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ISO 22000 Certification

What is ISO 22000 Certification?

ISO 22000 Certification, also known as the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), is essential for ensuring food safety. Failure to maintain food safety can lead to severe consequences, but ISO 22000 helps prevent such risks.

This certification guarantees the implementation of effective processes that consistently deliver high-quality products and services, meeting customer expectations and stakeholder requirements.

Food safety is a global priority, with governments worldwide enforcing strict regulations to ensure that the food we consume is safe and of the highest quality. ISO 22000 certification demonstrates an organization’s dedication to providing food that is safe and free from risks of illness or injury.

Any organization, regardless of size, involved in any stage of the food chain—from production and distribution to retail—can apply for ISO 22000 certification.

What are the Principles of ISO 22000 Certification?

  • Customer Focus – ISO 22000 prioritizes continuous improvement to meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders. This focus helps retain customers, expand the customer base, and ensure communication of their needs and expectations across the organization.
  • Leadership – Achieving quality objectives requires leaders to unify the organization's purpose by aligning strategy, policies, procedures, and resources. This leads to better coordination and efficiency, while fostering a culture of trust, integrity, and accountability. Leaders should provide the necessary resources, training, and authority to empower employees.
  • Engagement of People – Efficiency depends on the involvement of all employees. This principle encourages open communication with staff, sharing knowledge and experiences, recognizing contributions, and promoting continuous learning and improvement.
  • Process Approach – Understanding and executing activities with a clear vision enhances the efficiency of the outcome. By assessing the organization’s capabilities and anticipating resource limitations, the process can be optimized for better performance.
  • Improvement – Continuous improvement is vital for maintaining high performance and driving growth. This can be achieved through regular training, process audits, reviews, and acknowledging achievements. This proactive approach helps anticipate risks and opportunities, leading to better process performance.
  • Evidence-based Decision Making – Decisions should be based on careful analysis of data and past experiences, enabling more effective and efficient solutions. Intuition should complement, but never replace, data-driven decision-making.
  • Relationship Management – Managing relationships with relevant stakeholders, such as suppliers, ensures a stable flow of products and services. This involves maintaining a well-organized supply chain and identifying key relationships that need to be nurtured for mutual success.

Benefits of ISO 22000 Certification

  • Enhanced communication within the organization and improved process management.
  • Assurance of the quality, safety, and reliability of food products.
  • Reduction in costs associated with product recalls due to safety concerns.
  • Strengthened market reputation and increased brand loyalty.
  • Increased confidence in the accuracy and transparency of disclosures.
  • Prevention of foodborne illnesses.
  • Boosted employee morale and engagement.
  • Optimized resource utilization for better operational efficiency.
  • Timely and effective control of food safety hazards.
  • Systematic management of prerequisite programs.
  • Improved decision-making based on a structured framework.

ISO 22000 Requirements

The Annex SL, the High-Level Structure of the ISO 22000 standard, outlines mandatory requirements for the successful implementation of a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) within an organization. These requirements are detailed in Sections 4 to 10 of the Annex SL document, while the first three sections primarily introduce the standard’s scope, normative references, and definitions. The core FSMS requirements are found in the subsequent seven sections.

  • Section 4: Context of the Organization – This section addresses internal and external factors that may influence the organization, affecting stakeholders like customers, clients, contractors, and others.
  • Section 5: Leadership – This section outlines the role of top management in ensuring the FSMS is effectively implemented, including assigning roles transparently and maintaining smooth communication within the organization.
  • Section 6: Planning – This section emphasizes the need for early identification of risks and the development of action plans to mitigate them.
  • Section 7: Support – This section highlights the tools, technologies, and resources required for implementing and maintaining the FSMS within the organization.
  • Section 8: Operation – This section focuses on assessing existing procedures and ensuring compliance with legal obligations. Regular risk assessments are a key component of this section.
  • Section 9: Performance Evaluation – The FSMS’s effectiveness can be evaluated through ongoing monitoring and measurement, ensuring the system meets the organization's objectives.
  • Section 10: Improvement – This section ensures the organization’s ability to adapt and improve the management system to meet evolving market demands.

PDCA Cycle

  • Plan: Identify the goals and objectives that need to be achieved within the organization.
  • Do: Implement the planned actions that will help accomplish the identified objectives.
  • Check: Monitor progress and compare the outcomes against the established standards, policies, and requirements.
  • Act: Take corrective actions based on the evaluation to ensure continuous improvement.

3 Steps to Certification

With the assistance of CyberClad Global, the certification process can be completed in as little as 40 days.

Gap Analysis

  • Assess your management system's compliance with the requirements of the applicable standard.
  • Discuss what needs to be included in the project plan and agree on any remedial actions.
  • Identify any non-conforming areas.
  • Set the groundwork for a project plan.

Implementation

  • ISO certification is a comprehensive process that requires expertise and experience.
  • CyberClad Global is not involved in the implementation or preparation of documents to obtain ISO Certification.
  • To maintain integrity and impartiality as a certifying authority, CyberClad Global does not participate in the implementation phase.
  • Organizations must allocate appropriate resources, time, and effort to implement management systems and procedures effectively.

Certification Process

  • Application Form : Clients provide essential organizational details by completing the application form.
  • Contract Review : The quality team evaluates the client’s specific requirements.
  • Audit : Conducted in two stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2) to assess compliance.
  • Decision Making : The Decision-Making team evaluates the audit results and approves the certification.

If you’re a business, this guide will assist you in obtaining ISO 37001 certification for your organization. After developing your Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS), you should operate it for a period of time, documenting the processes before inviting a certification body for ISO 37001 certification. You will need to complete an application form with your organization’s details. The chosen ISO certification body will review your form and provide a quotation, after which you can schedule your certification audit.

There are six key procedures that form the basis for determining the overall scope of the certification process, as well as the organization’s level of implementation:

  • Proportionate Procedures: The bribery prevention practices must be appropriate for the risks faced and the scope of the organization’s operations. These procedures should be clear, accessible, and effectively enforced.
  • Top Level Commitment: The commitment of senior management, including the board of directors or equivalent, to prevent bribery and foster a culture where bribery is unacceptable.
  • Risk Assessment: A process for determining the organization’s exposure to potential internal and external bribery risks, reviewed periodically.
  • Due Diligence: Procedures to assess individuals performing services for the organization, based on a proportionate, risk-based approach to reduce bribery risks.
  • Communication: Ensuring that bribery prevention policies and procedures are communicated and understood across the organization, including through training.

There are mandatory processes for obtaining ISO certifications. After completing the necessary documentation, follow these steps:

Stage One (Documentation Review): Auditors from the certification body will assess if your documentation meets ISO 37001 requirements.

Stage Two (Main Audit): The auditors will evaluate whether your actual processes align with the documentation and comply with ISO 37001 standards.

If you’re a business owner, this section will guide you through the process of obtaining ISO 22000 certification for your organization. After developing your FSMS, it’s essential to run it for some time and document the process before inviting an ISO certification body for assessment. You will need to complete an application form with details about your organization. The ISO certification body you choose will review your application and provide a quotation. Once this is done, you can plan your certification audit.

There are several mandatory steps to obtain ISO 22000 certification. After completing the documentation, follow these steps to proceed with the certification process:

For the next steps in the ISO certification process, click here.

ISO 22000 Frequently Asked Questions about Food Safety Management System (FSMS)

Achieving ISO 22000 Certification has become more straightforward with advancements in modern systems. The process begins with preparing all relevant company information in a systematic and organized manner. Engaging a legal consultant can make this step easier and more secure. Next, you need to document all critical business processes and related information to ensure everything is properly recorded. Once the documentation is complete, it must be implemented effectively within your organization to align with ISO standards. Internal audits are then conducted, initially during the certification process and subsequently at regular intervals, to assess compliance and system effectiveness. Finally, if the certifying body approves your management system, you will receive the ISO 22000 certification.

The cost of ISO 22000 certification differs between organizations and depends on various factors. When you approach an internationally accredited certifying body, they will evaluate your management systems and processes. Upon approval, they will provide a quotation for the certification. The overall cost primarily depends on your organization’s specifics, including the number of employees, the number of branches, and other relevant factors.

An ISO certificate is typically valid for three years. During this period, annual surveillance audits are conducted to verify that the organization continues to adhere to ISO quality standards.

Receiving an ISO 22000 certification is just the beginning; maintaining it is essential for the effective functioning of your management system. To do so, your organization must undergo annual surveillance audits throughout the three-year validity period. Once this period ends, recertification is required to continue compliance with ISO 22000 standards.

ISO 22000 Certification is crucial for organizations directly or indirectly involved in the food chain industry. It guarantees customer satisfaction by ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality food products, ultimately creating new opportunities for business growth and success.

To begin the ISO 22000 certification process, choose an internationally accredited certification body, such as CyberClad Global, that meets all ISO accreditation requirements. Next, an application will be created outlining the rights and obligations, which will remain confidential between your organization and the registrar.

The process starts with an ISO auditor reviewing the documentation related to the procedures followed in your organization. They will identify any gaps, and if found, you must prepare an action plan to address them. This is followed by initial certification audits conducted in two stages:

Stage I involves the auditors verifying the changes made in your organization to align with ISO requirements.
Stage II is the final audit, during which the auditors thoroughly evaluate your processes.

If all requirements are met, the auditors will compile a report and submit it to the registrar, who will then grant your ISO 22000 certification.