GFSI Approves Three New Food Safety Schemes

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March 2, 2010

The board of directors of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) gave full recognition to three new food safety schemes –– FSSC 2200, PrimusGFS and Synergy 22000 –– and maintained the recognition of SQF 1000 Code 5th Edition.

Following an extensive benchmarking process, GFSI approved the FSSC 22000 scheme managed by The Foundation for Food Safety Certification in the Netherlands; PrimusGFS managed by Azzule Systems in Culiacan, Mexico; and Synergy 22000 managed by Synergy Global Standardisation Services in Switzerland.

The benchmarking process was completed using an internationally accepted set of food safety requirements, based on industry best practice and sound science, which are developed through a consensus building process by key stakeholders in the food supply chain, according to a GFSI statement.

FSSC 22000 was recognized “for the scopes of the processing of animal and vegetal perishable products as well as processing of long shelf life ambient products and food ingredients.”
The FSSC scheme is based on the internationally recognized standard ISO 22000 and the British Standards Institute (BSI) specification PAS 220, and integrates additional auditing protocol required to meet GFSI requirements.

The PrimusGFS scheme covers the scope of the supply chain “from pre- and post-farm gate production and provides an integrated supply chain approach.”

“The widespread use of this scheme in the Americas will continue to broaden the reach of GFSI and the enhancement of food safety in the supply chain,” said Jurgen Matern, chairman of the GFSI board and vice president of strategic quality management of Metro AG.

The Synergy 22000 scheme is based on the internationally recognized standard ISO 22000 and the new ISO 22002-1 standard (or the equivalent Synergy PRP 22000 standard, for the same scope), and integrates additional auditing protocol required to meet GFSI requirements. GFSI recognized Synergy 22000 for the scopes of the processing of animal and vegetal perishable products as well as processing of long shelf life ambient products.

Meanwhile, the new SQF Code Level 2, 5th Edition – August 2009 and Modified January 2010 –– was fully recognition by the GFSI board as well.

“By demonstrating the equivalence of the recently published and revised SQF 1000 Code requirements at Level 2 against those of the GFSI Guidance Document Version 5, in the GFSI benchmark process, SQF 1000 will continue as one of the GFSI recognized schemes, working in the area of primary production, having first been recognized back in 2004,” GFSI said in a statement. “The scope of recognition of GFSI covers only the food safety elements of this scheme.”

“The continued recognition of SQF1000 by GFSI is important to end users as it provides ongoing confidence in this scheme,” said Matern. “Now that the SQF revision process is finished and we have the confirmation that it meets our requirements in GFSI, we are glad to see the process demonstrating that our goal of continuous improvement in food safety management scheme is being met over time.”

GFSI, managed by the Consumer Goods Forum, was established in 2000 to pursue continuous improvement in food safety management systems, cost efficiency in the supply chain and “above all, safe food for consumers worldwide.” The Consumer Goods Forum is an independent global network of CEOs and senior management from more than 650 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 countries. The Forum was created in June 2009 through the merger of CIES -- The Food Business Forum, the Global Commerce Initiative (GCI) and the Global CEO Forum.

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