In advising food export operators, a common question is: "We already have ISO 22000 — do we need FSSC 22000 too?" This reflects a common confusion, since the two are closely related but not the same thing.
FSSC 22000 Is ISO 22000 Plus Additional Requirements
FSSC 22000, or Food Safety System Certification 22000, is a certification scheme that uses ISO 22000 as its core, then adds sector-specific technical specifications and additional FSSC requirements — such as food fraud prevention and food defense.
Why Some Trading Partners Specifically Require FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), a collaborative platform of major global retailers and food manufacturers. Many trading partners, particularly in Europe, require suppliers to hold GFSI-recognized certification as a condition of doing business — a recognition ISO 22000 alone does not carry.
A Recommendation for Deciding
For operators selling domestically, or exporting to partners that do not specifically require GFSI recognition, ISO 22000 alone is sufficient to demonstrate food safety credibility. But for operators planning to expand to major global trading partners, planning an early upgrade path from ISO 22000 to FSSC 22000 saves time and cost in the long run, since most of the underlying infrastructure carries over directly.