On March 31, 2023, the FSSC Foundation published Version 6 of the FSSC 22000 scheme. FSSC schemes support the consumer goods industry in implementing effective management systems, protecting their brands, and achieving food safety targets. The foundation also aims to help organizations contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The main reasons for an updated version of the FSSC 22000 scheme are:

• Integrating the requirements of ISO 22003-1:2022
• Strengthening the requirements to support organizations in their contributions to meeting SDGs
• Incorporating feedback as a result of the Version 6 development survey, which received nearly 2,000 responses.

Version 6 will have a 12-month transition window to allow organizations to prepare for the scheme, and for certification bodies to implement the scheme and gain accreditation. The first audits to employ Version 6 will commence on April 1, 2024, and all organizations must complete the Version 6 upgrade audit before March 31, 2025. The foundation has published a Version 6 Upgrade Process document which details the transition requirements and a version of the scheme highlighting the changes between Version 5.1 and Version 6.

One of the most significant changes is the addition of requirements on food loss and waste. Organizations must have a documented policy and objectives detailing their strategy to reduce food loss and waste within their organization and related supply chains. The additional food loss and waste requirements support a silo-breaking approach contributing towards SDGs.

The Version 6 scheme documents, the upgrade process, and the outline of the main changes are available for download on FSSC’s website, free of charge.