognised certification should be asked whether standalone ISO 22000 is accepted.

When does the FSSC Version 7 transition occur?

FSSC states that Version 6 audits may continue until 30 April 2027 and Version 7 upgrade audits run from 1 May 2027 until 30 April 2028.

Primary sources

ISO: ISO 22000 food safety management FSSC: FSSC 22000 scheme FSSC: Version 7 key changes and transition

From research to certification

Turn this guidance into an audit-ready ISO 22000 programme.

Vecta converts the commercial, regulatory, and audit priorities in this guide into a controlled scope, implementation plan, evidence system, and certification-body readiness path.

ISO 22000 Food Safety Management

End-to-end ISO 22000 implementation and accredited certification support for retailer approval, food-safety control, and uninterrupted production.

Explore ISO 22000 certification

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Choose the certification route before customer approval becomes the bottleneck.

We will map buyer requirements, scope, food-chain category, PRPs, current controls, and the fastest credible ISO 22000 or FSSC-aligned implementation route.

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