FSSC 24000 Certification - Social Management Systems
Demonstrate safe and fair working conditions, business ethics and supply chain due diligence with an FSSC 24000 audit from SGS.
About FSSC 24000
FSSC 24000 helps your manufacturing and processing sector organization adopt a management system approach that drives continuous improvement to meet social sustainability and performance requirements. The initiative aligns with ISO’s management system approach to help structure, focus and drive continuous improvement in your organization, creating high-impact business systems. It also aligns with ISO’s Harmonized Structure that facilitates integration with other ISO management systems (modular IMS framework). If you have existing management systems, such as FSSC 22000 (food safety) and ISO 9001 (quality management), you can integrate the same approach to achieve social objectives.
Aligned with ISO management systems approach and harmonized structure
FSSC 24000 aligns with ISO’s management system standards to help structure, focus and drive continuous improvement, creating high-impact business systems. ISO’s Harmonized Structure enables easy integration with other ISO management systems like ISO 9001 (quality management), integrating the same approach to achieve social objectives.
FSSC 24000 incorporates the internationally recognized, independent PAS 24000 (specification for social management systems) standard, which includes social performance requirements. PAS 24000 and FSSC 24000 documents are free to download from the FSSC website.
Key benefits
Certification follows successful completion of an audit and enables you to:
- Effectively address human rights and critical social issues
- Implement due diligence in your supply chain management
- Adopt a robust social management system for ongoing improvement
- Identify and manage social risks and opportunities
- Demonstrate compliance with the specified requirements
- Contribute meaningfully to the UN SDGs
A three-year certification cycle
- Start: initial audit (stage 1-2)
- Year 1: first surveillance audit. The first surveillance audit must be completed within 12 months of stage 2’s certification decision date
- Year 2: second surveillance audit
- Year 3: recertification audit. The certification has to be reissued before the end of the three-year certification cycle
Q1. Why SGS?
As a qualified FSSC 24000 auditing partner, we provide extensive experience in the initiative’s requirements. We employ a dedicated team to ensure consistent auditing across the world. With decades of experience in management systems and social audit services, including FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001, as well as actively participating in PAS 24000’s consultation process, we are perfectly placed to support you every step of the way. We are also a founding and full member of the leading industry association, the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA). We have a global network of more than 800 experienced APSCA-enrolled auditors in over 80 countries, available to support your FSSC 24000 needs.
Q2. Who is it for?
Any organization that manufactures or processes items like consumer goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper products, construction materials, machinery and electronics. This includes service provision across the consumer goods industry and associated supply base.
Q3. What is a social management system?
A social management system is a structured framework of policies, processes and procedures that an organization uses to achieve its social objectives, ensuring fair treatment of workers, safe working environments and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Q4. What is the main goal of a social management system?
The primary goal is to define clear roles and responsibilities for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, learning and continuously progressing toward achieving social objectives.
Q5. What is Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)?
FSSC 24000 incorporates the PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking to help identify and control social risks and continuous improvement. This process demonstrates corporate responsibility and helps improve the social management system and performance.
Q6. What are FSSC 24000's audit requirements?
FSSC 24000 audits encompass the social management system requirements of PAS 24000 and FSSC 24000’s additional criteria, focusing on achieving and maintaining social objectives.
Q7. What is FSSC 24000's certification cycle?
The cycle spans three years, starting with an initial audit, followed by surveillance audits in the first and second years, and concluding with a recertification audit in the third year.
Q8. Which companies are excluded from FSSC 24000?
FSSC 24000 does not apply to companies involved in tobacco, fur, fuel, nuclear fuel products, and weapons and ammunition.
Q9. What is the difference between FSSC 24000 and ISO 26000?
ISO 26000 provides guidance on social responsibility but is not auditable. FSSC 24000 is a voluntary, third-party certification scheme focused on labor relations, workplace health and safety, and business ethics.
Q10. Can a food industry business obtain FSSC 24000 certification without being FSSC 22000 certified?
Yes. FSSC 24000 is for auditing and certifying manufacturing and processing organizations (food and non-food), including their related service provision.
The scope applies to the economic sector/activity with the related International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Part 1, Clause 3, Table 1 codes. Both schemes are independent of each other. Certification can be obtained for one or both, as required.
Q11. Does FSSC 24000 certification replace SMETA or Sedex audits?
Partially. FSSC 24000 and SMETA/Sedex cover different scopes, with FSSC 24000 focusing on a robust social management system based on an ISO management approach.
Q12. What are the auditor qualificaion criteria for FSSC 24000?
Auditors must be registered in the Assurance Platform through an FSSC 24000-licensed certification body and meet specific ASPCA qualifications and FSSC 24000 requirements.
Q13. How can the FSSC 24000 logo be used?
Certified organizations can use the FSSC 24000 logo for marketing activities, subject to guidelines provided by their certification body.
