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What Happens If You Fail to Meet FSSC Version Updates on Time

By August 15, 2025No Comments

What Happens If You Fail to Meet FSSC Version Updates on Time?

If your facility is certified to FSSC 22000, you’ve probably heard about version updates — like the recent transition from FSSC 22000 V5.1 to V6.

But what happens if your company fails to meet these updates on time?

Short answer: It’s not just a delay — it could impact your certification status, legal standing, and business credibility.

Let’s break it down. 👇

🔄 Why Do FSSC Version Updates Matter?

  • They ensure your food safety system stays relevant to global risks and regulatory changes

  • Updates reflect:

    • 🦠 New hazards (e.g., allergens, emerging pathogens)

    • ⚖️ Updated laws or GFSI benchmarking

    • 🌍 Sustainability or ESG-related requirements

  • Required for maintaining GFSI-recognized certification

 

⚠️ Consequences of Failing to Transition on Time

⛔ 1. Certification Suspension or Withdrawal

  • Certifying Body will:

    • Suspend your certificate if no transition audit is done by the deadline

    • Withdraw your certificate if transition still not completed after the grace period

 

📉 2. Loss of Supplier Status

  • Many customers, especially:

    • 🛒 Supermarkets

    • 🌐 Export buyers

    • 🏭 B2B processors
      require a valid, up-to-date FSSC certificate

  • Expired version = not compliant = delisted as approved supplier

 

💼 3. Audit Failures

  • If auditors visit and find your system still aligned to an older version, you may:

    • Fail the audit outright

    • Receive a Major Nonconformity

    • Be forced into urgent corrective action + re-audit

 

🔎 4. Reputational Damage

  • Delays send a message that:

    • You’re not proactive

    • Your system is outdated

    • You’re taking risks with food safety

  • Harder to win new business or pass customer audits

 

💸 5. Financial Penalties

  • Re-audit and re-certification costs

  • Product holds or rejections

  • Possible legal consequences (depending on customer contracts or regulatory ties)

 

📅 How to Stay on Track with FSSC Updates

✅ 1. Follow FSSC 22000 Foundation Updates

 

🧭 2. Know Your Timeline

  • Each new version comes with:

    • Effective date

    • Audit window

    • Last day to audit under old version

  • Plan internal audits or upgrades 6 months in advance

 

🧪 3. Perform a Gap Assessment

  • Compare:

    • Old version requirements

    • New version clauses

  • Identify missing documentation, procedures, or training needs

 

👥 4. Train Your Team

  • Quality, production, maintenance, procurement — everyone should know what’s changing

  • Keep training records as proof during audit

 

🛠️ 5. Update Key Documents

  • Food safety plan

  • PRPs and hazard analysis

  • Management review agenda

  • Internal audit checklist

 

🔍 6. Book Your Transition Audit Early

  • CBs may be fully booked close to deadline

  • Last-minute rush = stress + higher chance of non-conformity

 

🚨 Real-Life Example: FSSC 22000 V6 Deadline

  • 📌 Mandatory transition audits must be completed between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025

  • After March 31, 2025, all V5.1 certificates become invalid

  • Facilities that fail to meet this deadline must start from scratch

🧠 Final Thoughts

Failing to meet FSSC version updates isn’t just an administrative miss — it’s a strategic risk.

If your company wants to:

  • ✅ Maintain global credibility

  • ✅ Meet buyer expectations

  • ✅ Avoid re-certification from zero
    then staying ahead of version updates is non-negotiable.

 

💼 Need Help Transitioning to the Latest FSSC Version?

CAYS Scientific offers:

  • 🔍 Gap analysis for FSSC version upgrades

  • 🧾 SOP and document updates

  • 🎓 Staff training on new clauses

  • 🤝 Liaison with your Certifying Body for smooth audit prep

📞 Contact us today to ensure your food safety system evolves — not expires.

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