BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000? Which one should I choose?

FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Internationally certifiable Food Safety Management Systems (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, IFS, SQF) have been established to ensure safe food reaches consumers.

HACCP CODEX

Food ingredients, their sources, and processing techniques are constantly evolving. Consequently, hazards arising at various stages of food production can seriously impact the entire industry. Numerous food safety incidents, such as BSE-infected beef, salmonella poisoning in poultry and eggs, high levels of listeria in dairy products, melamine contamination in milk powder, GMOs in food, migration in packaging, and aflatoxin in hazelnuts and figs, have created a domino effect in various countries around the world. HACCP is a systematic approach developed according to the principle of "preventive approach" for identifying risks and implementing relevant measures.

The HACCP system, which emerged in 1959 and envisages the control of hazard analysis and critical control points in food production, gained global acceptance with the publication of HACCP principles in the World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius in 1963 to prevent food safety problems. It has become the foundation of food safety standards (ISO 22000, BRC, IFS, SQF) and legal regulations. Because HACCP is incorporated into the food-related laws and regulations of nearly every country, it has become a required requirement for food import and export. During imports, the importer is expected to ensure and demonstrate compliance with the regulations of the importing country. Directive 93/43 of the European Community mandates HACCP implementation for all food companies within the Community. In Türkiye, the provisions of the Foodstuffs Regulation and the "Regulation on the Production, Consumption, and Inspection of Food," published in the Official Gazette, emphasize the need for food processing facilities to implement good practices and HACCP principles for the product groups they produce. HACCP was included among the mandatory legal practices in the Food Codex in 1997 and published as the certifiable TS13001 standard in 2003. The Regulation on the Inspection and Control of Food Safety and Quality, published under Official Gazette No. 26.09.2008-27009, states that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will officially inspect the HACCP system. The TS13001 standard, which was repealed on April 24, 2006, has been replaced by the globally recognized TS EN ISO 22000:2005 (Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for All Organizations in the Food Chain), which is certified by certification bodies.

ISO 22000:2018

This standard, based on HACCP, first became widespread in the food and packaging industry in 2005 as a food safety management system. It is currently implemented by many companies. It does not specify detailed requirements for prerequisites but merely includes references. Therefore, it is not approved by the GFSI. BRC-IFS-FSSC 22000 can be considered a starting point for companies that have not yet implemented the detailed requirements. It was updated in 2018.

STANDARDS THAT CAN BE CERTIFIED BY ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS (GFSI APPROVED) AND WHICH MUST BE ACCEPTABLE BY CUSTOMERS AT THE SAME LEVEL

- FSSC 22000 FOOD = BRC FOOD = IFS FOOD = FOOD SAFETY

The aim of all standards is to establish a food safety system and ensure product safety. Inspection and certification protocols vary, and some countries and large manufacturers may consider them preferable. Although the goal was to reduce the number of inspections conducted by retailers, the desired success was not achieved.

- FSSC 22000 PACKAGING = BRC IoP PACKAGING = IFS PAC SECURE FOOD SAFETY IN PACKAGING PRODUCTION AND PRINTING

Packaging is one of the most important factors in protecting food and ensuring its safety. Therefore, its cleanliness, chemical composition, and printing are crucial for all the food it will come into contact with. The FSSC packaging standard has not yet achieved the recognition it deserves.

The BRC IoP packaging standard, due to its stringent inspection protocol, inspires greater confidence and is becoming more widespread.

16.09.2020 Fatma İnceoğlu