ISO 22000:2018 is a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardizationdealing with food safety. ISO 22000:2018 specifies requirements for a food safetymanagement system where an organization in the food chain needs to demonstrate its abilityto control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of humanconsumption.

 Food Safety is linked to the presence of food-borne hazards in food at the pointof consumption. Since food safety hazards can occur at any stage in the food chain it isessential that adequate control be in place. Therefore, a combined effort of all parties throughthe food chain is required. It is applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, which areinvolved in any aspect of the food chain and want to implement systems that consistentlyprovide safe products. The means of meeting any requirements of ISO 22000:2018 can beaccomplished through the use of internal and/or external resources.

The ISO 22000international standard specifies the requirements for a food safety management system thatinvolves the following elements:

 1. interactive communication 

2. system management

 3. prerequisite programs 

4. HACCP principlesCritical reviews of the above elements have been conducted by manyscientists Communication along the food chain is essential to ensure that all relevant foodsafety hazards are identified and adequately controlled at each step within the food chain.

 Thisimplies communication between organizations both upstream and downstream in the foodchain. Communication with customers and suppliers about identified hazards and controlmeasures will assist in clarifying customer and supplier requirements.Recognition of the organizations role and position within the food chain is essential to ensureeffective interactive communication throughout the chain in order to deliver safe foodproducts to the final consumer.The most effective food safety systems are established, operated and updated within theframework of a structured management system and incorporated into the overall managementactivities of the organization. 

This provides maximum benefit for the organization andinterested parties.

 ISO 22000 has been aligned with ISO 9001 in order to enhance thecompatibility of the two standards.

 ISO 22000 can be applied independently of other management system standards or integratedwith existing management system requirements. 

BRILLIANT CERTIFICATIONISO 22000 integrates the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control PointHACCP system and application steps developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Bymeans of auditable requirements, it combines the HACCP plan with prerequisite programmes.Hazard analysis is the key to an effective food safety management system, since conducting ahazard analysis assists in organizing the knowledge required to establish an effectivecombination of control measures.

 ISO 22000 requires that all hazards that may be reasonablyexpected to occur in the food chain, including hazards that may be associated with the type ofprocess and facilities used, are identified and assessed. Thus it provides the means todetermine and document why certain identified hazards need to be controlled by a particularorganization and why others need not.During hazard analysis, the organization determines the strategy to be used to ensure hazardcontrol by combining the prerequisite programmes and the HACCP plan.

 ISO 22000 certification enables the producers, processors, distributors, exporters, etc, of foodproducts to utilize technical resources efficiently and in a cost effective manner in assuringfood safety system. 

Today ISO 22000 certification is being applied to industries other than food, such ascosmetics and pharmaceuticals. 

ISO 22000:2018 specifies requirements to enable an organization

 -- to plan, implement, operate, maintain and update a food safety management system aimedat providing products that, according to their intended use, are safe for the consumer, 

-- to demonstrate compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory food safetyrequirements,

 -- to evaluate and assess customer requirements and demonstrate conformity with thosemutually agreed customer requirements that relate to food safety, in order to enhancecustomer satisfaction,

 -- to effectively communicate food safety issues to their suppliers, customers and relevantinterested parties in the food chain, 

-- to ensure that the organization conforms to its stated food safety policy, 

-- to demonstrate such conformity to relevant interested parties, and

 -- to seek certification or registration of its food safety management system by an externalorganization or make a self-assessment or self-declaration of conformity to ISO 22000:2018.

 BRILLIANT CERTIFICATIONBENEFITS OF ISO 22000:2018 STANDARD

 1. Applies to all organizations in the global food supply chain. 

2. Internationally recognized standard 

3. Complies with the Codex HACCP principles. 

4. An auditable standard which provides a framework for third-party certification. 

5. The structure aligns with the management system clauses of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO14001:2015. 

6. System approach, rather than product approach.

 7. Improved documentation. 

8. Systematic management of prerequisite programs.

 9. Increased due diligence.

 10. Dynamic communication on food safety issues with suppliers, customers, regulatorybodies and other interested parties.