On June 19, 2018, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issued the new version ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management System, replacing the 2005 version issued on September 1, 2005.

The certification applies to all organizations in the food and animal feed industries, regardless of size and sector. ISO 22000:2018 – Requirements for any organization in the food chain – was developed to support the prevention of food safety risks by helping identify, prevent, and reduce food safety hazards in the food and feed chain.

Improvements in ISO 22000 include

• A common structure applicable to all ISO management system standards. This enables organizations to integrate their ISO 22000 food safety management system with other management systems (such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001) at a certain point in time.
• A risk-based approach – considered an important concept in food business – distinguishing between operational-level risks and business-level risks within the management system.
• ISO 22000 is closely linked with the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Designed for any organization in the food sector, ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for organizations in the food chain supports the ability to control food safety hazards by combining the following recognized key elements to ensure food safety throughout the entire food chain up to the final point of consumption:

• Interactive communication
• System management
• Prerequisite programs
• HACCP principles

ISO 22000:2018 was issued to replace ISO 22000:2005. A transition period of three years from the publication date was given for certified organizations to move to the new version.

Steps to Implement ISO 22000:2018 Certification

The ISO 22000:2018 food safety standard is based on the principle of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) combined with quality management system requirements according to ISO 9001, applicable to food production and supply from cultivation/breeding to processing and distribution.

ISO 22000:2018 certification focuses on implementing steps to develop and establish preventive measures to control food safety hazards; control hygiene conditions of facilities; and prevent food contamination. The specific steps are as follows:

Step 1

Enterprises need to establish a food safety policy and set annual food safety objectives. It is necessary to ensure that the policy and objectives are integrated into production mechanisms and widely communicated throughout the organization.

Step 2

A Food Safety Team must be established, appointing individuals with knowledge and experience in food safety to develop prerequisite programs (such as facility conditions and hygiene), identify and analyze potential food safety hazards, develop preventive and operational control measures, and implement the food safety management system within the enterprise.

Step 3

After establishing policies, objectives, procedures, HACCP plans (food safety hazard prevention plans), and guidelines, enterprises must periodically conduct internal audits to monitor and ensure compliance with established procedures and instructions. The results must be reported to top management for decisions on improvement and necessary adjustments to enhance the quality of products or services provided (management review).

Frequently Asked Questions about ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management System

Which enterprises need ISO 22000:2018 certification?

ISO 22000:2018 certification can be applied to all types of organizations within the food supply chain, regardless of size. These include:

• Animal feed production and processing
• Functional foods for the elderly, children, and patients
• Enterprises processing vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, dairy products, and seafood
• Beverage production and processing enterprises: soft drinks, purified water, alcoholic beverages, beer, coffee, tea, etc.
• Spice production and processing enterprises
• Food transportation companies
• Ready-to-eat food production and processing enterprises and restaurants
• Wholesale and retail supermarket systems
• Food packaging material manufacturers

What benefits does ISO 22000:2018 certification bring to organizations and enterprises?

According to the provisions of Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP of the Government, products manufactured or processed by enterprises that achieve ISO 22000:2018 certification will enjoy the following benefits:

• Exemption from procedures for declaring eligibility for food production conditions for food production/processing facilities.
• No mandatory periodic testing for products of facilities that have been declared in conformity with food safety regulations.

These are the shares from ISSQ Quality Institute on the steps to implement ISO 22000:2018 certification.

We hope this article provides useful information for you and your enterprise.

ISSQ Quality Institute is always ready to accompany agencies and enterprises during the period of integration and development.

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Publication date: May 20, 2023