FSSC 22000 Version 6: New Requirements on Culture, Quality Control and Food Waste
Version 6 of FSSC 22000 was published in spring 2023. Audits against it start on 1 April 2024, and all certified organisations must be upgraded within twelve months of that date.
Key points
- Version 6 was published in 2023; upgrade audits run from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
- New additional requirements cover food safety and quality culture, quality control, food loss and waste, and equipment management.
- The scheme adopts the food chain categories of ISO 22003-1:2022.
Why Version 6
The new version incorporates ISO 22003-1:2022, which sets the rules for bodies that certify food safety management systems, and strengthens requirements so that organisations can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
New and changed requirements
- Food safety and quality culture: objectives and a plan with targets and timelines
- Quality control: quality parameters, release procedures and quantity control
- Food loss and waste: a policy and objectives to reduce both
- Equipment management: purchase specifications addressing hygienic design, and risk-based change management
- Allergen management and environmental monitoring: more detailed requirements
Planning the upgrade
Run the gap analysis in 2023, so that the new processes have records by the time of the upgrade audit. The culture plan and the food loss and waste objectives need management decisions, so start with them.