What is ISO 22000:2018?

ISO 22000:2018 stands for the food safety management principles which every organization around the globe has to follow. This certification is required as food safety, and maintaining specific standards is the key to the development of different industrial processes. Different principles are adopted when it comes to maintaining a certain level of food safety. These principles would only come into force when an individual readily consumes the food.

An organization must take ISO 22000:2018. However, in the food supply chain process, food can be spoilt at any time. Hence it is essential to implement such safety standards at all levels of the food manufacturing processes to ensure optimum safety is present for maintaining specific standards related to the manufacturing process.

Before the ISO 22000: 2018 certification, organizations engaged in food processing must be compliant with the ISO 22000: 2005. The ISO 22000: 2005 would be valid until June 2021. Hence organizations that require being compliant with the requirements of the FSMS must take the ISO 22000: 2018 certification. This certification must be taken by an organization before 29 June 2021.

What are the main elements of the ISO 22000: 2018 FSMS?

The key elements of the ISO 22000: 2018 FSMS are:

What is the process followed in the ISO 22000: 2018?

This certification ensures that when food is produced in a particular industry, safety standards and protocols are regularly followed. At all levels of the food chain process, safety protocols have to be maintained. As several processes within a food industry are integrated; hence, it is important to have an efficient system where food safety management protocols are followed. The process which is followed under the ISO 22000: 2018 is also known as the following:

This cycle of process is typically understood as the PDCA cycle or process. The PDCA is interpreted as the following:

Plan

Every business has to have a plan of action. Planning forms the first stage of any form of process or protocol which has to be followed. Hence, planning in an organization is crucial. In the planning stage, the organization or the business has to implement specific goals and objectives to be achieved by the organization or industry.

Doing the plan is all about implementing the plan. This is the follow up which is carried out as a next step after the planning phase.

Check

Checking can be understood as a comparison of the actual results produced and compared with specific standards. Through this method in the cycle, a system of quality assessment can be established where the actual results are compared to the required results according to specific standards.

Act refers to an action carried out by an organization; this would only be carried out if required. However, an organization will act if there is some form of improvement required in the entire process.

Regulatory Authority for ISO 22000: 2018 certification

The primary regulatory authority for ISO 22000: 2018 certification is the International Organization of Standardization. This institution is an independent governing body that is autonomous. To increase the standards of quality, this institution brings out new standards following international criteria.

However, every member state (country), which is a signatory of the ISO, would have their authority to deal with when it comes to securing the certification with the respective authority.

Elements of the ISO 22000: 2018

ISO 22000: 2018 is a certification required by all forms of organizations taking part in the food processing industry. While the elements are similar in all forms of ISO, however, the procedures adopted by the ISO in different industries are different based on procedural circumstances. The following elements are a part of the ISO 22000: 2018 certification.

Scope

This is the most crucial part of the ISO 22000: 2018 certification. It would apply to all organizations and industries, directly and indirectly, involved in the food chain and food manufacturing processes.

The organizations involved in the food manufacturing processes have to ensure that compliance under the FSMS is maintained at all levels.
If required, organizations must demonstrate the fact that compliance is followed in implementing the FSMS.
Any form of agreement mutually decided between the parties is also covered under the scope of the FSMS.
Communication of any food safety issues within all chains of the food manufacturing processes.
All organizations which are involved in this process must demonstrate compliance. Apart from this, external agencies involved in the food manufacturing process must also demonstrate compliance related to specific systems.

Normative References

References can be understood as the definitions and processes understood under the ISO specifications. When it comes to ISO 22000: 2018, then there is no form of normative references for food safety management.

Terms and Definitions

Terms and definitions for ISO 22000: 2018 would apply as the normal ISO definitions. These definitions are used universally for food safety.

Context of an Organization

Context of an organization would address all the interested parties involved in the process of food manufacturing in an organization. The following would be included under the heading context of an organization:

Understanding the organization's main motives

This would include the structures adopted by an organization. Which part of the supply chain does the organization fall under? What are the long term goals and short term goals of the organization would also be included under this?

Understanding the interests of the parties

In the food supply chain process, all parties that effectively participate are integrated. To establish a proper system, parties must delineate their specific tasks and objectives which have to be carried out.

Interpreting the Scope of FSMS

Under this, the scope of food safety and management systems is analyzed. It is crucial to understand that food safety management is required in all stages of the food manufacturing process.

FSMS

Food safety management system forms the essence of food safety compliance in any form of organization or industry.

Leadership Aspect

Leadership forms a major part of any organization. Without leadership, an organization cannot focus on its present goals. The following would be included under the ISO 22000: 2018 certification for leadership:

Commitment through the form of leadership

Focused commitment is an aspect of a leader. Without the main goal, an organization would be aimless. However, implementation is required for the goal to be achieved. Leadership qualities would be prominent and crucial in an organization's manufacturing and processing food.

Policies

This would include the policies adopted and followed by an organization in the food manufacturing process. Policies would include the licenses that an organization follows if proper compliance is adhered to by an organization.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Executives

This would specifically delineate the designations which are followed by the employees in the food processing industry.

Planning

Planning is crucial for all forms of organization. In the planning phase, the organization should consider the following:

Addressing all forms of apparent risks that arise in the organization

In the planning phase, an organization can develop a SWOT analysis to understand the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats present in an organizational framework. Through this process, a specific level of risk can be understood and mitigated.

FSMS Objectives

This would include all the ways to understand the objectives of how to develop protocols related to food safety and management systems.

Support

Constant Support is required in an organization. Through support, an organization can evolve its working strategies. It must be understood that support is required at all levels in the organizational framework.

Operations

Operations in an organization would include all the internal and external elements which affect how an organization responds. The following would come under the operations of an organization:

Planning

Planning the operations in an organization. Apart from this, the operations must be implemented at all levels within the organizational framework.

Programs

Programs are crucial for the development of operations in an organization.

Tracing System

Through this system, the operations in an organization can be traced to understand if the procedures followed to comply with the standards.

Emergency Situations

This would include how organizations respond to emergencies. For such situations, protocols will be established.

Hazard Mechanisms

Such mechanisms, whether implemented in an organization or not under the ISO 22000: 2018 certification.

Apart from the above measures followed in an organization, there are related to the food product quality and quantity, which are crucial for the development of organizational standards.

Performance Evaluation

Through this process, the organization can understand the performance and compare the performance criteria to the actual level of required performance.

Continuous Improvement

By using the process of performance evaluation, an organization can understand the produced standards. Through this process, constant improvement can be achieved by an organization.

Importance of ISO 22000: 2018 certification

The ISO 22000: 2018 certification is required for the following reasons:

To improve the quality and standards when it comes to food manufacturing and processing industries.
To develop proper protocols for food management systems for different organizations.
It ensures that a specific level of compliance is maintained at all levels of the food manufacturing process.

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