Home > FSSC 22000-Food Packaging Manufacturing

Introduction:

The manufacture of safe packaging and packaging materials is a critical part of ensuring the food supply chain’s integrity and safety. The packaging for food and feed has many essential functions: protecting its contents against contamination or damage, leakage or loss, providing a showcase for the marketing of the product to the consumer, and the provision of required product information.

However, packaging can present a risk to the product if using inappropriate or unsanitary components, which may result in the contamination of the product from toxins, chemical migration, or breakages from the use of fragile glass or hard plastics.

The sector is bound by many regulations, and there are a variety of elements to be considered in the production and function of food packaging. Added to this is the broad range of component materials, including glass, plastic, metal, and paper, all of which have their inherent risks.

FSSC 22000 provides a certification Scheme that incorporates an in-depth hazard analysis in a robust food safety management system to control the food safety hazards, minimize risks, and assure the production of safe packaging and packaging materials. The Scheme uses international standards such as ISO 22000 for food safety management and ISO/TS 22002-4, the sector-specific Pre-Requisite Program (PRP) for food manufacturing alongside additional FSSC 22000 certification requirements. With these standards, FSSC 22000 ensures consistent, high-quality audits monitored by an integrity program to measure and maintain performance to deliver safe packaging and packaging materials worldwide.

Scope:

FSSC 22000 is applicable to all organizations that manufacture primary and secondary food and feed packaging and/or intermediate components, such as:

• Flexible and rigid plastics, such as foils, blisters, crates, sachets
• Paper, such as cartons, boxes, sacks
• Metal, such as cans, bottles, boxes
• Glass, such as jars, bottles
• Shipping and transport containers, such as big bags, drums, tanks

Auditing and Certification For The FSSC 22000 Standard:

Certification is aimed at manufacturers of packaging materials made of glass, paper and board, plastic and metal that come into direct contact with food. Certification is aimed at manufacturers of packaging materials made of glass, paper and board, plastic and metal that come into direct contact with food. There is an ongoing certification process, and packaging manufacturers under FSSC 22000 Scope M are required to demonstrate that they are aware of all of the international regulations that affect the product they are producing for a country. Packaging manufacturers are required to maintain procedures in the food safety management system, and provide up-to-date links and references to all relevant regulations.

The certification process for FSSC 22000 for packaging manufacturers consists of these general steps:

1. Manufacturers can sign up for an optional “pre-audit” assessment which is useful in identifying weaknesses in systems and gaining confidence before the official audit
2. The applicant is provided with a proposal based on the size and nature of their organization, and, once accepted, they can proceed with an audit
3. Formal on-site audit occurs – all parts and processes are examined to determine compliance with every clause in the standard. Manufacturers receive a Corrective Action Report at the end of the audit and need to close non-conformities by providing evidence of action to the auditor
4. Full recertification audits are scheduled at intervals that vary with level of certification. FSSC 22000 is the only scheme that has a three-year certification period.

Benefits of FSSC 22000 Certification to the food and feed packaging manufacturing sector:

• An international Certification Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems with the flexibility to cover the entire supply chain.
• Accepted by the industry and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
• Incorporates the international standard ISO 22000 (for Food Safety Management Systems), which includes the HACCP Principles of Codex Alimentarius, with ISO/TS 22002-4 (the sector specific
  pre-requisite programs for food packaging manufacturing) and FSSC 22000 additional requirements.
• Delivers high quality and consistent audits monitored by a robust Integrity Program and assured by approved Accreditation Bodies, Certification Bodies and qualified auditors.
• Enhances transparency throughout the food supply chain facilitated through the international ISO 22000 Standard.
• Provides a common platform for the integration of food safety management with other risk based management systems such as those governing quality management, environmental management and occupational health and safety management.
• Is governed by a non-profit Foundation and managed by an independent Board of Stakeholders.

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