Food safety is a universal concern and countries all over the world have framed stringent regulations to ensure that the food is safe and of the highest quality for consumption. The International Organization of Standardization publishes ISO 22000 standard that helps the organizations involved in the food supply chain to establish and implement the Food Safety Management System within their food industry. ISO 22000 amalgamate the quality management criteria of ISO 9001 and the safety management criteria of HACCP to ensure the top quality and safety of food at all levels in the food supply chain. ISO 22000 standard also helps organizations in assessing the risks and designing a plan for corrective actions to prevent or mitigate those risks. ISO 22000 certification is proof of a food supply organization’s commitment to providing safe food that does not cause any food-borne diseases or illnesses.
Benefits of achieving ISO 22000 Certification:
- Boosts the image of your food supply business:
ISO 21001 Certification helps to boost your organization’s reputation and builds the trust of the learners and other shareholders through strategic communication. ISO 21001 certification helps your organization to stand out as a responsible provider, ensuring environmental safety.
- Maximizes organizational profits:
You can gain maximum profits by ensuring food safety and quality through implementing ISO 22000 standards. Effective and efficient food supply industry helps in reducing incidences of food-borne diseases that result in liability costs.
- Minimizes food-related risks:
Implementing ISO 22000 food safety management system helps to control the risks of incidents of food-borne diseases that occur in your food supply organization. ISO 22000 Certification is proof that you are providing quality and safe food products.
- Improves your credibility:
ISO 22000 helps to improve your organizational image among the consumers, clients, or other shareholders. And also helps to develop your access to more food chain opportunities across the globe.
- Makes you competitive:
Achieving ISO 22000 helps you to impress your consumers, and other stakeholders with your dynamic approach to maintain food safety management systems and organizational responsibilities.
The Requirements of ISO 22000 Certification:
The High-level Structure of ISO 22000 consists of 10 clauses that revolve around the principle of Plan-Do-Check-Act. This Annex SL document consists of 10 sections, out of which the first three are introductory in nature while the rest seven are auditable and give the requirements for the implementation of ISO 22000 for FSMS. The structure contains some compulsory requirements for effective implementation of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in an organization.
Let’s understand the last seven sections for ISO 22000 standard in detail:
- SECTION 4- Context of the organization:
This section deals with the scope of FSMS in your food supply industry and understanding the needs of the consumers. It reviews all those factors that might affect your food product industry. They may be external or internal and can affect the interested parties such as consumers, clients, contractors, stakeholders, etc.
- SECTION 5- Leadership:
This section highlights the role of top management in the implementation of FSMS. It provides a method of assigning roles transparently to the staff and ensuring smooth communication throughout.
- SECTION 6- Planning:
This includes planning the objectives for your current management system and analyses the risks involved, in order to eliminate those risks. It also involves timely analyzing the food supply processes for a better management system.
- SECTION 7- Support:
In this section, the organization is made aware of the tools, technologies, and resources that are required for the implementation of FSMS. This section demonstrates the requirements as per the standard around competence, awareness, maintenance, and controlling documented data.
- SECTION 8- Operation:
This section deals with operational requirements for the proper food safety management system. It involves determining the requirements for food safety products and services as well as providing an assessment of the existing procedures and compliance to the legal obligations. The key requirement is to perform risk assessments regularly.
- SECTION 9- Performance evaluation:
This section involves monitoring and measurement of the progress of FSMS in terms of food safety products and services. The performance of your FSMS can be regularly assessed through monitoring and measurement techniques. This ensures the ability of your food safety management system in meeting the objectives demonstrated by your organization.
- SECTION 10- Improvement:
This section ensures that your food safety management system is effective. It ensures that your organization is able to meet the changing market demands by continually improving the management system.
How does MSCi help your organization to achieve ISO 22000 Certification?
MSCi (Management System Compliance Incorporation) is one of the leading consultation bodies that help your organization to achieve ISO 22000 certification for food safety management systems by using all the right processes. MSCi provides detailed information about the procedure for achieving ISO 22000 for your food safety management system. It provides guidance to your food product industry for getting ISO 22000 certified management system without any hassle.
MSCi helps the applicant to be well aware of the importance of ISO 22000 in their food safety organization. It helps them to remain competitive in the food chain businesses, including all the efficient and effective processes for improvement in the production and distribution. MSCi aims at delivering effective, practical, and result-oriented solutions for your food safety management system.