PREVRA FSSC 22000 Certification Checklist: Achieve GFSI-Recognised Food Safety Certification
A step-by-step checklist covering ISO 22000:2018 requirements, prerequisite programmes, and FSSC 22000 additional requirements. Built for UK food manufacturers pursuing GFSI-benchmarked certification.
Why FSSC 22000 certification opens retail and export markets
FSSC 22000 is one of only a handful of schemes fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative. Every major UK retailer — Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons — accepts GFSI-benchmarked certification as evidence of your food safety management system. Without it, you are locked out of own-label supply contracts and increasingly out of branded listings.
The certification process takes 6-12 months for most businesses. The most common reason for first-attempt failure is not food safety but documentation: missing context of the organisation, incomplete internal audit records, and weak management review minutes. The auditor spends more time reading your paperwork than walking your factory floor.
Using this checklist throughout your certification journey
Start at least 6 months before your target certification date. The checklist is structured to follow the ISO 22000:2018 clause order: context of the organisation, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. Each clause has specific document requirements and evidence expectations.
Run at least two full internal audits using this checklist before your certification audit. The first internal audit will reveal gaps. The second confirms you have closed them. Digital SFBB can form part of your operational PRP documentation, providing auditable records for cleaning, temperature monitoring, and allergen management that integrate with your broader FSMS.
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