ISO 22000 - FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Produce The Best Quality Food
- Safeguard your Employees and Customers by Offering Food That is Safe To Consume
- Establish Yourself as an Industry Leader when Adopting International Standards
- Maintain Quality and Efficiency with Effective Management Structures In Place
ISO 22000 overview
ISO 22000 is an international standard which specifies requirements for food safety management systems. Regardless of your business’s size or complexity, gaining and maintaining ISO 22000 certification shows that your organisation is vigilant with delivering safe and superior food products, as well as reducing workplace risks through safe food preparation practices. Using a holistic approach, this standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing health risks related to common allergens and foodborne illnesses.
ISO 22000 Benefits
Food safety is of global concern. Businesses want to keep food preparation hazard free and consumers are rightly concerned with the degree of safety of the food they consume. Being an aspect which affects everyone in one way or another, gaining and maintaining ISO 22000 certification can be highly beneficial for your business. Designed to help businesses produce safe-to-consume food in a risk-free manner, these are a few benefits that this standard can bring to your organisation:
Increased Reputation and Credibility
Demonstrates Overall Efficiency
Demonstrates Continuous Improvement
Safer Food to Consume
Lower insurance premiums
Industries
As this standard’s distinct focus is the safe handling of food, industries within the food supply chain are sure to benefit from becoming ISO 22000 certified. In fact, without restricting itself to fixed requirements and mandates for each industry, ISO 22000 is designed to assist a wide range of organisations within this chain by helping them to implement recognised and trusted food management systems. Accordingly, there are several industries for whom this certification could prove essential.
Agriculture and Farming
Food Manufacturing
Retail and Wholesale
Restaurants, Caterers and Other Eateries
Work with An Expert
For some companies, it might be tempting to read the standard and attempt to implement these processes without receiving any expert guidance. However, this is typically not enough to implement an efficient, long-term management system. A literal interpretation of this standard may easily create an overly bureaucratic management system, yielding the opposite results of what would otherwise be achieved. Instead of a structured system based on the smart analysis of data, you could end up with an overly complicated and inefficient system.
Instead, hiring an expert consultancy with years of experience is the best way to effectively meet your ISO standards. Make sure to choose an expert you trust, to provide you with a grounded approach that will simplify your life, rather than over-complicate it.
Certification Bodies
When looking to get ISO certification, choosing to work with the right certification body is a crucial part of the process. It is important to make sure that your certification body is fully accredited, as only these entities are truly qualified to provide ISO certification. In Malta, we have a number of accredited certification bodies, all of whom are able to provide a thorough assessment of the ISO 22000 standard requirements.
Luke’s vast amount of experience has allowed him to work with a full range of ISO certification bodies, and he has never failed to help his clients gain ISO accreditation.
GET YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO CERTIFICATION FUNDED
As a Malta Enterprise approved advisor, Luke can help his clients reap the full benefits of currently available funding. Applicable to any business based in Malta, the Government of Malta’s current funding schemes have never been better. The precise amount depending on your company’s size and ownership structure.
For more information, simply get in touch for a free consultation session! Luke will help you to make the most of the best available funding incentives applicable to your business.
GET YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO CERTIFICATION FUNDED
Funding Opportunities
For companies that are committed to delivering safe-to-consume food prepared in a risk-free way, getting ISO 22000 certification is a crucial milestone. Recognizing the importance of working towards this standard, there are various funding opportunities to be found in Malta. These include:
- 50% Tax Credits
- cash grants by Malta Enterprise, JobsPlus, & other entities.
ISO 22000: A Closer Look
What Topics Does It Cover?
Effectively replacing the ISO 22000:2005 publication, the ISO 22000:2018 standard was published in June 2018 and remains the most recent and up-to-date version. Using a high-level standard that allows it to be easily implemented alongside other ISO management systems, the 2018 publication follows the same ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ model which defines all of the revised ISO standards. The following shows a brief overview of the topics this standard covers:
- Contextualise the Organisation’s Food Safety Management System and define its overarching scope.
- Establishing the food safety policy and how this will be communicated through leadership and worker roles.
- Planning to identify risks and opportunities, food safety objective and plans for changes
- Workplace support
- Operational planning which involves operational control and emergency preparedness and response.
- Performance evaluation
- Opportunities for continuous improvement
Achieving ISO 22000
What Does This Say About Your Organisation?
Although achieving ISO 22000 accreditation is not a legal requirement in itself, it does ensure that you follow the legal requirements regarding food safety. Furthermore, owning this certification says a lot about what type of business you are running. Sure enough, adhering to this standard boasts inherent benefits but it also sends the right message to you clients, investors and competitors. Getting ISO 22000 certification proves that your organisation:
- Values the importance of food safety for the benefit of employees and consumers alike.
- Is compliant with food safety statutes, mandates and requirements.
- Understands the business related benefits of following food safety management systems.
- Is an industry leader which operates at a level of excellence by implementing the most up-to-date food safety standards.
HACCP Compliance
Pass Your Regulatory Audits
When gaining ISO certification your business will also be better equipped to pass a regulatory audit for compliance.
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is an internationally accepted practice used in the catering and food industry, and the food processing industry. Unlike ISO 22000 certification, which although recommended remains optional, HACCP compliance is a legal requirement that any company within the food supply chain must adhere to. Through this mandatory compliance, businesses will ensure that all aspects of food handling and storage are consistently done in a safe and legal manner.
Click here for more information about achieving HACCP compliance!
ISO 22000 Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY IS ISO 22000 IMPORTANT?
Food safety effects everyone around the globe. ISO 22000 was designed to help businesses maintain safe operations within the food industry. It details a structured and comprehensive framework for measuring and assessing food safety risks and performance throughout the entire food supply chain.
How long will my ISO 22000 certification last?
Your ISO 22000 certification will need to be renewed after a period of three years. To maintain your certification, an assessment must be conducted once a year and recertification is issued every three years to ensure that your food preparation systems continue to operate within the ISO 22000 required standards.
Does ISO 22000 use a high-level structure?
Yes, like other ISO standards that are concerned with different types of management systems - including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 - the ISO 22000 uses a high-level structure. This indicates that the ISO 22000 may be effortlessly integrated within any existing ISO management system.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO IMPLEMENT ISO 22000?
The amount of time it takes your company to earn your certification all depends on the size and complexity of your business. Luke will help you to make this process as swift and efficient as possible for your convenience.
DOES MY ORGANISATION NEED TO GET ISO 22000 CERTIFIED TO FOOD IMPROVE OUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
Whilst organisations can attempt to optimise their Food Management Systems without certification, ISO 22000 provides a structured approach which is sustainable and internationally trusted.
Therefore, although it is not necessary, it is a recommended tried-and-tested means of achieving food management.