What is ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management systems. It sets requirements for organisations that need to manage food safety hazards and demonstrate their ability to provide safe products and services across the food chain.
The standard brings food safety management principles together with communication, system management and hazard control. It is designed to work alongside relevant legal requirements and other applicable food safety practices. Certification involves an independent assessment of the organisation’s management system against the standard.
The certification service covers an organisation’s defined activities and locations within the agreed scope. The scope should accurately describe what the organisation does and where it does it. AuditCert International can discuss the organisation and its needs before explaining the next step.
Who needs ISO 22000 certification?
ISO 22000 can be relevant to organisations of different sizes and types that carry out activities in the food chain. In Bangladesh, this may include food and beverage producers, processors, manufacturers, packaging operations, storage providers, transport and distribution businesses, and food service organisations. The right scope depends on the organisation’s actual activities.
Buyers or other customers may ask a supplier to demonstrate a recognised food safety management system as part of supplier approval or procurement. A regulator may also require compliance with applicable food safety laws and regulations. ISO 22000 certification does not replace those legal obligations, and whether a buyer or regulator requires certification depends on the specific circumstances.
Organisations should consider whether the standard fits their activities and customer requirements. A conversation about the business, its products or services, locations and intended scope can help clarify what to discuss before applying.
Practical benefits of ISO 22000
A functioning food safety management system can support day-to-day control and clearer responsibilities. Certification provides an independent assessment of that system against the standard. Practical benefits may include:
- A structured way to identify and manage food safety hazards across relevant processes.
- Clearer responsibilities and communication for food safety within the organisation and with relevant parties in the food chain.
- More consistent procedures for controlling activities that can affect food safety.
- Documented evidence to help demonstrate how the organisation manages food safety to customers and other interested parties.
- A systematic basis for reviewing performance, addressing audit findings and improving the management system.
- Support for responding to buyer requests for evidence of a food safety management system, where certification is part of the buyer’s requirements.
These outcomes depend on how the organisation establishes, applies and maintains its system. Certification itself does not replace effective operational controls or compliance with applicable law.
The certification process with AuditCert International
The process is tailored to the organisation’s activities and the scope being assessed. AuditCert International’s stated stages are initial assessment, audit planning and implementation, and certification and continuous improvement. The steps below describe how to begin and progress through those stages.
Make an enquiry or apply
Contact AuditCert International with a short description of your organisation, activities and what you need. This starts a discussion about the service and the proposed scope.
Initial assessment and scope
The organisation and AuditCert International discuss the business and agree the scope to be assessed, including the relevant activities and locations.
Plan the audit
AuditCert International plans the audit with the organisation. Audit arrangements are considered in relation to the agreed scope and the system being assessed.
Audit the management system
The system is reviewed against ISO 22000 requirements. Auditors assess relevant documented information and evidence of how the system is implemented in practice. The organisation should be ready to explain its processes and provide access to relevant records and personnel.
Review findings and certification decision
Audit findings are considered through the certification process. Certification is granted only where the applicable requirements and decision process support it; an audit or application does not itself ensure a certificate will be issued.
Maintain the system and undergo surveillance
After certification, the organisation continues to operate and improve its system and takes part in applicable surveillance activities to support ongoing certification.
AuditCert International provides feedback to support improvement. The organisation remains responsible for addressing issues and maintaining its food safety management system.
What do you need to prepare?
Preparation depends on the organisation’s activities and agreed scope. Useful information and evidence to have available include:
- A clear description of the organisation, its products or services, processes, locations and the scope for which certification is sought.
- The food safety management system documents and procedures relevant to the scope, including how responsibilities and controls are defined.
- Records showing how the system is implemented and monitored, such as relevant operational checks, hazard-control records, corrective actions and internal review records, where applicable to the organisation.
- Information about applicable food safety legal and regulatory requirements and how the organisation identifies and addresses them.
- Details of relevant suppliers, outsourced activities and communication arrangements that may affect food safety within the scope.
- Access to people who understand and carry out relevant activities, including those responsible for food safety management and operational controls.
The auditor will assess evidence against the standard and the agreed scope. The exact documents and records needed depend on the organisation; preparation should reflect the system actually in use rather than create paperwork that does not support operations.
How long does ISO 22000 certification take, and what affects time and cost?
There is no single duration or cost that applies to every organisation. The time and cost depend on the circumstances of the certification, and AuditCert International should discuss these after learning about the organisation and its needs.
Factors that can affect planning include the scope and number of locations, the nature and complexity of activities, the size of the operation, the maturity of the existing management system and the availability of relevant people and records. The time an organisation needs to prepare or address audit findings can also affect its overall route to certification.
For an informed discussion, provide a concise description of your activities, locations, products or services, current system and intended scope. AuditCert International can explain what is involved and the next step without assuming a fixed timescale or price.
Why choose AuditCert International?
AuditCert International is a certification body offering management system certification, including ISO 22000, as well as other certification, audit and training services. The company serves Bangladesh and worldwide markets. For ISO 22000, its stated approach is to understand the business and agree the scope, plan with the organisation, review the system against the standard, and provide feedback to support improvement.
Organisations can contact the team with a short description of their needs to discuss the service and next step. Certification is based on assessment and the applicable decision process; no outcome is promised in advance. The certification role is to assess the management system, not to provide consultancy for a system it certifies.
