Lead Auditor / Auditor Training Program on Food Safety Management System based on FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Standard

This training is designed to equip participants with advanced auditing skills and a comprehensive understanding of the ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System requirements, sector specific Prerequisite Programs (PRPs) such as ISO 22002 100:2025 and ISO 22002 x series, along with the FSSC 22000 additional requirements. The program also integrates the principles of ISO 19011:2026 and ISO/IEC 17021 to strengthen competence in risk-based auditing, process approach, and conformity assessment. By completing this course, participants gain expertise to evaluate food safety hazards, regulatory compliance, and organizational procedures, ensuring safe products and resilient food supply chains.

This 5-days course is CQI & IRCA accredited training and will be conducted by our experienced auditors and tutors, who have audited and provided training to numerous organizations from diverse industries. They will share their experiences and knowledge on these standards requirements. After successful completion of this course, certificate issued is recognized globally and this course satisfies the training requirements for becoming an CQI-IRCA approved FSSC 22000 auditor.

FSMS Introduction and Process Approach

• Purpose and benefits of FSSC 22000.
• Terms & definition as per FSSC 22000 and ISO 19011:2026.
• Process Approach and PDCA
• FSMS standards (ISO 22000:2018 Clause 1 to 10, ISO 22002-100:2025 and additional requirements).
• Auditing requirements of ISO 22002-x:2025 & FSSC Specific requirements.

Auditing Principle

• Auditing objectives
• Types of audits
• Audit life cycle
• Principle of Auditing

Role and Responsibilities of Auditor

• Audit Programme objectives
• The auditees responsibilities
• The lead auditors’ responsibilities
• Auditors’ qualification and certifications

Role Planning an Audit

• Pre-Audit planning
• Reviewing documentation
• Developing an audit plan
• Preparing checklists or working documents
• Communication factors.

Conducting an Audit

• Opening meeting
• Collecting objective/audit evidence
• Effective interviewing techniques
• Identifying and recording nonconformities
• Preparing for the closing meeting

Reporting Audit Results

• Conducting the closing meeting
• Preparing the audit report
• Distributing the audit report

Corrective Actions

• Corrective action responsibilities
• Follow up scheduling.
• Monitoring corrective action

FSSC 22000 Ver 7.0 Registration

• The registration processes.
• Surveillance audits

Exercises/ Role play (50 % of course Time)

Final Examination: - Only through online examination and MCQ questions.

• Food safety representatives - Strengthen your ability to lead and maintain robust food safety management systems.
• Quality professionals - Enhance auditing competence to ensure compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Consultants and advisors - Gain deeper insights into FSSC requirements to deliver greater value to clients.
• Certification body personnel - Build expertise in auditing against international standards and scheme interpretations.
• Experienced auditors - Expand your scope from other management systems to food safety, adding credibility and career growth.

• Basic food safety knowledge — Familiarity with food safety principles, hazards, and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding ISO standards — Prior exposure to ISO 22000:2018 and awareness of sector specific PRPs (e.g., ISO 22002 100:2025, ISO 22002 x series).
• Audit fundamentals — Knowledge of basic auditing concepts, ideally aligned with ISO 19011:2026 guidelines.
• Management system awareness — Experience with organizational procedures, compliance frameworks, or other management systems (quality, environment, etc.).
• Food industry exposure — Practical understanding of food processing, manufacturing, or supply chain operations to contextualize audit findings.
• Food chain experience — Prior exposure to HACCP, GMP, and GHP practices to understand operational hazards and controls.
• Knowledge of legislation — Awareness of relevant food safety laws and prerequisite programs to ensure compliance readiness.
• ISO 22000 familiarity — Foundational understanding of ISO 22000:2018 requirements and sector specific standards like ISO/TS 22002 1.
• FSSC 22000 add ons — Basic knowledge of additional requirements such as food defense, food fraud, EMP, allergen management, and traceability.
• Compliance mindset — Ability to connect food safety practices with organizational procedures and regulatory frameworks.

• Earn a globally recognized CQI & IRCA Accredited Lead Auditor qualification.
• Develop advanced auditing skills for Food Safety Management Systems.
• Gain practical expertise in ISO 22000:2018 and FSSC 22000 Version 7.0.
• Learn to conduct Internal, Supplier, and Certification audits.
• Improve competency in auditing food defence, food fraud, allergen management, EMP, and food safety culture.
• Enhance career opportunities with certification bodies, food manufacturers, consulting organizations, and multinational food companies.
• Build the capability to deliver awareness and internal auditor training within your organization.
• Strengthen your professional credibility in global food safety auditing

Participants will be assessed throughout the course.

1.     Continuous Evaluation: Punctuality, presentation skills, interactive approach, involvement, role-play, daily tests, etc.

2.     Written Examination: (Open book) online examination with AI proctored at the end of the course.

*Study materials and other materials can be referred to during the exam for reference.

Total Marks for Examination: 80 (Passing Marks – 40), passing marks of 50% in each of the 5 sections is mandatory.

Certification

Participants completing the course will be presented with certificate of TÜV SÜD along with CQI/IRCA mark which is renowned in certification and carries worldwide acceptance. The Lead Auditor course is made in line with international registers and guidelines. Participants who score 70% and above in the continuous assessment and score above 50% marks in final online examination will be issued a certificate of Achievement, while the others will be issued a certificate of attendance.

1. When can I get the certificate?

FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor certification will be issued within 21 working days from the examination date.

2. When can I get the training material and invite?

One day before the commencement of the training program.

3. How do I pay the fees for training and examination?

Online mode

4. What are the benefits of the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor Training Program?

By completing this course, participants gain expertise to evaluate food safety hazards, regulatory compliance, and organizational procedures, ensuring safe products and resilient food supply chains.

5. What is the mode of the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 lead auditor course?

The FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor is available in either mode: Face to Face or virtual.

6. Is VILT a live training, or do I get access to watch pre-recorded videos?

The virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is a live training session where you can interact with the trainer. Pre-recorded videos are not available or permitted.

7. Will I get a refund if I cancel my enrolment?

Yes, the fees will be refunded after deducting an administration fee. (insert refund policy link / STC link, if available).

8. Can the dates of the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course be customised?

The training dates of the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course are published in advance, and a half-yearly calendar is announced. You can let us know your preferred dates for exclusive training by contacting us at (insert link).

9. How does the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor Training help?

The FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor adequately equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct effective audits.

10. To whom is the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course training relevant?

The FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course is most relevant for:

• Food safety representatives — Strengthen your ability to lead and maintain robust food safety management systems.
• Quality professionals — Enhance auditing competence to ensure compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Consultants and advisors — Gain deeper insights into FSSC requirements to deliver greater value to clients.
• Certification body personnel — Build expertise in auditing against international standards and scheme interpretations.
• Experienced auditors — Expand your scope from other management systems to food safety, adding credibility and career growth.
• Anyone desire to understand the FSSC 22000 Version and auditing practices

11. Are there any prerequisites to attending the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course training?

Prior knowledge of FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 related standards  standards is desirable. This FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course is not for filling gaps in the knowledge about the standard, but for enhancing the knowledge about the same with regards to audit context.

12. What is the format of the examinations? 

Examinations are conducted online in an open-book format with remote proctoring. This exam is online and as per CQI -IRCA requirements.

13. What is the duration of the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor certification examination?

The FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor certification exam duration is 1 hour 45 minutes. For any participant having a physical disability that will place the learner at a substantial disadvantage in an online exam situation, CQI / IRCA permits an additional time of 30 minutes to complete the exam.

The online exam must be completed within 30 days from the last date of the course. (For more details, refer the CQI / IRCA Examination Learner guide)

14. How are participants assessed during the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor certification course?

There are two assessment methods:

• Continuous assessment: Participants are assessed throughout the training course for punctuality, presentation skills, interactive approach, involvement, role-play, daily tests, etc.
• Written exam: Participants must appear for an online examination (open book) at the end of the course, which is remotely proctored.

15. What is the passing criterion for a written examination?

Participants must achieve a minimum pass mark of 50 % in each domain and an overall score of 40 marks (50%) to pass the exam successfully.

16. Will I be awarded a certificate for attending the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor training course?

Certificate of successful completion for the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor training course will be awarded only if:

• Participants score 70% and above in the continuous assessment and
• Participants achieve a minimum pass mark of 50% in each domain and an overall score of 40 marks (50%) in the written online exam.

A soft copy of the certificate will be issued.

The Certificate of Attendance:  will be awarded only if Participants who have satisfied the attendance requirement and have not been successful in the online final examination or the continuous assessment component.

17. Is it possible to retake the online FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor final exam? Under what conditions is this possible?

Students who fail the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor course written examination, but pass the continuous assessment, are allowed to retake the CQI / IRCA examination only once within 12 months from the last training date.

However, the students who fail the continuous assessment will not get a chance to retake the final online exam but will have to attend the whole course again.

The online exam must be completed within 30 days from the date of receipt of the exam link. (For more details, refer the CQI / IRCA  Examination Learner guide)

18. Will I be charged for an online FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor exam retake?

Yes, additional charges would be applicable for a retake the FSSC 22000 Version 7.0 Lead Auditor exam, and you will have to contact one of the TÜV SÜD representatives for the fees and exam retake details.

19. What format will the training material be available in?

• For Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT), the training material will be provided in a digital format.
• For Face to Face training, hard copies of the training material will be provided.

20. From where do we procure ISO standards & guidelines?

ISO standards can be downloaded from ISO websites and BIS websites.

https://standardsbis.bsbedge.com/

https://www.iso.org/store.html

21. What discount is offered for Bulk nomination in case of company sponsorship?

A 10% discount will be offered for a group of 3 or more persons..