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ISO has launched the new ISO 22002-X:2025 series, introducing one of the most significant updates in recent years for sector-specific Prerequisite Programs (PRPs). Until now, each sector relied on its own ISO/TS standard. With this new structure, a common foundation document, ISO 22002-100:2025, has been created to define general requirements that apply across the entire food chain. This includes food and feed production, packaging, and related processes. On top of this shared framework, each sector must implement its corresponding updated PRP, such as ISO 22002-1:2025 for food manufacturing, ISO 22002-2:2025 for catering, or ISO 22002-4:2025 for food packaging.

For organizations certified under FSSC 22000, there are no immediate changes. Version 6 of the scheme will continue to use the existing ISO/TS standards. However, the release of ISO 22002-X:2025 is a clear sign that FSSC will transition to these new requirements in its upcoming version 7. This will involve an official transition period defined by the scheme, during which certified companies will need to review, adjust, and update their PRPs to ensure compliance with both the common document and the sector-specific requirements.

This change is not just a technical update; it represents a step toward greater consistency and harmonization across the food supply chain. By creating a unified foundation, ISO is strengthening the link between sectors and ensuring that food safety management systems remain aligned with international expectations and best practices.

Auditors, how do you see the integration of ISO 22002-100:2025 impacting your audit approach and the evaluation of sector-specific PRPs?

The implementation of ISO 22002-100:2025 will render our audit approach more structured. Through the establishment of a common foundation document, auditors will now be able to review the same general PRP criteria across all sectors. This will not only enhance consistency in audits but also allow for a more precise and focused evaluation of sector-specific PRPs.

Although FSSC 22000 continues to rely on the existing ISO/TS standards, it is evident that the new structure will be incorporated in Version 7. Consequently, the most critical task for auditors at this stage is to analyze the alignment between organizations' current PRP practices and the requirements of ISO 22002-100:2025, while simultaneously identifying potential gaps in preparation for the transition.

In essence, this new series represents more than a mere technical revision; it signifies a shift toward a more holistic, comparable, and harmonized system of evaluation within our audit practices.

Best regards,

Ahmet Ziya Ulupınarlı
Food Technology | Auditor | Consultant | Trainer
📞 +90 553 084 99 36
📧 aziyau@icloud.com
🔗 LinkedIn

ISO has launched the new ISO 22002-X:2025 series, introducing one of the most significant updates in recent years for sector-specific Prerequisite Programs (PRPs). Until now, each sector relied on its own ISO/TS standard. With this new structure, a common foundation document, ISO 22002-100:2025, has been created to define general requirements that apply across the entire food chain. This includes food and feed production, packaging, and related processes. On top of this shared framework, each sector must implement its corresponding updated PRP, such as ISO 22002-1:2025 for food manufacturing, ISO 22002-2:2025 for catering, or ISO 22002-4:2025 for food packaging.

For organizations certified under FSSC 22000, there are no immediate changes. Version 6 of the scheme will continue to use the existing ISO/TS standards. However, the release of ISO 22002-X:2025 is a clear sign that FSSC will transition to these new requirements in its upcoming version 7. This will involve an official transition period defined by the scheme, during which certified companies will need to review, adjust, and update their PRPs to ensure compliance with both the common document and the sector-specific requirements.

This change is not just a technical update; it represents a step toward greater consistency and harmonization across the food supply chain. By creating a unified foundation, ISO is strengthening the link between sectors and ensuring that food safety management systems remain aligned with international expectations and best practices.

Auditors, how do you see the integration of ISO 22002-100:2025 impacting your audit approach and the evaluation of sector-specific PRPs?

Ahmet, I completely agree with you: having a common baseline document like ISO 22002-100:2025 not only brings structure, but will also allow general PRP criteria to be verified in a more uniform way across any point in the food chain. This could make audits more comparable between sectors and strengthen conclusions about conformity.

One thing we will likely see is that this approach will streamline audit planning, since the "core" section can be reviewed using a consistent methodology and then complemented with the review of the relevant sector-specific PRP. However, it will also pose a challenge: ensuring auditors are trained and capable of interpreting the common document and its interactions with specific sector requirements in a consistent manner.

I believe it's essential to start mapping the differences between the current ISO/TS standards and the new requirements now, to anticipate changes in procedures, sampling criteria, and evidence collection. That way, when FSSC 22000 releases Version 7, we'll be ready to perform more efficient and comprehensive audits, minimizing surprises for certified organizations.

💬 What tools or approaches do you think will be most effective for training and preparing auditors for the transition to using ISO 22002-100:2025 alongside the new sector-specific PRPs?

The implementation of ISO 22002-100:2025 will render our audit approach more structured. Through the establishment of a common foundation document, auditors will now be able to review the same general PRP criteria across all sectors. This will not only enhance consistency in audits but also allow for a more precise and focused evaluation of sector-specific PRPs.

Although FSSC 22000 continues to rely on the existing ISO/TS standards, it is evident that the new structure will be incorporated in Version 7. Consequently, the most critical task for auditors at this stage is to analyze the alignment between organizations' current PRP practices and the requirements of ISO 22002-100:2025, while simultaneously identifying potential gaps in preparation for the transition.

In essence, this new series represents more than a mere technical revision; it signifies a shift toward a more holistic, comparable, and harmonized system of evaluation within our audit practices.

Best regards,

Ahmet Ziya Ulupınarlı
Food Technology | Auditor | Consultant | Trainer
📞 +90 553 084 99 36
📧 aziyau@icloud.com
🔗 LinkedIn

ISO has launched the new ISO 22002-X:2025 series, introducing one of the most significant updates in recent years for sector-specific Prerequisite Programs (PRPs). Until now, each sector relied on its own ISO/TS standard. With this new structure, a common foundation document, ISO 22002-100:2025, has been created to define general requirements that apply across the entire food chain. This includes food and feed production, packaging, and related processes. On top of this shared framework, each sector must implement its corresponding updated PRP, such as ISO 22002-1:2025 for food manufacturing, ISO 22002-2:2025 for catering, or ISO 22002-4:2025 for food packaging.

For organizations certified under FSSC 22000, there are no immediate changes. Version 6 of the scheme will continue to use the existing ISO/TS standards. However, the release of ISO 22002-X:2025 is a clear sign that FSSC will transition to these new requirements in its upcoming version 7. This will involve an official transition period defined by the scheme, during which certified companies will need to review, adjust, and update their PRPs to ensure compliance with both the common document and the sector-specific requirements.

This change is not just a technical update; it represents a step toward greater consistency and harmonization across the food supply chain. By creating a unified foundation, ISO is strengthening the link between sectors and ensuring that food safety management systems remain aligned with international expectations and best practices.

Auditors, how do you see the integration of ISO 22002-100:2025 impacting your audit approach and the evaluation of sector-specific PRPs?