ISO 22000

ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is a fee based program that intents to globally harmonize requirements within the food supply chain, if recognized by local authorities; FSMS ISO 22000 is a management tool to help in regulatory compliance. Among many global contributors to the development and publication of the standard are the Codex Alimentarious Commission (CODEX), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These operating within the forum of the international confederation of countries known as the "International Organization for Standardization (ISO)".

ISO 22000, equivalent to other HACCP systems, affects organizations within the food chain from farm-to-fork (includes agricultural, processing, catering, packaging... restaurants, cruisers... anywhere and everywhere food is processed, served and handled). This allows all types of organizations within the food supply chain to implement an effective food management system, and may apply to organic and ecological product designation. And ISO 22000 resulting beneficial to organizations worldwide by harmonizing to "one" system rather than numerous... as for regions of operations as well as point of sales. ISO 22000 is written with a structure compatible to other management system standards in the light of ISO 9001:2008 (applying ISO 15161 as guideline) while combining HACCP MS - 21 CFR 110 - 120| Codex HACCP.

To achieve its objective of food safety ISO 22000, needs considering the following:

• Complying with (Codex) HACCP principles and PRPs (e.g. 21 CFR Part 110... 120...) (in Europe for starters 852, 853, 854)
• Fulfillment of legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Harmonizing voluntarily to international management standards
• Provides a specification for requirements that can be assessed and achieve certification, either self declaration or for first, second and third party verification
• Is aligned with other management systems standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001)

The need for safety within the supply-chain is on the rise this leads for food processors to develop HACCP based food safety management schemes. ISO 22000 defines the requirements for organizations opting to meet (and exceed through improving) regulatory requirements for food safety. For ISO 22000 management system certification  - registration fulfilling the requirements of ISO / TS 22003 visit our list of accreditation, conformity assessment bodies and registrars page.

ISO 22000:2005 is the first in a family of standards that includes the following documents:

• ISO/TS 22004:2005, Food safety management systems – Guidance on the application of ISO 22000:2005, providing guidance for ISO 22000.
• ISO/TS 22003:2007, Food safety management systems – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems, providing harmonized guidance for the accreditation (approval) of ISO 22000 certification bodies and defining the rules for auditing a food safety management system - published 15 February 2007.
• ISO 22005, Traceability in the feed and food chain – General principles and guidance for system design and development.
• Food Defense

Equivalent to HACCP MS; partnering with the International Trade Center (ITC), UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) and the WTO prepares a scheme compatible with HACCP MS for large, medium and small businesses and for application within developing countries as well provides a mean for validation of HACCP.

In partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) – the technical cooperation agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) – ISO is also preparing an easy-to-use checklist for small businesses and developing countries, entitled ISO 22000: Are you ready?

Same as ISO 22000, the International Management System Standard ISO/TS 22004 result from the working group WG 8, Food safety management systems, of the ISO technical committee ISO/TC 34, Food products. Includes the participation of 23 countries in the working group. In addition to the "Codex Alimentarius Commission", these included the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union (CIAA) and others.

For ISO 22000 and HACCP fee based accreditation and certification, see official listing.