CHINA – Foundation FSSC is proud has made a significant milestone in the Chinese market, issuing 5,000 FSSC 22000 certificates to organizations in the mainland.
According to the Foundation this achievement highlights the increasing importance of GFSI-recognized food safety certification in China and solidifies FSSC’s position as the leading third-party certification Scheme provider for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) for the Chinese food supply chain.
“We are thrilled to reach this milestone in the mainland of China. It reflects the increasing commitment of Chinese food businesses to international food safety standards,” Li Yu, FSSC Representative, China Liaison.
“Our success in this market demonstrates the relevance and effectiveness of FSSC 22000 in addressing the traditional and emerging food safety challenges and opportunities in China’s food industry.”
Since 2020, the number of FSSC 22000 certificates in the mainland of China has nearly doubled, with an average annual growth rate of 16.4 % in the past four years.
Developed through extensive consultation with global stakeholders, the FSSC 22000 Scheme includes international and independent standards such as ISO as part of its normative documents.
It provides a risk-based certification model that can be used across multiple food chain categories to contribute to the supply of safe food, feed, and packaging to the consumer goods industry. FSSC 22000 is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and follows the food chain category description defined in ISO/TS 22003.
The milestone is far reaching for certification of FSSC 22000 in the Chinese market highlighting a steady expansion of FSSC 22000 as a globally recognized FSMS certification Scheme and reflects the ongoing commitment to food safety in the “Workshop of the World.”
It’s important to note that an FSSC 22000 certificate may cover more than one operation across various food chain categories. For instance, an FSSC 22000 certificate of one organization may include certifications in food manufacturing and packaging.
According to Foundation FSSC, China, as a major manufacturing hub responsible for a significant portion of global consumer goods, the FSSC 22000 certificates cover more than 6600 operations, primarily in food manufacturing (85%), followed by packaging (material) production by a wide margin (13,8%).
Certifications in other food chain categories such as Animal Feed Production, Transport and Storage, and Catering and Food Service represent low percentages so far but also form part of China’s 5,000 FSSC 22000 certificates and are expected to grow further.
The sustained growth and rising popularity of the FSMS can be attributed to the shift from government regulation to enterprise responsibility in ensuring food safety, alongside the increased emphasis on integrating risk-based management frameworks within China’s food safety regulatory system.
