ISO 22000 Requirements

ISO 22000 Requirements

Are you trying to implement a food safety management system according to ISO 2200 standards in your organization? Not sure of the exact ISO 22000 requirements to be met? This blog will provide you with more information on the ISO 22000 requirements and what you need to do to achieve ISO 22000 certification.

About ISO 22000

ISO 22000 is a recognized international standard that provides guidelines on how to implement an effective ISO 9001 type quality assurance system for food safety in all food-related business transactions. The ISO 22000 requirements encompass the whole food safety management system throughout the supply chain, starting with pre-harvest agricultural production practices to post-consumer monitoring of end products in stores. Overall, ISO 22000 is the international standard that addresses food safety for all organizations in the worldwide food chain, from primary production to final consumption.

ISO 22000 Requirements – Explained

Before your organization can apply for ISO 22000 certification, there are a few ISO 22000 requirements that must be met. The ISO 22000 standard has a ten-clause structure known as Annex SL, which, when taken together, addresses four major areas to meet ISO 22000 requirements:

  • Food safety – the processes and procedures that your company must follow across its supply chain to ensure that food is safe to eat.
  • Management Responsibility – the areas in which your management team should concentrate, participate in, and be held accountable.
  • Resource management – refers to the allocation of resources such as people, infrastructure, and facilities in order to achieve the best potential results.
  • Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement – the final clauses describe how to evaluate if your Management System is performing as intended, allowing you to improve it over time.

A Guide to Meet ISO 22000 Requirements

To get the ISO 22000 requirements right for your organization, the following is a step-by-step guide to establish a food safety management system according to ISO 22000 standards:

  • Define the scope of your ISO 22000 system
  • Establish how you will implement ISO 22000 across your business
  • Put ISO 22000 into practice
  • Document ISO 22000 policies and procedures
  • Train ISO staff and other stakeholders on ISO 22000 requirements
  • Verify your organization meets ISO 22000 requirements through internal audits
  • Maintain ISO 22000 certification by implementing corrective actions as required

Hire a Certification Body to Audit ISO 22000

Once your organization has successfully implemented a food safety management system according to ISO 22000 requirements, it’s time to contact an ISO certification body to verify your processes to achieve ISO 22000 certification. As per ISO 22000 requirements, the certification body will do the following:

  • Stage 1 Implementation Audit: The certification body will conduct an initial audit of your system as per ISO 22000 requirements. During the initial audit, the certification body will ensure you meet ISO 22000 requirements by evaluating your documentation and system processes. If there are any non-conformities, the certification body will notify you and summarize the points in an audit report. Your organization must take necessary corrective action to meet ISO 22000 requirements.
  • Stage 2 Certification Audit: During this audit, the certification body will confirm your organization meets the ISO 22000 requirements by verifying all non-conformities have been resolved. The ISO 22000 certification body will also verify your organization’s system and document ISO 22000 policies and procedures that meet ISO 22000 requirements.
  • Certification Decision by Certification Body: If your organization meets all ISO 22000 requirements at the completion of both audits, then the certification body will issue an ISO 22000 certificate.
  • Surveillance Audits: ISO 22000 certification bodies may conduct additional audits to throughout the validity period of your ISO 22000 certification to verify your meeting ISO 22000 requirements. Each ISO surveillance audit is typically one year apart, but the interval will be determined by your ISO certification body based on its auditing policies.
  • Re-certification Audits: ISO 22000 certification bodies may conduct ISO re-certification audits to verify ISO 22000 requirements are still met beyond the ISO certification expiry date. ISO re-certification audits must occur within three years of the ISO certification expiry date. If ISO re-certification audits indicate ISO 22000 requirements are not met, your food safety management system may be suspended or withdrawn.

Benefits for Meeting ISO 22000 Requirements

ISO 22000 requirements help organizations establish a food safety management system to reduce the risks of hazards, ensuring the organization remains ISO certified. As ISO 22000 requirements are all-encompassing, ISO certification provides multiple benefits for an organization, including

  • Complies with Regulatory Requirements – ISO 22000 is a fully referenced standard that can help your organization meet both local and international rules and regulations.
  • Improves Product Quality – ISO 22000 ensures products meet the customer’s expectations.
  • Reduces Costs and Risks of Non-Compliance – ISO 22000 offers an effective way to manage costs associated with regulatory non-compliance as well as risks caused by product recalls and loss of market share.
  • Enhances Reputation – ISO 22000 helps build consumer confidence by demonstrating an organization’s commitment to a safe food supply

Conclusion

To achieve ISO certification for your food safety management system, it is important that your company meets ISO 22000 requirements. Establishing ISO 22000 requirements and ISO certification for food safety management systems is the first step to achieve ISO excellence and success. ISO 22000 certification provides independent confirmation that your organization meets ISO 22000 requirements, leading to greater customer trust and improved business performance.

For more information on ISO 22000 requirements, please contact us at enquiry@iascertification.com or visit our ISO 22000 requirements frequently asked questions page to learn more!