Prerequisite programs are programs and practices put in place to address the role the production environment plays in producing safe food products. Many companies have Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) in place; these would be part of the prerequisite programs.

The publicly available specification PAS 220 was developed to provide specific prerequisite program requirements for food processors and manufacturers. The requirements of the PAS 220 must be addressed by companies preparing for FSSC 22000 Certification, and is an excellent document to use to develop PRP programs for any food manufacturer or processor.

The SQF 2000 standard includes requirements for PRPs in the Food Safety Fundamentals found in sections 5 and 6 of the standard. (In the new version 7 that will be coming out soon, the food safety fundamentals will be in the various modules of the standard. Different modules will be designed for different segments of the food industry. For example, module 11 will have the requirements for prerequisite programs for food manufacturers or processors.) See our SQF 2000 Implementation Tools

The requirements of the PAS 220 have also been published by ISO as ISO/TS 22002-1, the requirements in both documents are identical.

In order to prepare for certification you will need to have documentation that specifies how the activities included in the PRPs are managed. Our Prerequisite Program Implementation package provides templates, training, and implementation guidance to assist you in designing and implementing an effective program. These templates, training and guidance are also included in all of our All-in-One Packages for ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and SQF 2000.