ISO 22000 Food Safety Management
There is an international standard that is intended to be used within the food industry called ISO 22000. It allows organizations to understand what traditional quality assurance and preventive food safety measures should be implemented within their industry.
The laws for food safety and control have been making progress since 1883 when Dr. Harvey Wiley became chief chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He spent his time campaigning for federal laws to be enacted. He was referred to as the “Crusading Chemist” and “Father of the Pure Food and Drug Act.”
Before laws were put into place to protect consumers from unsafe foods, ancient Greece—specifically Athens—had beer and wine regulations and inspections for purity. The evolution of food safety laws has come a long way since those ancient times.
ISO 22000 is the international standard today and is benefiting businesses in many ways. Companies that develop their products by following these rules and specifications are increasingly free to compete within many markets around the world. For trade officials, ISO 22000 levels the playing field within regional and global markets. This is due to technically refined international standards and placement of political agreements, and, when followed, they create successful practices that ensure the highest quality of food and safety.
How Does ISO 22000 Benefit the World’s General Population?
Each individual’s quality of life will benefit from the rules and regulations of ISO 22000 by the provisions of the following:
- Higher quality jobs in the food industry
- Improved utilization of resources worldwide
- Increased company profits
- Potential increased economic growth
- Insurance of safer food
- Reduction in rates of foodborne disease
- More efficient documentation of techniques, methods and procedures
Governments will also see great benefits, such as scientific and technological knowledge, which help the development of health, safety and environmental legislation. These benefits will also provide a way to educate and regulate food personnel.
Anyone involved in the food industry should be aware of the benefits that ISO 22000 has on the processing, storage, manufacturing and distribution of edible products. It provides companies with superior food safety and security, keeps profits from dropping and can be combined with other management system standards, such as ISO 9001:2000, for maximum effects on quality.
Knowing whether ISO 22000 is right for you and your organization is simple: It works for each company, regardless of size or location. Outlining best practices within your company will allow you to deliver results, convey confidence across the board and impress stakeholders and consumers.
When food safety practices fail, dangerous and often extremely expensive consequences may result. Preventing potential problems before they happen through the implementation of food safety standards can rescue an organization from, loss, attorney fees or even having to close its doors for good.
These standards allow the identification of responsibilities, tasks and associated timelines by creating a clear project plan; keep in mind that if something is working, it doesn’t make sense to change it. Communicate the benefits of ISO 22000 clearly with employees and understand that they will have questions about the changes made within your organization. Educate them on how ISO 22000 was created to benefit employers, employees and the general public, and how it will have a positive impact on the company’s short- and long-term successes.
How to get your ISO Certificate
Our approach is collaborative and transparent, guaranteeing open communication and expert execution throughout the project, from the initial concept to the final delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO?
ISO refers to the international standards organization, which was founded on 23 February 1947, and is an organization that is specialized in its work in setting standards, and consists of representatives of many national organizations.
According to that definition, it is a non-governmental organization, but its standard setting gives it the power to impose laws that are signed, followed and stipulated by treaties. this results in giving it more support and strength than most other non-governmental organizations. as a result, that organization has an alliance with the vast majority of world governments and its permanent headquarters is in Switzerland, specifically in Geneva.
The word ISO expresses International Organization for Standardization, which means to provide global guidelines and standards that ensure high quality and continuous customer requirements, which are presented to institutions and companies in the form of certificates, and recognizes that this company applies the agreed and authorized standards
Importance of ISO
ISO 9001 has grown in importance for several reasons :
– As the moment of application of the decisions of the World Trade Organization approaches on 1 January 2005, when institutions all over the world become equal rights in the markets, there is no monopoly or advantage offered to one institution over another. The win comes from the ability of the institution to satisfy its customers. the first step to satisfy its customers is to obtain one of the ISO 9001 certificates. therefore, in the end, all customers will expect that enterprises of any kind or size that have not obtained the certificate will seek to obtain them.
– It is also important that it is considered the entrance to the countries of the European Union, the United States of America and Canada, because obtaining this certificate gives the institution that has obtained the right to enter these huge markets, it gives a competitive advantage to the institutions that have obtained it.
– Facilitating trade and standardizing patterns and foundations throughout the world.
– It is also the first step to apply TQM despite its inability to apply principles such as continuous improvement, but it helps to clarify the current state of performance as it documents the entire performance of the organization and create a quality guide, hence it can proceed towards the application of TQM which has the tools and methods to achieve this improvement.
The importance of the ISO 9001 system lies within four main pillars
Most of the benefits of obtaining an ISO certification can be summarized within four main pillars: :
1-product quality: this is done through periodic review, improvement and continuous development of production methods and methods and then documenting and working under them.
2-competition: obtaining ISO certification motivates the company to maintain a high level of quality, especially in the face of competing companies that have not qualified for such certification and produce similar varieties.
3 – Customer service: in many cases, especially in export markets the imported request that the issuer holds an ISO certification.
4. Productivity and profitability: this is done by increasing the effectiveness of the enterprise through product quality and competitiveness and thus leads to increased sales volume and profit.
ISO is a real need, not just for advertising purposes
The desire to obtain the ISO certificate must be a real desire to develop and apply the total quality standards and not only for promotional aspects, because if the organization’s goal to obtain the certificate to satisfy the customers and gain their trust in the service provided or the product may get the certificate for the immediate stage, but if this
Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between the desire to obtain a quality certificate as a logo and an advertising area and between the radical and real structural change towards excellence in comprehensive and integrated performance in the areas of performance built on sound and committed firm foundations. Following these foundations, a company or organization can progress and excel in a sequential and interrelated manner, making it eligible for higher degrees and certificates of efficiency and quality of multiple and diverse.
The decision of an institution or a company to become distinctive and enjoy the application of quality standards is a cumulative process and requires constant effort it is not a routine thing or a decision that can be applied in a short period of time (and if done, what comes quickly goes quickly), so it is necessary to take care of the proper construction of the
And there are things that the organization must take care of in order to ensure continuity in excellence and development in general :
Interest in research and development.
Attention to training and Human Development.
Achieve technical leadership.
Encourage teamwork and innovation.
Open communication lines and their continuity.
Provides conscious and open-minded leadership.
Interest in the consumer and make it (the first factor) that influences the decisions and actions of the enterprise.
What are the types of ISO certificates?
* ISO 9001 Quality Management System
* ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certificate
* ISO 45001 Occupational Safety and health management system
• ISO 22000 Food safety management
* ISO 20000 Information Technology Management System
• ISO 27001 Information Security
* HACCP hazard analysis and critical point identification system
* Quality certificate for ISO 17025 test coefficient numbers
* ISO13485 Medical Equipment Quality certificate
* ISO 50001 Energy Resource Management System
* ISO 10002 Customer Satisfaction Management
* CE Mark European market certificate of conformity
* Quality and safety of BRC packaging materials
