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ISO 22000:2018 · FSSC 22000 v7 · GFSI

ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000: when HACCP is not enough

When an export buyer or a multinational asks for a food safety management system, the answer is usually ISO 22000 or its GFSI-recognised sibling, FSSC 22000. Both have HACCP at their core, so a business with a working HACCP system is already most of the way there.

Start with HACCP
01 MeSTI02 GMP03 HACCP04 ISO 22000 · FSSC 22000

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HACCP, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 compared

HACCPISO 22000FSSC 22000
What it isHazard control for a process, to MS 1480A food safety management system built on HACCPISO 22000 plus sector technical specifications and scheme requirements
Management systemLimited: plan, verification, recordsPolicy, objectives, internal audit, management review, improvementAs ISO 22000, plus additional scheme requirements
Prerequisite programmesGMP to MS 1514Selected by the organisation, with the ISO/TS 22002 series as referenceSpecified by a sector technical specification (for manufacturing, ISO/TS 22002-1)
GFSI recognitionNoNoYes
Certified by (Malaysia)MOH or an accredited certification bodyAn accredited certification bodyA certification body licensed by FSSC and accredited

Where things stand in 2026

  • ISO 22000:2018 is the edition accredited certification bodies in Malaysia certify to. A revision is in progress at ISO but has not been published.
  • FSSC 22000 Version 7 was released on 1 May 2026 and becomes mandatory from 1 May 2028. Version 6 stays acceptable during the transition.
  • For MOH export health certificates, Standards Malaysia’s circular 1/2026 says the HACCP elements of a food safety management system must be based on MS 1480, so the HACCP part of your ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 audit should be scoped against it.

Upgrading from HACCP

A working HACCP system already covers the hazard analysis, the critical control points, verification and records, which is the technical heart of ISO 22000. The upgrade adds the management system around it: a food safety policy and measurable objectives, documented control of external suppliers, internal audit, management review and a process for continual improvement. For FSSC 22000, the prerequisite programmes must also meet the relevant sector technical specification, and there are additional scheme requirements on top.

We start from the system you have rather than writing a new one. The gap visit maps what your HACCP system already satisfies and lists what is missing, so the quote covers only the work that is actually left.

FAQ

Questions about ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000

What is the difference between HACCP and ISO 22000?
HACCP is a method for identifying and controlling the hazards in a food process; ISO 22000 is a full food safety management system standard that contains HACCP and adds management requirements such as a food safety policy, objectives, internal audit, management review and continual improvement. A business with a working HACCP system has done much of the technical work ISO 22000 needs.
What is FSSC 22000 Version 7?
FSSC 22000 Version 7 is the current version of the FSSC 22000 certification scheme, released on 1 May 2026. It becomes mandatory from 1 May 2028, and Version 6 remains acceptable during the transition, so certified businesses should plan the upgrade into an audit before that date.
Does an ISO 22000 certificate count for Malaysian export health certificates?
It can, but only where the HACCP elements of the food safety management system are based on MS 1480, according to Standards Malaysia’s circular 1/2026. If you rely on MOH export health certificates, make sure your certification body audits the HACCP part of ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 against MS 1480.
Should I go straight to FSSC 22000 instead of HACCP?
Only if a buyer requires a GFSI-recognised certificate, which is common with global retailers and multinational food companies. FSSC 22000 is a larger project with more demanding prerequisite programmes, so for a business selling locally or to export routes that only need HACCP, HACCP first is usually the cheaper and faster path.

Has a buyer asked you for ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000?

Send us the buyer’s requirement and tell us what you hold today. We will tell you the shortest route from where you are.