Implementing a food safety management system (FSMS) is a profound strategic decision that affects all levels of an organization. The most prestigious international standard in Europe is FSSC 22000.
The developement of this management system does not only happen in food-production. It is the responsibility of all those suppliers of the food industry (packaging, labeling, logistics …) to have a FSMS that ensures food safety.
What is FSSC 22000?
It is a standard created by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification (FFSC) that guarantees consumer protection through proper food safety management throughout the supply chain.
As manufacturer of promotional products and labels that come in contact with food, Grifoll has recently modified its FSMS to adapt it to the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
The GSFI recognizes different certification schemes, including the FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) standard to which Grifoll adheres. This standard is based on the ISO 22000:2018 standard for food management systems, widely recognized internationally.
Grifoll has integrated the well-known GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Food Safety management under the same Management System, including the new V5.1 requirements for food safety.
The FSSC 22000 v5.1 additional requirements
FSSC 22000 certification applies to organizations of any size that belong to the food supply chain. Regardless of its complexity, it reaches manufacturers of food and drink, additives or ingredients, animal feed and labelling and packaging.
Since March 21, 2021, important new features have been introduced in the certification process that broaden the scope of the standard. Grifoll is certified according to the new requirements of version v5.1, which include aspects such as warehouse management, product development and verification of PRPs.
What is FSSC 22000 for?
The main goals of this standard are:
- Ensure that an organization consistently provides food or food-contact products that meet applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
- Detect and correct risks associated with food safety.
- Demonstrate with documents to other organizations the reliability of the management system implemented.
Who ensures compliance with FSSC 22000?
The FSSC is a non-profit organization that owns and administers the licenses for certification companies.
There are several consulting firms approved by the FSSC to audit companies’ management systems. These certifiers, of recognized international prestige, issue reports that assess compliance with the guidelines of the standard and propose corrective or improvement actions. At the same time, these firms are audited by FSSC to verify that they operate at the highest level of competence and apply the standard in a consistent and equivalent manner.
In the case of Grifoll, its FSMS is audited once a year by one of these certifiers. This way we continually renew our commitment to food safety, ensuring that our printed products are governed by the highest quality standards.
If you wish, you may see here our FSSC 22000:2018 certificate (Category I – Production of Food Packaging and Packaging Material).
