Danielle Tan
Chief Operating Officer
Review your FSSC 22000 V7 transition priorities, identify implementation gaps and explore relevant consultancy or training support.
If your organization is preparing for FSSC 22000 Version 7, five practical areas are worth checking now: your prerequisite program (PRP) system, FSSC Additional Requirements, food safety and quality culture implementation, packaging design where applicable, and evidence that your food safety controls are working.
Not all these areas are new in Version 7. Changes in the Scheme and the ISO 22002 series mean that existing systems should be assessed before being carried forward from Version 6.
The following five checks help your team identify what remains suitable and what needs attention. Confirm the requirements applicable to your food-chain category, activities and certification scope.
At a Glance: Five Areas to Review
| Area | What to assess |
| PRP system | Map existing controls against the applicable updated ISO 22002 requirements |
| FSSC Additional Requirements | Compare applicable Version 7 requirements with your current system |
| Food safety and quality culture | Assess implementation, measurable results and follow-up |
| Packaging design, where applicable | Review how packaging designs and changes are assessed and approved |
| Implementation evidence | Check that records and site practices demonstrate effective controls |
1. Review Your PRPs Against the New ISO 22002 Standards
One of the significant changes in FSSC 22000 V7 is the adoption of the updated ISO 22002 standards. Food manufacturers use ISO 22002-100:2025 together with ISO 22002-1:2025.
- ISO 22002-100 contains common PRP requirements for the food, feed and packaging supply chain.
- ISO 22002-1 contains additional requirements for food manufacturing.
Before changing your PRP manual’s reference from ISO/TS 22002-1:2009 to the updated standards, assess whether your existing procedures and controls meet the applicable requirements. A reference update alone does not demonstrate that both standards have been addressed.
Key areas to assess:
- Where each requirement is covered: ISO 22002-100 or the applicable sector-specific standard.
- Whether existing procedures and site practices meet those requirements.
- Any missing controls and the evidence available to demonstrate implementation.
Your existing PRP program may remain largely suitable. Mapping it against the new structure helps identify the updates needed.
For more detail, read Nexus Consultancy’s guide to ISO 22002-100:2025 and FSSC 22000 V7 PRP changes.
2. Reassess the FSSC Additional Requirements
FSSC Additional Requirements remain an important part of the certification Scheme.
Many organizations already have controls for allergen management, environmental monitoring, food defense and food fraud mitigation. These sit alongside food safety and quality culture, quality control and other applicable requirements.
Version 7 revises some Additional Requirements and updates how they work with the new ISO 22002 standards. Assess your Version 6 procedures against the applicable Version 7 requirements to confirm what remains suitable and what needs updating.
Use this structure to organize your findings:
Requirement → Existing control → Evidence → Gap → Action required
In practice, this means recording how your site meets each requirement and what evidence supports it. If you identify a gap, note the action needed, the person responsible and the completion date.
Refer to the official FSSC 22000 V7 Additional Requirements when planning your assessment.
Need help deciding what to update?
Nexus Consultancy can help your team assess gaps, plan actions and work through implementation needs.
Discuss My FSSC 22000 V7 Gap Assessment
3. Assess Your Food Safety and Quality Culture Plan
Food safety and quality culture was already addressed under FSSC 22000 Version 6. During transition, assess how your plan is implemented and whether it produces meaningful results.
A plan may include training, awareness activities, posters and staff communication. Assess how these activities support your objectives and what their results show.
Key areas to assess:
- Measurable objectives and clearly assigned responsibilities.
- Participation from relevant departments.
- Monitoring of progress and review of results.
- Follow-up when objectives are not achieved.
Food safety and quality culture needs ongoing participation across relevant departments. Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, HR, Purchasing, IT and other functions may influence its implementation. Assess how the plan is put into practice and monitored throughout the year.
Your assessment should demonstrate how the plan is implemented, monitored and followed up.
4. Review Packaging Design and Change Controls
FSSC 22000 V7 introduces packaging design principles under Additional Requirement 2.5.13(g) for organizations that design primary packaging or packaging material.
Where applicable, consider these principles during product development and packaging changes. They address product containment and protection, shelf-life preservation, reducing food loss and waste, and consumer instructions for handling, storage and preparation. Measures taken must not negatively affect food safety.
The food safety team should assess whether a packaging change could affect food safety, alongside Marketing, Purchasing, Product Development and other relevant process owners.
For changes to a pouch, bottle, lid, film or other primary packaging material, consider:
| Assessment area | What to consider |
| Material suitability | Suitability for the intended food, applicable food-contact requirements and migration risks |
| Product protection | Barrier properties, packaging integrity and sealing performance |
| Conditions of use | Storage and distribution conditions and intended shelf life |
| Food safety impact | New food safety hazards the change could introduce |
These practical checks complement the new design principles; they are not all newly introduced Version 7 requirements.
The key implementation question is: Do we have a documented process to assess and approve packaging design changes before they are introduced?
Review your product development, change-control and packaging-approval processes against the applicable requirement. Read FSSC’s packaging design explanation for further context.
5. Check the Evidence Behind Your Food Safety Controls
Having a procedure does not automatically demonstrate effective implementation. Your gap assessment should examine how controls work on site and what evidence supports them.
For environmental monitoring, where applicable, assess whether:
- Sampling locations are risk-based and testing follows the schedule.
- Results are reviewed and trends are analyzed.
- Corrective actions are taken when needed.
Apply the same approach to allergen management, cleaning, pest management, PRPs, food defense and other relevant controls.
Beyond the document review, examine:
- Records, site practices and monitoring results.
- Verification activities, trend analysis and corrective actions.
- Evidence that controls remain effective.
The key evidence question is: If an auditor asks us to demonstrate that this requirement is working, what evidence can we show?
Start Your FSSC 22000 V7 Gap Assessment Early
Start early so your team has time to understand the changes, address gaps and verify the results before its upgrade audit.
A practical approach is:
Review requirements → Compare against the existing system → Identify gaps → Assign actions → Implement → Verify effectiveness
At Nexus Consultancy, we encourage organizations to focus on what the requirements mean for daily operations. A good Version 7 transition helps your team understand what has changed, identify where existing controls remain adequate and determine where practical improvements are needed.
The earlier gaps are identified, the more time your team has to address them.
If you need help assessing your existing system or implementing changes, explore our FSSC 22000 consultancy support.
If your team needs to understand the updated food manufacturing PRP requirements, explore our ISO 22002-100:2025 and ISO 22002-1:2025 PRP Awareness Training.
Practical Questions About FSSC 22000 V7
Discuss Your FSSC 22000 V7 Support Needs
Nexus Consultancy supports food manufacturers in Malaysia with food safety consultancy and training.
Tell us your manufacturing scope, the areas needing attention and your planned upgrade audit timing. We can discuss relevant gap-assessment, implementation or PRP training support for your team.
👉 Request FSSC 22000 V7 Transition Support
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