You Must Know About – ISO 22000
ISO 22000 is the International Standard for Food Safety Management Systems. If you’ve heard of it before, you might be wondering what ISO 22000 FSMS is, how it works, and if you should use it.
ISO 22000 FSMS is a management system standard that provides a framework to ensure the safe operation of food businesses. Food safety Risk assessment, measuring performance through critical control points (CCPs), verification, and corrective actions are essential elements of a sound management system.
ISO 22000 also covers all aspects of supply chain management, including suppliers and subcontractors. This ensures that everyone who comes in contact with food has the necessary knowledge and skills to comply with the required hygiene standards. In addition, it provides guidance on good housekeeping, HACCP-based food safety procedures, training programs for workers, and preventive maintenance programs for plant equipment.
ISO 22000 applies to the management of all the operations in an organization that affect food safety. Companies and Organizations that are certified according to ISO 22000 provide confirmation of adequate procedures for products and services provided. It is a general management system standard based on HACCP principles, intended for any organization in any industry where food safety is critical. It was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 207 (Food Safety Systems) and published in MAY 2005 as International Standard ISO 22000:2005. The third version of ISO 22000 was published in2018, ISO 22000:2018.
The standard allows companies to develop and implement food safety plans based on Hazard Analysis Critical Points (HACCP) principles but can be used independently of HACCP. The standard does not specify how to achieve food safety in an organization. It delegates this responsibility to the organization’s management, which can operate under any way of providing food safety that is appropriate for the business. Several companies have published their food safety plans based on ISO 22000 as guides for others wishing to do the same.
ISO 22000 FSMS is found on HACCP principles but does not specify how to achieve food safety in an organization. It delegates this responsibility to the organization’s management, which can operate under any way of providing food safety that is appropriate for the business. The standard does not specify a particular HACCP system or frequency of monitoring.
In addition, the standard allows organizations to integrate all their operations over their supply chain, including suppliers and subcontractors. This ensures that everyone who comes into contact with food has the necessary knowledge and skills to comply with hygiene requirements. The practice of continual improvement is also emphasized in the standard.
The standard applies to a wide range of organizations in many industries. It is not restricted to food and drink production, although it is primarily designed for that purpose. Food Businesses producing non-hazardous food items, such as bakery products that require safety advice, may also find value in the standard. It may be used in other industries producing food items for human or animal consumption.
As with any general management system, the standard will only be adequate if management systems are developed by senior management following a risk-based approach from A to Z, drawing on their experience and knowledge within their particular application.
The standard does not cover all aspects of food safety, nor all the requirements that may need to be met by a business, but instead guides in areas of common interest among many types of organizations. It may be used with other standards where a company has identified specific requirements not covered in ISO 22000. This approach is efficient, allowing businesses to develop a management system according to their particular needs and requirements. Read More…