12 Dec 2025

Foundation FSSC: Advancing global food safety and social responsibility through trusted certification

Foundation FSSC: Advancing global food safety and social responsibility through trusted certification

In this article, Foundation FSSC discusses its role as the home of the FSSC 22000 and FSSC 24000 Certification Schemes, exploring how they support organisations in strengthening food safety, advancing social sustainability and building more resilient, responsible supply chains worldwide.

Welcome to the world of Foundation FSSC the home of FSSC 22000 for Food Safety and FSSC 24000 for Social Sustainability.

Foundation FSSC is a leading global non-profit and independent Certification Scheme owner. Since 2009, we have been dedicated to continuous improvement of global food safety with our FSSC 22000 Scheme, and in 2022, we expanded our scope to social responsibility with FSSC 24000 certification.

We support the consumer goods industry and related supply chains in implementing ISO-aligned management systems, reaching their certification objectives, and helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through a robust integrity program and an advanced assurance platform, we provide trust and impact to our licensed partners.

Our internationally recognised Certification Schemes, equip organisations with the frameworks they need to manage risks effectively, improve performance, and demonstrate responsible business practices. By setting clear requirements and working closely with Certification Bodies, industry stakeholders, and international partners, Foundation FSSC supports organizations in transforming high-level commitments into verified, measurable actions. 

Ultimately, it’s our mission to create a better world, rooted in building safer, more responsible, and more resilient supply chains that benefit people, business, and society.

https://www.fssc.com/

What is FSSC 22000, and How Does it Strengthen Food Safety?

FSSC 22000 is one of the world’s leading Food Safety Management Certification Schemes, trusted by global brands, manufacturers, retailers, and regulators.

Developed on the internationally accepted ISO 22000 standard and supported by sector-specific Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs), it provides a comprehensive, end-to-end framework that enables organizations to manage food safety hazards and ensures the consistent delivery of safe products.

The Scheme covers all key sectors of the food supply chain, from primary production and food manufacturing to packaging, logistics, transport, and storage, ensuring a harmonized and consistent approach to risk management. Through its structure design, FSSC 22000 helps organizations identify potential hazards, implement effective preventive controls, and continually improve the resilience and reliability of their food safety systems.

Because the Scheme is aligned with ISO’s Harmonized Structure, it integrates seamlessly  with other management systems, such as ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental). This alignment enables organizations to streamline processes, reduce duplication efforts, and embed food safety within a wider operational strategy. Recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), FSSC 22000 is widely accepted by retailers and buyers worldwide as a mark of strong food safety governance.

We see Food Loss and Waste as a matter of raw material efficiency. Through our FSSC 22000 Scheme, we want to enable companies to maximize safe food production and minimize food loss and waste. These concepts are two sides of the same coin that are not conflicting but complementary.

By maximizing efficiency while minimizing waste, we add to a sustainable food system and help create a better world through improving food security and economic viability while reducing climate impact.

https://www.fssc.com/fssc-22000/

What is FSSC 24000, and How Does it Address Social Sustainability?

As global expectations on responsible business practices continue to rise, FSSC 24000 offers organisations a credible, practical, and internationally aligned approach to managing social sustainability. The Certification Scheme is built on globally recognized ISO standards and integrates the core elements of PAS 24000, covering critical issues such as human rights, forced labour, child labour, freedom of association, discrimination and fair treatment of workers, occupational health and safety, building safety, employment and contractual relations, working hours, grievance mechanisms, business ethics.

At its core, FSSC 24000 is built on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) management cycle, a proven model that guides organisations to plan their actions, implement them effectively, monitor performance, and drive continual improvement. By structuring social responsibility in this way, the Scheme not only strengthens effective management but also helps organisations meet growing reporting and assurance requirements linked to sustainability disclosures.

Designed to be scalable across sectors including food, non-food, and consumer goods industries, FSSC 24000 enables organizations to translate their CSRD, CSDDD, ESG, and sustainability commitments into structured, measurable and verifiable performance. By following ISO’s High-Level Structure (HLS), the Scheme integrates seamlessly with existing management systems including FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001, supporting organizations in creating a unified, coherent approach to managing their social responsibilities across operations and supply chains.

Certification to FSSC 24000 carries significant global recognition. The Scheme is accepted by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), benchmarked by the Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI), included in the ITC Standards Map and recognised by EcoVadis giving organisations a credible way to demonstrate responsible practices and enhance trust among customers, investors, partners, and regulators.

All FSSC 24000 scheme and guidance documents are freely accessible on our website, supporting understanding, practical implementation, and continual improvement. This commitment to transparency ensures that organisations of all sizes have access high-quality tools to advance social sustainability in a credible and consistent way.

https://www.fssc.com/fssc-24000/

 


 

 

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