ISO 22000

An international standard for managing food safety systems in any food business is now available to the whole food industry supply chain. The standard has been developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Officially called ISO 22000, Food safety management systems - Requirements for any organization in the food chain, ISO 22000 is a truly international standard and defines the requirements of a food safety management system for any business involved in handling food or food production-related materials.

This standard has been designed to develop the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 so that the specific requirements of food businesses for effective food safety systems are addressed. It is a standard which is independent of ISO 9001 but has been structured so that companies already certified to ISO 9001 can easily extend their systems to achieve certification under ISO 22000.

The standard includes requirements for a fully developed and implemented HACCP system, as defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, combined with prerequisite programmes (PRPs) to ensure that a managed and auditable system of food safety controls are established. The identification and assessment of hazards that can be reasonably expected to occur in the food chain and within the organisation's process and facilities are key elements of the assessment along with communication of food safety issues through the food chain.

ISO 22000 is intended to define the requirements for companies that desire to exceed the regulatory requirements for food safety and to provide a genuinely international scheme which will unify the approach to food safety assessment.

Who can apply?

A global standard for any business in the entire food chain ranging from primary producers at farm and animal feed levels through food manufacturers, transport and storage to retail and food service businesses. It will also cover inter-related businesses such as packaging, equipment manufacturers, cleaning chemical suppliers etc. ISO 22000 is also for companies seeking to integrate their quality, for example ISO 9001, and their food safety management systems.

Why ISO 22000?

Certifying your food management system against the requirements of ISO 22000 will bring the following benefits to your business:

• A real international standard which is not owned by any national group
• Applies to all organizations in the food supply chain which could help to define food chain-assurance requirements
• Complies with the Codex HACCP principles
• Provides communication of HACCP concepts internationally
• An auditable standard which provides a framework for third-party certification
• Suitable for regulators
• The structure aligns with the management system clauses of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, providing a straightforward route to assure complete food business management systems
• Facilitates communication about hazards with partners in the supply chain
• Resource optimization internally and along the food chain
• Drives development and improvement of business management systems

A systematic and proactive approach to identification of food safety hazards and development and implementation of control measures which has international recognition.

PAI is able to offer a fully accredited assessment against this standard or pre-assessments which will highlight improvements required to company systems to enable compliance with the standard requirements.

To apply for a quotation

Please complete this application form or e-mail janette.parker@thepaigroup.com

Further information can be obtained by contacting Alison Spencer at the PAI Harrogate office, telephone +44 (0)1423 878 878.