It is becoming common practice among organic food brand producers in India to receive double scrutiny from their consumers, regulatory authorities, and the foreign markets where they want to export their products, that is, they must prove their organic nature as well as good food safety management. For organic food brands, FSSC 22000 food safety management has become the certification process that allows for meeting both criteria without making the company choose between them. In this paper, I will discuss the connection between organic food certification and the FSSC 22000 food safety management system and whether it is possible to have two certificates at once.
What Is FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands?
The FSSC 22000 certification is a globally recognised GFSI benchmark based on ISO 22000, ISO 22003 and sector-specific technical specifications (ISO/TS 22002 series). Prerequisite programmes such as hygiene, pest control and supplier management are part of these technical specifications. FSSC 22000 for organic food brands provides organic manufacturers with an additional structured food safety management system on top of those production controls necessary for organic certification such as those provided for by the NPOP or NOP standards.
Since FSSC 22000 is process-based, not ingredients-based, it complements the existing organic production requirements based on the inputs, land management and prohibition list.
FSSC 22000 certificates have a validity period of three years. During each year of the validity period, a surveillance audit is performed by an accredited certification body. This process is not connected to the annual inspection of the organic farm to retain organic status and therefore, a manufacturer who holds both certifications has two independent audit processes running on different schedules.
Organic Food Certification vs FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands: Key Differences
Dual certification requires knowledge of how organic food certification and FSSC 22000 for organic food products are similar and different from one another. These differences have been highlighted in the table provided below.
| Aspect | Organic Food Certification | FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Sourcing, land use, prohibited inputs | Food safety hazards across the process |
| Governing Standards | NPOP, NOP, EU Organic Regulation | ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002-x + FSSC additional requirements |
| Scope | Farm to raw material and labelling claims | Manufacturing, storage, and distribution controls |
| Audit Trigger | Annual inspection by organic certification body | Annual surveillance audit by FSSC-accredited CB |
| Recognition | Regulatory/market claim standard | GFSI-benchmarked food safety standard |
Can Organic Food Brands Obtain FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands Certification?
Yes. One of the most frequent inquiries posed by manufacturers that hold an organic license is whether organic food brands can get FSSC 22000 certification. There is nothing to it because there is no clause in the certification scheme which does not allow organically certified facilities and, in addition, the certification body that conducts the FSSC 22000 audit is usually not related to the organic certifying agency so the audits occur independently of each other.
In actuality, organic producers that keep track of their traceability, batch segregation, and input records in order to meet the organic certification requirements will have a few things in FSSC 22000 that will go smoothly for them because they will only need to write down a food safety management system, conduct a hazard analysis, and fill the gap in some prerequisite programs, such as pest control and calibration.
The certification body that conducts FSSC 22000 audit does not check on the organic certification in any way, while the organic certifying agency does not assess the food safety hazard analysis either. It is exactly the difference in the scope of the audit that makes these two certifications compatible with each other.
FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System Requirements for Organic Manufacturers
There is significant overlap between the FSSC 22000 and organic certification standards for food processing firms. For organic processors that intend to become certified, the following components of the FSSC 22000 food safety management system are important:
- Documented food safety policy and HACCP for all organic products
- Hygiene, pest control, water treatment and maintenance PRPs
- Supplier verification including organic ingredient suppliers
- Traceability and mass balance systems which correspond to the requirements of organic batch segregation
- Allergen control and avoidance of cross contamination with non-organic items
- Food defense and food fraud risk assessment
- Organic compliant management reviews and internal audits
These are mostly documentation requirements and process control requirements and not changes in production and sourcing practices, which explains why organic producers seldom have to change their organic inputs to meet the FSSC 22000 standards. This entails creating more formal record keeping processes, training the employees on hazard based thinking and improving the prerequisite programs within the current organic supply chain.
Dual Food Certification Compliance: Holding Organic and FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands Together
Dual food certification compliance is attainable when an organization considers organic and FSSC standards as overlapping components of one management system and not as two independent programs. An organization may have Organic as well as FSSC 22000 certification as long as there is alignment of documentation, segregation and audit calendars. Some recommended actions are:
- Having one combined document control system that relates to both standards
- Having one traceability record system for organic segregation and FSSC lot controls
- Scheduling internal audits such that organic and FSSC surveillance visits do not clash
- Training employees on both organic segregation guidelines and FSSC PRP guidelines
- Having one food safety and compliance officer responsible for both certification systems
Those facilities which handle both types of products in the same building have one additional challenge, because FSSC 22000 calls for documented measures to protect against cross-contact contamination, and organic certification calls for segregation either physically or by time. When both criteria apply, the best way is to develop segregation instructions only once and then refer to them from both systems of management.
Benefits of FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands Certification
Benefits that organic companies can expect from the implementation of the FSSC 22000 food safety management system go beyond meeting regulations:
- Boosted confidence in consumers in regard to exports needing GFSI-certified certification
- Decreased risk of having their products recalled as a result of hazard analysis and food fraud prevention
- Access to retail and institutional distribution channels requiring food safety certification
- Consistent management of inputs used for organic production through supplier verification
- Defensible documentation of the organic process and food safety standards
When marketing to the European Union, the United States, and the Middle East, the requirement for FSSC 22000 certification is becoming an additional criterion that must be met in conjunction with organic documentation. Having both types of certificates allows you to prove that your organic statements are supported by a food safety system that is already known internationally, thus accelerating the process of vendor approval and audit elimination.
Steps to Implement FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands Certification
Organic Manufacturers normally go through the following steps when implementing FSSC 22000 on top of the existing organic certification.
| Feature | Traditional HACCP | FSSC 22000 for Fruit & Vegetable Processing Units |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Processing stage only | Farm to fork, including pre-harvest |
| Standard Base | Codex Alimentarius | ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002-1 + FSSC Add-ons |
| Certification | Not globally recognised | GFSI-benchmarked, globally accepted |
| Supplier Management | Optional | Mandatory supplier approval program |
| Food Fraud | Not addressed | Vulnerability assessment required |
Common Challenges When Combining Organic and FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands
- Handling two distinct audit schedules for the two certification schemes
- Avoiding cross-contamination of organic products and conventional products in one facility
- Setting up an official HACCP system where there was only an unofficial system for organic
- Allocating budget for two certification/surveillance audits
- Training small groups to deal with both the requirements of organic segregation and FSSC
The majority of these problems are more related to lack of resources and coordination rather than any technological conflicts between these two standards. It is easy for small and medium organic companies that have done their budget planning and staff training for the next year to manage this task.
Is FSSC 22000 Required for Organic Food Manufacturers?
The need for FSSC 22000 for organic food manufacturers is something that depends on the market and not on any law. There is no law requiring the FSSC 22000 as part of the licence of being organic to be valid. However, most private purchasers, large retailers, and export business will regard FSSC 22000 as necessary since it is benchmarked against GFSI and gives the purchaser peace of mind that food safety risks are being managed properly irrespective of the organic nature of the ingredients.
Manufacturers dealing with domestic retail sales and direct sales will not feel the immediate need to get certified. For those dealing with modern trade, exports, or private label business, they will eventually have FSSC 22000 demanded at some point during their qualification process as vendors.
Key Takeaways
- Organic food brand certifications based on FSSC 22000 will be compatible with organic certification
- The food safety management system of FSSC 22000 will improve process control which is not entirely covered by organic standards
- Integrated certification of food involves the use of common documentation and traceability
- Export and buyers’ reputation of organic producers will improve through FSSC 22000 certification
- The gap analysis of existing organic controls is the quickest way of becoming FSSC 22000 compliant
FAQs on FSSC 22000 for Organic Food Brands
Can organic food brands obtain FSSC 22000 certification?
Of course, organic products can be FSSC 22000-certified because there is no prohibition on organically certified companies.
What are the FSSC 22000 and organic certification requirements for food manufacturers?
The requirements of FSSC 22000 and organic certification for food producers are not conflicting and address different issues: food safety hazards and organic ingredient validation.
Can a company hold both Organic and FSSC 22000 certifications?
Yes, a company may have both certificates since the two standards are separately audited and fully compatible.
Is FSSC 22000 required for organic food manufacturers?
Although FSSC 22000 is not a mandatory requirement for organic food producers, it is expected by many purchasers and exporting countries to assure the quality and safety of food.
Does organic certification cover food safety hazards addressed by FSSC 22000?
No, organic certification does not provide for food safety hazard prevention, its scope relates to inputs’ sources and land management..
How long does it take to add FSSC 22000 to an existing organic certification?
Most organic producers manage to implement FSSC 22000 within three to five months.
Does FSSC 22000 certification affect organic labelling claims?
No, the implementation of FSSC 22000 has no effect on the labeling of organic food products.
