ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000

Clarifying two commonly confused Food Safety Systems

At a Glance

Feature ISO 22000 FSSC 22000
Type Management Systems Standard Certification Scheme
Publisher ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Foundation FSSC (uses ISO 22000 as a base)
Scope Food Safety Management Food safety + additional GFSI-recognized requirements
GFSI Recognition ❌Not recognized by GFSI ✅GFSI-recognized scheme
Includes ISO/TS 22002-x? ❌No ✅Yes-includes relevant PRP requirements
Audit Type Management system audit Scheme-specific certification audit
Intended Users Organizations managing food safety risks Organizations seeking GFSI certification

What is ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 is an international food safety management system (FSMS) standard. It’s designed to help businesses identify and control food safety hazards.

It follows the High Level Structure, meaning it aligns with other ISO management standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Organizations can be certified to ISO 22000, but the standard on its own is not recognised by GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative). This may matter if your customers or supply chain partners require GFSI-recognised certification.

What is FSSC 22000?

FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme, not just a standard. It includes:

  • ISO 22000
  • An applicable Pre-Requisite Program (PRP) standard, like ISO/TS 22002-1
  • Additional FSSC requirements (e.g. food fraud, food defence)

Because of this, FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised, making it suitable for many global food brands and retailers who specify GFSI certification in their supply chain requirements.

When Would You Use One Over the Other?

ISO 22000 is an excellent choice if you're looking to implement a comprehensive food safety management system based on internationally recognised ISO principles. It’s ideal for organisations that want a strong, structured system in place—even if GFSI certification isn’t required.

Our ISO 22000 course is designed to guide you through this standard in a practical, accessible way, helping you build real-world skills you can apply directly in your workplace.

FSSC 22000 builds on ISO 22000 and includes extra requirements for organisations needing a GFSI-recognised certification—typically those working with major retailers or manufacturers.

Because ISO 22000 is the foundation of FSSC 22000, gaining confidence in ISO 22000 is a great first step—whether you stay with ISO or move toward FSSC certification later on.

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