In addition, unlike HACCP, food safety management systems that comply with ISO 22000 can be certified. ISO 22000 incorporates HACCP rules and addresses the requirements of many standards (such as BRC, IFS and EU) in a single source.
A big positive feature of ISO 22000 is that it is in line with the standard of ISO 9001: 2008 quality management system, which is still implemented in all types of industries. The reason that food companies are looking for ISO 22000 certification is because this new standard is in compliance with ISO 9001, companies that have ISO 9001 certification can easily obtain ISO 22000 certification.
While food safety is not simply guaranteed by the ISO 22000 standard, by implementing and adapting to the entire food supply chain, consumers can feel more confident that the food they buy – regardless of Where or how to get there – it is safe to eat.
ISO 22000 design
ISO 22000: 2005 is designed to ensure that the food supply chain is not weakly correlated. It does this by specifying the requirements for a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) that combines the identified key elements to ensure food safety to the consumer:
Interactive communication;
System management;
Prerequisite programs; And
Principles of HACCP.
Effective communication – up and down the food supply chain – is crucial in controlling food safety risks. Communication between the company and its suppliers – as well as between the company and its immediate customers – helps to ensure that all relevant food safety hazards are identified and adequately controlled at every step in the supply chain. Communicating with the company’s customers and suppliers about known risks and how to control these risks also helps determine the needs of the customer and supplier. All departments need to know the feasibility and need for these requirements as well as their impact on the final product.
Understanding the role and position of the company in the food chain is an essential part of ensuring effective interactive communication across the chain. A simplified picture of communication channels among members of the food supply chain is shown on the next page.
The most effective food safety system is created, implemented and updated within an organized management system and integrated with the company’s overall management activities such as strategic planning. This provides maximum profit not only for the company but also for its suppliers and customers.
ISO 22000 is in line with ISO 9001 to increase the compatibility of the two standards. Although naturally there are many similarities between the two international standards – the quality standard is the source of the food safety standard – ISO 22000 can be used independently of ISO 9001 or any other management system standard. The company can align its ISO 22000 implementation with the requirements of a related management system, or it may use existing management systems to create a food safety management system that meets the requirements of ISO 22000.
An auditable standard
ISO 22000 is designed as an auditable standard. By comparison, the HACCP program is based on the seven principles of HACCP. There are guidelines and models that a company can use to develop a HACCP program, but there is no auditable HACCP standard. It is not practical to ask companies to have the same HACCP programs; In fact, each company may need multiple HACCP applications for each product line.
One of the reasons that ISO 22000 was developed as an auditable standard was to facilitate its application throughout the food supply chain. This standard applies equally to food manufacturers, food retailers, and every step in between. However, individual organizations are free to choose the methods and approaches necessary to meet the requirements of ISO 22000. Companies that implement the standard must improve their food safety management system over time, regardless of whether they receive certification or not. (Guidelines for its use in ISO / TS 22004 are provided to assist in implementing this standard.)
Note that ISO 22000 is only concerned with food safety. The method provided by this standard may be used with other food issues (such as ethical issues, consumer awareness).
It is also noteworthy that ISO 22000 allows small and less developed companies to implement externally developed control criteria.
The goal of the developers of ISO 22000 was to harmonize food safety management requirements for global food chain business. This standard is especially aimed at organizations that seek a more centralized, coherent, and integrated food safety management system than usual. This standard requires an organization to meet any applicable food safety requirements related to legal and regulatory requirements through its food safety management system.
Copies of the ISO standard
A copy of ISO / FIDS 22000: 2005 – Food Safety Management System Requirements for Every Food Chain Organization is available for a small fee from ISO at http://www.iso.org). You can download it in print or download it from the ISO website in “PDF” format.