Understanding FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management in Canada
In this edition of our 'Specialist Series,' Silvana Susi, our Food and Beverage Services Specialist and Key Customer Manager, delves into the FSSC 22000 standard for food safety management, highlighting its relevance to the Canadian food and beverage industry.
At DNV, we can guide you in achieving FSSC 22000 certification and elevating your food safety standards to the next level.
Why FSSC 22000 is Essential for your Success?
In today's global, and increasingly Canadian, food supply chain, ensuring food safety is paramount. The Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 provides a comprehensive framework for a robust and effective Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
This scheme is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), making it a globally accepted standard for food safety. In Canada, FSSC 22000 aligns well with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which require preventive controls and traceability across all federally regulated food businesses.
(Source: Government of Canada – CFIA: https://inspection.canada.ca)
Improve Confidence in your FSMS: FSSC 22000 offers a science-based structured approach to managing food safety risks, ensuring that organizations can consistently produce safe food products. This is increasingly relevant as Canadian consumers continue to place strong expectations on brands for transparency, allergen management, and recall responsiveness.
Increase Control and Efficiency: By leveraging ISO standards, FSSC 22000 benefits from a harmonized structure, making it easier to integrate with other management systems. This integration supports Canadian organizations operating under multiple frameworks, including CSA Group and Health Canada food safety guidelines.
Enhance Brand Trust: The certification process includes a robust integrity program, leading to reliable audits and certification, valuable in a market where, according to the Government of Canada, food recalls and allergen mislabelling remain among the top causes of regulatory enforcement.
(Reference: Health Canada Food Safety: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-safety.html)
Benefits of FSSC 22000 Version 6
The latest version of FSSC 22000, Version 6, incorporates several key enhancements to further strengthen your food safety management and support your sustainability goals. These updates closely align with emerging Canadian priorities around waste reduction, supply‑chain transparency, and environmental stewardship.
Additional Food Loss and Waste Requirements: Version 6 includes new requirements aimed at reducing food loss and waste, contributing towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This aligns with Canadian government objectives under the Food Policy for Canada, which emphasizes reduced waste and efficient resource use.
(Reference: Government of Canada – Food Policy: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/food-policy.html)
Incorporation of Quality Control and Safety Culture: The scheme now integrates quality control parameters and emphasizes food safety and quality culture, ensuring a holistic approach to food safety management. These expectations match Canadian regulatory directions, where CFIA continues to assess safety culture and preventive controls during inspections.
Enhanced Certificate Authenticity Measures: To aid in certificate authenticity, each certificate now includes a QR code, making it easier to verify the validity of certifications—an important feature for Canadian retailers, importers, and food processors who rely on validated certifications for procurement decisions.
Strengthening Existing Requirements: The scheme has been enhanced with further details in the areas of the use of recycled packaging, product labeling, food defense and food fraud, among others. These topics mirror Canadian industry concerns, particularly within manufacturers in Ontario, Québec, and British Columbia, where packaging innovation and traceability are key areas of investment.
(Reference: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): https://ised-isde.canada.ca)
Ensure Competence with FSSC 22000 Version 6 Training
To fully leverage the benefits of FSSC 22000 Version 6, it is crucial for organizations to invest in training programs that:
- Provide a comprehensive understanding of the new requirements and enhancements,
- Ensure your team is well-equipped to implement the changes and maintain the management system effectively,
- Foster a strong food safety culture within the organization,
- Improve compliance and overall food safety performance.
This is especially important in Canada’s food and beverage sector—one of the country’s largest manufacturing industries—where audit readiness, conformance assessment, and preventive controls are essential for both domestic and export markets.
(Reference: Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME): https://cme-mec.ca)
By staying updated with the latest version of FSSC 22000 and investing in training, organizations can ensure they remain at the forefront of food safety management, contributing to a safer and more sustainable food supply chain.
Contact us to begin your path toward achieving food safety excellence through our Food Safety Training Courses, Self-assessments and other Digital Tools.