ISO 22000: What Is It & How Can It Benefit Your Business?

ISO 22000

Introduction to ISO 22000

Food supply chain firms must take steps to guarantee that their methods and products are safe in this day and age because hazardous food can have significant health consequences. Food and food product recalls due to contamination or other issues may be costly and devastating for businesses. Furthermore, many food products are increasingly crossing national boundaries, highlighting the importance of a global food safety management standard. This requirement is met by ISO 22000, which provides organizations with guidelines for detecting and controlling food safety concerns. This blog will provide you with further information on ISO 22000.

Which Organizations Can Implement ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 applies to every company that is involved in or interacts with the food industry or food chain, regardless of its size or position in the chain. Food, ingredient, and additive manufacturers, food transportation and storage firms, and enterprises that subcontract to food-related businesses are all examples of these businesses. It can also be used by businesses that are connected to the food industry but aren’t directly involved, such as those that make food-related equipment, packaging materials, or cleaning supplies.

ISO 22000 Training

ISO 22000 Training helps you obtain a better knowledge of the requirements and guidelines as well as its application to your enterprise. It covers the main principles and practices applicable to all production, storage, distribution, and catering operations. ISO 22000 training is beneficial for all employees of an organization who are implementing a food safety management system that meets ISO 22000 standards. The following are the main levels of ISO 22000 training:

  • ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Training: This is a high-level course that prepares individuals to lead audits in a food safety management system that meets ISO 22000 standards. This training provides you with the necessary expertise to take an audit of other organizations or lead an internal audit of resources, processes, and documentation.
  • ISO 22000 Internal Auditor Training: The main objective of the ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Training course is to enable individuals to conduct internal audits on food safety management systems. This certification training provides you with a pre-requisite for becoming a lead auditor and might also facilitate faster advancement up the ladder in your organization.
  • ISO 22000 Awareness Training: The main objective of this training is to make employees aware of the benefits of having a food safety management system that meets ISO 22000 standards. This course provides employees with the necessary expertise to carry out a successful food safety management system according to ISO 22000 principles.

You can choose any of the three levels of ISO 22000 training as per your requirements. It is also possible to take up all three courses at one time and become a qualified ISO auditor for Food Safety Management Systems.

The Process of ISO 22000 Certification for Your Organization

The following are steps your organization can follow to obtain ISO 22000 certification:

  • Implement your Food Safety Management System: First and foremost, you’ll need to set policies, objectives, processes, and records to track your progress. Second, in order to ensure the control of other processes in your FSMS, the procedures prescribed by the standards must be recorded. This ensures that the ISO 22000 method is carried out according to plan and with management’s approval. Your company should also provide ISO 22000 training to all workers so that they are familiar with all of the ISO 22000 rules and procedures.
  • Conduct Internal Audits: Internal audits based on ISO 22000 are meant to reveal flaws in your Food Safety Management System so that you may address them before they become an issue. Before the third-party audit, the ISO 22000 internal audit report will be sent to external auditors for evaluation.
  • Contact an ISO Certification Body to Conduct ISO 22000 External Audits: External ISO 22000 audits are carried out by a third-party ISO 22000 auditor hired by a certifying organization like IAS. Before the certifying authority may issue ISO 22000 certification, external audits must be conducted and recorded. The goal of these audits is to confirm that your company’s food safety management system meets ISO 22000 requirements.
  • Maintaining ISO 22000 Certification: ISO 22000 certification is usually given for a three-year term. During the validity of your ISO 22000 certification, the certifying authority will perform surveillance audits. Surveillance audits are performed to see if ISO 22000 standards are still being followed within your validity period. An ISO 22000 recertification audit can be completed to extend ISO 22000 certification for another three years.

Advantages of Implementing ISO 22000Standards for Your Food Business

Some of the benefits of complying with ISO 22000 requirements are as follows:

  • Enhanced Productivity: When your company is ISO 22000 compliant, the workforce won’t have to deal with a lot of paperwork. With all ISO 22000 documentation in place and employees accustomed to following processes, you’ll have a more productive workforce.
  • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: With a food safety management system that’s ISO 22000 compliant, you’ll have the added benefit of being able to build your customer’s trust. In addition to ensuring food safety standards are followed, an ISO 22000 certification will make your organization reliable and dependable.
  • Enhanced Protection for Employees: Implementing a Food Safety Management System that’s ISO 22000 compliant will also protect your employees from harm. Because all processes are well documented and under management’s control, you can feel sure that no risks of illness or injury exist within the organization. In addition to this, if any of your workers are injured while conducting food preparation or delivery, the Food Safety Management System will ensure that their medical needs are handled in an organized and well-documented manner.
  • Enhanced Risk Management: In addition to protecting employees from harm, ISO 22000 certification provides added protection against the risk of financial losses through litigation. If a customer is made ill by your food and brings a lawsuit against you, having ISO 22000 certification will help to ensure that the customer is satisfied.
  • Enhanced Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: With an ISO 22000 food safety management system in place, your company’s practices will be thoroughly documented. As a result of this, you can feel confident about being able to meet local regulatory requirements for food safety.
  • Global Recognition: If you plan on selling your food products internationally, having ISO 22000 certification will ensure that your business meets standards in other countries as well. Having an ISO 22000 designation allows you to expand operations globally and make symbolic statements about quality for customers around the world.

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