ISO 22000:2018 – Joint efforts for food chain security and food safety
By their very nature, whether of animal or vegetable origin, food is vital for the body’s proper functioning. As well as providing energy and nutrients, food is the perfect ally for the metabolic process, directly involved in maintaining quality of life.
We note that in recent years, there has been a growing consumer awareness of food safety, in particular, interest in the quality and provenance of food consumed has increased significantly, which contributes to the awareness of the importance of a safe supply chain that incorporates both elements of good manufacturing practices (GMP) and rigorous hazard analysis (HACCP).
Under these conditions, it is necessary to eliminate all weak points in the food chain, from the farm to the production, packaging and transport processes to the final consumer.
This calls for a clear approach to food safety that makes all links in the food chain accountable.
In a context where food safety requires the effort of every stakeholder in the food chain, from feed producers, to food producers, to transport and storage operators, to retail outlets, ISO experts believe that „all parties involved in the food chain must speak the same language and follow the same rules”.
The standard ISO 22000, Food safety management systems, is an internationally accepted reference in the food sector. Accordingly, ISO has published a comprehensive set of recommendations for users to take advantage of benefits the standard ISO 22000:2018.
Practical guide ISO 22000:2018, Additional food safety recommendations, published by ISO together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization provides detailed and useful information for the food industry to effectively implement a food safety management system in accordance with the ISO standard. 22000:2018.
The guide contains structured information on the implementation of the standard ISO 22000:2018, Management systems for food safety, addressed to organisations directly or indirectly involved in the food chain, with the aim of developing a simple to apply and internationally recognised food safety management system, including information on the certification process, useful to any organisation seeking certification ISO 22000:2018.
Note: the guide ISO 22000:2018, Additional recommendations on food safety, is NOT intended for use by certification bodies for the purpose of auditing organisations applying for or receiving certification ISO 22000:2018.
ISO 22000:2018 Guide, specifies the requirements of a food safety management system, allowing organisations that are directly or indirectly involved in the food chain:
- plan, implement, maintain and update a food safety management system that delivers safe products and services according to intended use
- demonstrate compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- assess and establish food safety requirements and demonstrate compliance with them
- exclude the risk of illness of the final consumer
- effectively communicate food safety issues in the food chain, if any, to stakeholders
With the implementation of ISO 22000:2018 standard, as well as the recommendations listed in the above-mentioned guide, the organisation can benefit from the following advantages:
- ensuring the hygienic quality of products (food safety)
- extension of the shelf life of products
- reducing rejects and customer complaints
- customer and employee loyalty in the company
- improving the company’s image and credibility on the market
- the ability to control food safety hazards
Every organisation, regardless of size and complexity, often needs support and clarification on how to develop, document, implement and maintain a management system. This is why we are convinced that the structure and recommendations presented in the ISO 22000:2018, Additional food safety recommendations, and the complexity and unity of the ISO 22000:2018 standard, Management systems for food safety, will support your organisation’s needs.
Further details on the guide ISO 22000:2018, here.
Further details on the benefits of the standard ISO 22000:2018, here.
