FSSC Development Program

FSSC Development Program

Food safety management for the food manufacturing industry

Food safety management for the food manufacturing industry
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FSSC Development Program
FSSC Development Program
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FSSC Development Program

Small and medium-sized organizations (SMEs) play a significant role in the expanding, global food supply chain. To support these organizations manage food safety, FSSC 22000 offers the FSSC Development Program.


The FSSC Development Program provides a two-level approach to support SMEs in producing safe food. The requirements for each level can be found on the FSSC website. It’s aligned with CODEX HACCP, GFSI Global Markets and the FSSC 22000 structure. As such, the programme is especially suitable for SMEs who want to meet the food safety requirements of their customers today, but may also need a GFSI-benchmarked certification to support increased market access tomorrow.

Which organizations can use the programme?

The FSSC Development Program is suitable for small and medium sized manufacturers of food products and food ingredients. Both manufacturers of ingredients that supply to other food manufacturers and those that supply to retailers and food service organizations can benefit from the FSSC Development Program. This includes but isn't limited to:

  • Artisan food manufacturers and “start-ups”
  • Food product and food ingredient manufacturers in emerging markets
  • Developers of novel foods and ingredients
  • Manufacturers of food products for delivery to restaurants and retail

Benefits of the FSSC Development Program

  •  It’s an easy-to-use programme suited to small-to-medium-sized organizations that want to develop and improve their food safety system and don’t currently require GFSI-recognized certification
  • The programme offers the flexibility for organizations to start at the conformity level that meets the maturity of their existing food safety management system and then remain at their current level, proceed to the next level or pursue full FSSC 22000 certification
  • To support organizations develop and improve their food safety system, the programme includes a self-evaluation tool
  • The programme is aligned with CODEX HACCP, GFSI Global Markets and the FSSC 22000 structure ensuring worldwide recognition and facilitating possible future alignment to FSSC 22000 certification

Supplier assurance programme

The FSSC Development Program’s self-assessment tool can also be used by larger organizations as a foundation document to improve vendor management. Whether or not they make a conformity assessment a requirement, it can help standardize the food safety information collected from SMEs to improve their own supply chain resilience.