Add another European organization to the list of those ignoring EU sanctions against Russia. Foundation FSSC, which oversees the FSSC 22000 food safety certification program, continues to accredit TEST, a St. Petersburg certification body.
Foundation FSSC is based in the Netherlands and is subject to EU law. Worse for Foundation FSSC, the Dutch government goes a bit further and has its own restrictions placed on companies that do business in Russia. In fact, the Dutch Investment Assessment Office “ensures that Dutch businesses cannot exercise rights over companies from Russia or Belarus, or receive any payments from them.”
Foundation FSSC is being paid by TEST in St. Petersburg, so that suggests an outright violation of Dutch law.
I’ve notified FSSC, and their only comment was that they would “share your questions with the Management Board of FSSC and will share an update when available.” That was back in April. They fell radio silent since then, presumably since defending Russia is defensible.
Because of that silence, I’ve filed a formal complaint with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, which oversees such things.
I’m told this isn’t the first time Foundation FSSC was told about their “Russia problem” and then ignored it.
The FSSC 22000 and Foundation are officially endorsed by the IAF, which has claimed to be prohibiting accreditation activities in Russia, but has refused to enforce that mandate. The IAF’s own Chair, Emanuele Riva, continues to violate the IAF mandate — and international law — by allowing his own accreditation body, Accredia of Italy, to continue operations in Russia.
Christopher Paris is the founder and VP Operations of Oxebridge. He has over 35 years’ experience implementing ISO 9001 and AS9100 systems, and helps establish certification and accreditation bodies with the ISO 17000 series. He is a vocal advocate for the development and use of standards from the point of view of actual users. He is the writer and artist of THE AUDITOR comic strip, and is currently writing the DR. CUBA pulp novel series. Visit www.drcuba.world
