PR380: FSSC 22000 Version 7 Lead Auditor
CQI and IRCA Course ID: 2854

Course Overview

This CQI and IRCA certified course teaches you to plan, conduct, report and follow up audits of food safety management systems (FSMS) against FSSC 22000 Version 7, in line with ISO 19011, ISO 22003-1 and ISO/IEC 17021-1.

Duration

5 days (40 hours)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of an FSMS and the business benefits of improved food safety performance
• Explain the auditor’s role in planning, conducting, reporting and following up an FSMS audit
• Plan, conduct, report and follow up an FSMS audit against FSSC 22000 Version 7

Who Should Attend

• Anyone who wants to become a second-party or third-party FSSC 22000 auditor
• Anyone seeking IRCA FSMS Auditor or Lead Auditor certification
• Food safety and quality professionals and HACCP team leaders across the food chain
• Internal auditors and management system consultants

Prerequisites

Before starting this course, you are expected to have the following prior knowledge:

FSSC 22000 Version 7

• Knowledge of the requirements of FSSC 22000 Version 7 and ISO 22000:2018, and the commonly used food safety management terms and definitions as given in ISO 22000:2018, which may be gained by completing a CQI and IRCA certified ISO 22000:2018 (FSMS) training course, or equivalent
• The role of ISO 22003-1 in food safety management system certification
• Awareness of the food chain categories and sub-categories in ISO 22003-1

Management systems

• The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle
• The core elements of a management system, and the interrelationship between top management responsibility, policy, objectives, planning, implementation, measurement, review and continual improvement

Food safety management

• The principles of food safety management, including prerequisite programmes (PRPs) as specified in ISO 22002-100:2025 and the ISO 22002-x:2025 series, and HACCP
• The relationship between food safety management and the provision of safe food products, to prevent or minimise adverse effects on human health and proactively improve food safety performance
• Awareness of common examples of relevant national and local food safety legislation and requirements

Pre-course Assessment

• You must pass the pre-course assessment before joining the course

What’s new in FSSC 22000 Version 7 compared with Version 6

FSSC 22000 Version 7 was released on 1 May 2026. Version 6 audits can take place until 30 April 2027; upgrade audits to Version 7 run from 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2028, and Version 6 certificates that have not been upgraded are withdrawn after 30 June 2028. The main changes are:

• Prerequisite programmes: the new ISO 22002-x:2025 series, including the general PRP standard ISO 22002-100:2025, replaces the ISO/TS 22002-x series
• Food chain categories: a clearer structure of categories and sub-categories
• Packaging design: a new requirement covering sustainable packaging and the reduction of food loss and waste
• Existing FSSC requirements tightened: allergen management, environmental monitoring, equipment management, food defence, food fraud, and food safety and quality culture
• Sustainability: greater integration of sustainability, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Alignment with the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements 2024
• Certification: updated audit-duration rules, stronger auditor competence requirements, and new rules for certification bodies that use AI

This course trains you to audit against FSSC 22000 Version 7, including these changes. Looking for the Version 6 course? See PR375: FSSC 22000 Version 6 Lead Auditor.

Delivery and Assessment

You will be assessed throughout the course through continuous assessment, including practical exercises. You must attend 100% of the course to qualify for the final examination, which you must pass. Upon successful completion, you will receive a CQI and IRCA-certified course certificate.

Why choose Guidance Consulting and Training?

At Guidance, a CQI and IRCA Approved Training Partner, we’re proud to deliver high-quality training that reflects the latest international practice. We’re committed to giving you a complete learning experience that helps you reach your career goals. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools you need to excel in food safety management.

Join us today on the FSSC 22000 Version 7 Lead Auditor course, and take the next step in your food safety career with Guidance Consulting and Training.