ISO 22000 - Food Safety Management
What is ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is the international standard for food safety management throughout the food supply chain. From farm to fork, this standard provides practical tools for businesses to promote food safety, quality and efficiency across the entire food industry.
The consequences of unsafe food can be serious. All food producers are responsible for managing their products' safety and consumers' well-being. The international food safety standard is based on a shared understanding of what food safety means, no matter where you are in the world.
ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management Systems requires organisations to adopt a risk based approach to food safety. Now based on the same Higher Level Structure that all ISO management system standards follow, ISO 22000 combines the principles of ISO 9001 for quality management systems and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) with internationally accepted, industry based pre-requisite programs.
ISO 22000 identifies food safety requirements for organisations within the food and beverage industry chain to address and then implement a food safety management system by identifying, assessing and controlling potential hazards to food safety.
Benefits of Food Safety Management System
All participants in the food supply chain, from farmers to manufacturers and retailers, can benefit from the guidelines and best practices contained within ISO 22000 - Food Safety Management. A standardised food safety management system helps you to manage risks, inspire confidence in your food products and contribute to a safer food supply chain.
The benefits of an ISO 22000 certified Food Safety Management System are varied, including:
- Demonstrated due diligence
- Meeting regulatory and customer requirements
- Enhanced company profile and reputation, and stakeholder confidence
- Greater marketing opportunities leading to higher profits
- Enhanced food safety in supply chain
- Minimised risk and food safety related incidents
- Improved food safety performance
- Greater protection from spurious food poisoning allegations
- Food safety culture embedded and employees empowered
- Easily integrated with other management systems.
Why certify your food management system with TQCSI?
It's important to get food safety right. TQCSI has helped thousands of businesses worldwide certify their food safety management system to the ISO 22000 standard.
Our experienced auditors are not just experts in ISO 22000. Because they are local, they are also experts in your operating environment, including legislation, regulation and community expectations. Your local TQCSI team is here to ensure your road to certification is smooth.
Get started with TQCSI anytime
You don't need to wait until your food safety management system is fully implemented. We can help you get started on your journey to fast and simple certification no matter what stage you are at in your food safety management system implementation. Contact your local TQCSI office today.
How to prepare for ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System certification
We aim to make the ISO 22000 certification process fast, simple and hassle-free with minimal disruption to your daily operations. The process will begin with assessing your current systems, processes and documentation. We will then provide you with a gap analysis that identifies the areas that must be addressed to meet the ISO 22000 standard. You can get a head start using the system and documentation guidelines below.
Food Safety Management System Requirements
An ISO 22000 certified food safety management system requires organisations to:
- Understand external and internal issues, and interested parties, relevant to food safety
- Develop a Food Safety Policy – typically one page document declaring commitment to food safety
- Appoint a Food Safety Team
- Develop a Hazard Control Plan
- Develop a FSMS or Management Manual briefly addressing the clauses of ISO 22000
- Implement food safety practices to address the respective pre-requisite program (PRP)
- Develop procedures, particularly for each of the critical control points (CCPs) and operational pre-requisite programs (OPRPs)
- Implement record keeping for monitoring of the CCPs and OPRPs
- Develop and monitor food safety objectives and targets
- Embrace food safety risks and opportunities, and consider the need for a Food Defence Plan and Food Fraud Vulnerability Plan
- Monitor food safety performance
- Plan responses to food safety emergencies
- Ensure staff are competent and understand their food safety responsibilities
- Control food safety nonconformances and take corrective action for significant or repetitive nonconformances
- Ensure internal and external communication of food safety issues
- Implement evaluation and monitoring of external providers
- Implement verification of the Hazard Control Plan and PRPs
- Conduct internal audits of the food safety management system
- Ensure senior management strategically review the food safety management system.
Documentation Requirements
To achieve ISO 22000 certification for your food management system, organisations must consider the following documentation:
- Food Safety Policy
- Hazard Control Plan
- FSMS or Management Manual
- Procedures
- Food Safety Improvement Plan (monitoring food safety objectives and targets)
- Emergency Plan
- Records for OPRP and CCP monitoring
- Registers for nonconformances and corrective action.
Implementing a Food Safety Management System
To achieve ISO 22000 certification, your Food Management System should demonstrate that you can control food safety hazards and ensure food is safe for human consumption. This is achieved through appropriate reporting, documentation and processes.
What is the best third-party certification option for your business?
Click here to understand the key differences and definitions of HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 20000.
Your next steps to TQCSI ISO 22000 certification
To get started with your ISO 22000 Food Safety Management certification, tell us about your business by completing our online form. Your local TQCSI office will be in touch to guide you through the process.
A Trusted Certification Mark in Food Safety Worldwide
The TQCSI certification tick is a trusted symbol that will inspire confidence in your food products. Whether you are a farmer, manufacturer or retailer, people around the world will know they can trust your food safety standards when they see the TQCSI tick next to your name.
Once obtained, this certification mark can be used on all marketing material to promote your ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System certification.
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