ISO 22000:2018 Certification for Food Safety Management Systems
With a well-structured set of standards, ISO 22000:2018 helps food manufacturers improve measures against food safety hazards, thereby enhancing and increasing the credibility of your organization in food safety.
WHAT IS ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is an international standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for global Food Safety Management Systems. It provides general requirements for food safety management systems to help organizations directly or indirectly involved in the food supply chain in:
A) Planning, implementing, and maintaining a food safety system to provide products suitable for intended use.
B) Planning, implementing, operating, maintaining, and updating the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) to deliver safe products and services suitable for intended use.
C) Complying with local food safety regulations.
D) Providing transparent food safety information to interested parties in the food chain.
E) Demonstrating conformity to relevant interested parties.
F) Seeking certification from external organizations or self-assessment and self-declaration of conformity to this standard.
In Vietnam, the ISO 22000:2005 standard was published on September 1, 2005, and officially recognized as a national standard TCVN ISO 22000:2007 by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
THE ISO 22000 FAMILY INCLUDES:
- ISO 22000:2005: “Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for organizations in the food chain.”
- ISO/TS 22003:2007: “Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems.”
- ISO/TS 22004:2005: “Food Safety Management Systems – Guidance on the application of ISO 22000:2005.”
- ISO 22005:2007: “Traceability in the feed and food chain – General principles and basic requirements for system design and implementation.”
Currently, more and more businesses are implementing the ISO 22000:2018 standard.
WHO CAN APPLY ISO 22000?
The ISO 22000:2005 standard applies to all types of businesses involved in the food supply chain, regardless of size, including:
- Food processing and manufacturing facilities (fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy).
- Livestock and poultry farms.
- Beverage manufacturing facilities: beer, wine, soft drinks, purified water, tea, coffee, etc.
- Food packaging, transportation, ready-to-eat food production, supermarkets, wholesale and retail food outlets.
- Food packaging material manufacturers.
BENEFITS OF ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION
When an organization successfully implements a Food Safety Management System and obtains ISO 22000:2018 certification, it is recognized as having a well-structured system for controlling and ensuring food safety. This facilitates easier access to demanding international markets. Other benefits include:
- Standardizing all management and operational activities.
- Serving as a basis for integrating higher standards such as EURO GAP, BRC, SQF, IFS.
- Reducing sales costs by controlling expenses effectively.
- Minimizing risks of food poisoning, lawsuits, and customer complaints.
- Enhancing credibility, trust, and satisfaction among distributors and customers.
- Improving the overall performance of the organization.
- Easy integration with other management systems (ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 14001).
ISO 22000:2018 CERTIFICATION PROCESS
ISO 22000 certification is highly sought after in the food industry as proof of effective implementation of Food Safety Management Systems. Certification bodies operate under the general principles of ISO and are supervised and designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The certification process follows a structured procedure, including several stages:
Step 1: Registration and Agreement with Certification Body
Once the management system is well-established according to ISO 22000:2018, your organization is ready for the certification audit. You need to agree with the certification body on issues related to certification activities, including submitting a registration form with details such as company name, audit location, production area, and workforce size.
Step 2: Planning the Certification Audit
After receiving the registration form, the certification body reviews the information and prepares an audit plan, including details like audit schedule, location, auditors, and audit content.
Step 3: Document Review and On-Site Certification Audit
Similar to the ISO 9001 certification process, the audit includes two main stages: document review and on-site assessment of production facilities. Auditors examine documents, procedures, and practices to verify compliance with ISO 22000 requirements. The audit results form the basis for certification decisions.
Step 4: Review of Audit Documentation and Certification Issuance
After the audit, the certification body reviews the audit documentation and issues the certification if the organization meets the requirements. The certificate is valid for three years, with surveillance audits at least once every 12 months.
Step 5: Surveillance Audit and Recertification
To maintain ISO 22000 certification, the organization must continue implementing and improving the management system. Surveillance audits are conducted periodically, typically twice (once every 12 months).
COST OF ISO 22000:2018 CERTIFICATION
The cost of ISO 22000:2018 certification varies based on several factors:
- Business Sector: Different sectors have different certification fees.
- Number of Locations: The cost depends on the number of locations involved in the certification process.
- Business Scale: This includes the total number of employees at all locations to be certified.
Typically, ISO 22000 certification costs over a three-year period include:
- Document review and assessment (Stage 1)
- Formal audit and reporting (Stage 2)
- Registration of accreditation marks
- First-year surveillance audit
- Second-year surveillance audit
