In brief
- A certification bears on the production system, not on the recipe: FSSC 22000 says nothing about the almond content of a marzipan.
- European Regulation 1169/2011 requires the declaration of 14 categories of allergens, including tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts).
- Four pieces of information are non-negotiable: composition, allergens, control of the site and packaging. They do not necessarily correspond to four separate documents.
- FSSC 22000 version 6 is the version in force, mandatory since April 2025; V6 audits remain valid until 30 April 2027.
- Version 7 was published in May 2026, with an upgrade to be completed by April 2028: check the version cited on the certificate you are given.
- No document replaces a trial: two marzipans identical on paper can behave differently in production.
In the workshop, quality documentation looks secondary until the day it becomes the only thing that counts: an inspection, a customer complaint, a batch recall. An ingredient supplier must be able to establish four points without negotiation: the composition and characteristics of the product, the allergens, the control of its production site and the packaging. Those four points do not necessarily take the form of four separate documents. As a certified manufacturer in Brussels, applying HACCP procedures since 2001 and certified FSSC 22000 since 2021, we set out here what each piece of information proves, and above all what it does not prove.
What does a food safety certification really guarantee?
À retenir : A certification bears on the production system and its control of hazards, not on the recipe nor on the taste quality of the product. That is the most widespread confusion at the point of purchase.
A site certified FSSC 22000 demonstrates that it controls its hazards, its traceability, its production environment, its food defence and its fraud prevention. That says nothing about the almond content of a marzipan or the grain size of a hazelnut crunch: that information belongs to the technical sheet.
Erreur fréquente : A certification logo on a sales brochure is not enough. Ask for the certificate itself: it carries a number, a validity date, a certification body and a scope. A certificate whose scope does not cover the line supplying you does not protect you.
FSSC 22000, HACCP, ISO 22000: who does what?
The three terms designate different levels, often stacked on the same site.
| Standard | What it is | What it brings the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| HACCP | Method for analysing and controlling hazards, a regulatory obligation | The foundation: hazards are identified and controlled |
| ISO 22000 | Standard for food safety management systems | A documented and audited system |
| ISO/TS 22002-1 | Prerequisite programmes for food manufacturing | The conditions of hygiene and production environment |
| FSSC 22000 | GFSI-recognised scheme combining the above with additional requirements | International recognition, required by large retailers |
At Silly Belgium, HACCP procedures have been applied since 2001 through a quality manual, and FSSC 22000 certification was obtained in 2021. The detail appears on our page on craftsmanship and quality.
Where does the FSSC 22000 standard stand in 2026?
Version 6 is the version in force, mandatory since 1 April 2025, and audits carried out under that version remain valid until 30 April 2027.
Version 7 was published by the Foundation FSSC in May 2026. It strengthens prerequisite programmes, allergen management, food safety culture and the integration of sustainability requirements. Certified organisations must complete their upgrade audit to version 7 by April 2028.
Recommandation : In practice, for a buyer in 2026: check which version is cited on the certificate you are given, and on what date it expires. A valid V6 certificate is perfectly acceptable. A certificate with no version stated, or an expired one, is not.
Which allergens concern confectionery ingredients?
European regulation 1169/2011 requires the declaration of 14 categories of allergens, including tree nuts, which cover almonds and hazelnuts. That is the central category for a manufacturer of marzipan or hazelnut crunch.
The table below gives general examples from the confectionery sector. It describes no site in particular: every manufacturer has its own allergen profile, and that is precisely what its declaration must establish.
| Allergen | Where you meet it in confectionery, by way of example |
|---|---|
| Tree nuts | Almonds and hazelnuts: the heart of marzipan and hazelnut crunch |
| Peanuts | Certain lines of spreads and confectionery |
| Milk | Milk chocolate, creams, some coatings |
| Soya | Lecithin in chocolate couvertures |
| Gluten | Flours, biscuits, decorations |
| Sesame | Nougats and oriental confectionery |
Le saviez-vous ? : At Silly Belgium, the only allergens present on the production site are almonds and hazelnuts. Our marzipan contains no gluten and its recipe is vegan. The other allergens listed above appear as examples from the sector, not from our production.
A point often misunderstood: the statement « may contain traces of » does not fall under the same regulatory obligation as the ingredient list. It is voluntary information arising from the manufacturer's risk analysis. Hence the importance of obtaining a formal allergen declaration, and not only the label.
What information should you obtain before the first order?
Four pieces of information are non-negotiable, and they do not necessarily correspond to four separate documents. A supplier who keeps you waiting for them is announcing how it will handle a complaint.
| Information | What it must establish | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Composition and characteristics | Contents, grain size, texture, storage conditions and shelf life | Commits the supplier to what is delivered |
| Allergens | Allergens present and cross-contamination risks | The basis of your own labelling |
| Control of the production site | Certificate number, scope, version of the scheme, validity | Proves control of the production system |
| Packaging | Formats, weights, palletisation, contact materials | Secures logistics and storage |
With us, those four points are spread across two documents: the product technical data sheet covers composition, allergens and packaging, while the FSSC 22000 certificate covers the production site. What matters is not the number of documents but the fact that the four points are established in writing, reference by reference.
Add to that, where the subject calls for it, the sustainable sourcing attestation. Silly Belgium has sourced Rainforest Alliance Certified hazelnuts since the end of 2021, and makes its attestations available on request.
Beware of the lag inherent to intermediaries: a distributor passes on the documentation of its own supplier, with a risk of an outdated version. This point is developed in confectionery wholesaler and in manufacturer or wholesaler.
Is documentation enough to choose a product?
No. It lets you verify conformity, never taste the product or see how it behaves in your application. That is the limit every buyer eventually meets.
Two marzipans can show the same almond content and very close characteristics on paper, then give a different result in production. European manufacturers do not have the same machines, the same processes, the same raw materials or the same levels of control. At equal specifications, taste, texture, suppleness and behaviour when shaping can vary markedly.
The last step is therefore not documentary. Ask for a sample of the exact reference you intend to buy, at the planned content and grain size, and test it in your own application. The seven criteria for testing a product before ordering are detailed in artisan or industrial marzipan, and the five criteria for choosing a supplier in choosing your pastry ingredient supplier in Belgium.
Requesting our documentation and a sample
Silly Belgium has manufactured in Jette, in Brussels, since 1988: HACCP procedures since 2001, FSSC 22000 certification since 2021, Rainforest Alliance Certified hazelnuts since the end of 2021, the Certified Craft label and the Ecodynamic Enterprise recognition from Brussels Environment.
Technical data sheets, allergen declarations, specifications and certificates are supplied on request, reference by reference. And if you are comparing several suppliers, ask at the same time for a sample of the reference in view through the contact form.
FAQ: quality documentation and allergens
What does FSSC 22000 certification guarantee?
It attests that the site controls its food hazards, its traceability, its production environment, its food defence and its fraud prevention. It says nothing about the recipe or the taste quality: those elements belong to the product technical data sheet.
Which version of FSSC 22000 is in force in 2026?
Version 6, mandatory since 1 April 2025, whose audits remain valid until 30 April 2027. Version 7 was published in May 2026, with an upgrade to be carried out by April 2028. Check the version and the expiry date on the certificate handed to you.
How many allergens must be declared in the European Union?
Fourteen categories, listed in annex II of regulation 1169/2011. Tree nuts, which cover almonds and hazelnuts among others, are part of them and form the central category for a manufacturer of marzipan or hazelnut crunch.
Does Silly Belgium marzipan contain gluten?
No. Our marzipan contains no gluten and its recipe is vegan. The only allergens present on our production site are almonds and hazelnuts, which our allergen declaration establishes reference by reference.
Is the statement « may contain traces » mandatory?
No. It does not fall under the same obligation as the ingredient list: it is voluntary information arising from the manufacturer's risk analysis. Hence the value of obtaining a formal allergen declaration rather than relying on the label alone.
What information should you ask an ingredient supplier for?
Four at least: the composition and characteristics of the product, the allergens, the control of the production site with the number and validity of the certificate, and the packaging. They may fit into two documents rather than four; what matters is that they are written down.
Is a technical data sheet enough to choose a marzipan?
No. It verifies conformity, not suitability. Two marzipans at the same almond content can behave differently depending on the manufacturer's process and raw materials. Ask for a sample of the exact reference and test it in your application.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers
- FSSC 22000 (certification scheme)
- FSSC 22000 Version 6: reference documents
- HACCP: Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC)
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Silly Belgium supplies technical data sheets, allergen declarations and certificates reference by reference, plus a sample of the reference in view. Request through the contact form.
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