ISO 22000
ISO 22000, Food Safety Management System - includes an internationally harmonized set of requirements for use worldwide. The standard has been developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) food industry experts.
The standard is designed to facilitate the implementation of the basic principles of the HACCP system in food hygiene in a harmonized way by world organizations and sets requirements for food safety management systems and brings together well-established food safety elements throughout the food chain to the final consumer, such as:
interactive communications;
system management;
prerequisite programs;
HACCP principles.
Food reaches the consumer through supply chains that bring together different types of organizations and cross countless borders. One weak link in the chain can jeopardize food safety and health. This results in serious threats to consumers and significant losses to suppliers in the chain. As food safety threats can arise at any stage, adequate control throughout the chain is essential.
The standard is designed so that any organization involved in the chain can implement a food safety system. The requirements of ISO 22000 apply to all companies related to the food industry - food producers, agricultural growers, food processing companies, food transporters, storers, traders, catering companies, manufacturers of food equipment, packaging, cleaning and disinfection products.
As this standard has been developed by industry experts, ISO 22000 covers the already known HACCP basic principles, critical control points, as well as basic standards developed by various food wholesalers worldwide in one document.
This standard also extends the successful management system approach to the ISO 9001 quality management system standard, which has been implemented in all sectors but is not directly applicable to food safety. The development of ISO 22000 was based on the assumption that the most effective food safety systems were established, managed and continuously improved within a structured management system and integrated into the management activities of the overall organization.
Although the food safety management system according to ISO 22000 can be implemented on its own, the standard is designed to be fully compliant with ISO 9001. Companies already certified according to ISO 9001 will be able to easily extend their certification and be certified according to ISO 22000. To facilitate this process, the standard includes a table indicating the compatibility of the requirements with the requirements of ISO 9001.