What is ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is an international standard for the food safety management system (FSMS). The standard describes how organisations in the food supply chain can safeguard food safety, from farm to fork.
ISO 22000 combines the principles of HACCP, ISO 9001 and traceability into a single integrated system.
The standard is applicable to all organisations within the food supply chain, such as production, processing, packaging, storage, transport and hospitality.
🎯 What is the purpose of ISO 22000?
- Prevent dangerous food safety incidents
- Apply a risk-based approach (as in HACCP)
- Harmonise international food safety requirements
- Build trust with customers and regulators
- Optimise traceability and recall processes
🔗 Key components of ISO 22000
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| FSMS policy and objectives | The organisation’s food safety goal |
| Risk analysis (HACCP) | Hazard identification + control measures |
| PRPs (Prerequisite Programs) | Foundational conditions such as cleaning, hygiene, pest control |
| Traceability and recall | Full supply chain traceability and recall procedure |
| Internal audits | Evaluation of compliance and effectiveness |
| Continuous improvement | PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) |
🛠️ Examples of applications
| Sector | Example |
|---|---|
| Food industry | Production of cheese, juices, snacks |
| Hospitality / catering | Wholesalers, kitchens and meal services |
| Transport & storage | Distribution of refrigerated foods |
| Packaging | Producers of food packaging materials |
| Ingredient suppliers | Additives, herbs, supplements |
🧪 ISO 22000 vs. other standards
| Standard | Focus | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 22000 | Global food safety | Broadly applicable across the food chain |
| FSSC 22000 | Certification scheme based on ISO 22000 | Stricter requirements, GFSI recognised |
| HACCP | Foundational food safety analysis | Often legally required nationally or included in ISO |
| ISO 9001 | General quality management | Can be integrated with ISO 22000 |
✅ Benefits of ISO 22000 certification
- International recognition of food safety policy
- Risk-driven system based on HACCP + ISO 9001
- Increased trust from customers, retailers and inspectors
- Supports legal compliance (such as EU 178/2002, NVWA)
- Foundation for export, contracts and supply chain transparency
📌 In summary
ISO 22000 is an international standard for managing food safety risks across the entire food supply chain. It provides structure, certainty and trust in producing, processing and distributing safe foods.