Implementing ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System
Bethan Foston 
Date published: May 31, 23
The food industry operates in a fiercely competitive environment. Escalating costs, mounting workloads, and recent incidents of food fraud are proving to be a continuous challenge. More and more food manufacturers are turning to internationally recognised food safety management system standards to help combat the rising concerns. So, what is ISO 22000 Food Safety Management?
In the simplest terms, ISO 22000:2018 is a comprehensive framework designed to address the complex challenges faced by the industry and establish effective food safety management systems. Understanding and embracing the ISO 22000 standard gives you the power to position your business as leaders in food safety, whilst simultaneously meeting the ever-growing demands of consumers and regulatory bodies. In this article, we will explore the advantages of obtaining an ISO 22000 certification and discuss the necessary resources you need for successful implementation. But first…
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Read nowWhat are the advantages of an ISO 22000 certification?
ISO 22000 Food Safety Management offers numerous benefits to organisations that obtain certification. ISO reported that, in the past 5 years, the number of companies obtaining certification has increased by more than 60%. The rise in popularity of this family of standards has enabled various global food and drink manufacturers to demonstrate their use of a defined, independently appraised food safety management system, one that is regularly audited to customers and legal/regulatory authorities. A few other key benefits include:
- Enhanced food safety
- Total regulatory compliance
- Improved reputation
- Market access
- Effective communication
- Supply chain management
- Improved traceability
- Continuous improvement
- Enhanced employee engagement
What resources are needed to implement an ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System?
According to the requirements of the ISO 22000 standard, when implementing a food safety management system, manufacturers must establish:
Successful implementing an ISO 22000 compliant food safety management system requires adequate resources. According to the International Trade Council, proper resource allocation was one of the top five most important success factors when implementing the standard. Below, we have listed some resources you should be taking time to consider, bearing in mind that the relevance of each may vary depending on the size of your organisation:
- Skilled personnel: For efficient implementation, allocate personnel with the necessary expertise to manage the process.
- Training and education: Provide training programs to ensure that employees have the necessary understanding of the system requirements, as well as their roles in its implementation.
- Time and dedicated effort: Recognise that, during the implementation of a food management system, it may be necessary to temporarily adjust normal duties to ensure a successful integration.
- Technology and tools: The right technology and tools allow organisations to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and improve the overall effectiveness of the food management system implementation.
- Financial resources: Allocate the necessary budget and financial resources to support the implementation process, budget for training, technology, infrastructure improvements, and compliance activities.
- Documentation and information management: Allocate resources to develop the required documentation, policies, procedures, and records to support the management system, considering the need for resources to monitor this post-implementation.
- Communication channels: Establish effective communication channels to ensure clear and timely communication of roles, responsibilities, and expectations related to the management system.
- Monitoring and measurement: Allocate resources for monitoring, measuring, and analysing data to assess the performance of the management system and identify areas for improvement.
It should be noted, when it comes to improving resource allocation, that it's not just ISO 22000 that can benefit from it. In fact, many other management system standards also reap the rewards. By allocating sufficient resources, organisations can strengthen their implementation efforts across various standards, making sure they meet requirements and achieve their goals. Whether it's quality, environment, health and safety, or any other management system, investing in resources is key to success and continuous improvement. With this in mind, it's clear that a digital solution is the key to successfully implementing ISO 22000 and reaping the rewards of digital transformation.
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