Principles of Certification according to ISO 22000

The purpose of ISO 22000:2018 is to empower you to develop a robust Food Safety Management System that drives continuous improvement of all processes with an impact on the safety of food end-products. Whether you’re a farmer, or a food manufacturer, processor, importer, supplier or retailer, QVC’s ISO 22000 certification and auditing services enable you to secure market access and demonstrate that you embrace a culture of food safety excellence.

Certification includes primary producers in the agrarian sector, including manufacturing, transport and distribution companies, to retail, restaurants and canteens. Outside this direct food chain, the standard is intended for production and service providers, whose activities or products are related to food safety. This includes, for example, the production of tools, machinery and equipment, packaging, additives, cleaning and disinfectants used in the food and agrarian sectors, organizations providing sanitation, rodent control and disinfection.

Information on co-existing period and validity of certificates issued as per   ISO 22000:2005 and timelines for transition to new version

  • The new version ISO 22000:2018 has got published on June 18th, 2018
  • Transition period started on 18.06.2018 and will be over on 18.06.2021
  • The validity of certificates issued according to the standards ISO 22000: 2005 is set in parallel – i.e. until 18.6.2021 at the latest
  • Certification and recertification of management systems according to ISO 22000: 2005 will take place no later than 18.6.2020
  • We recommend to all those interested in certification and recertification to plan in time to implement the requirements of ISO 22000: 2018 into their food safety management system.

Crucial elements of the standard

  • Systematic determination and monitoring of the business context

  • Much more detail about considering stakeholders and expectation

  • Emphasis on management commitment and communication

  • Proactive approach to identification and mitigation of risks on food safety and management system effectiveness

  • Pre-Requisite Planning, and Hazard control plan and Validation of control measures

  • Traceability system

  • Emphasis on how operations could be improved or enhanced

Benefits of Certification

  • Improved control over food safety activities

  • Customer statutory and regulatory compliance

  • Reducing the cost of implementing food safety system requirements to other industry standards in food safety (IFS, BRC…)

  • a credible food safety guarantee confirmed by an independent third party

  • support the process of simplifying communication with retail chains

  • Meet Industry Standards and Secure market Access

  • Drive Safety from farm to fork

  • Minimization of significant food risks

Certification Process

The certification process consists of 3 basic phases:

1) Elaboration of FSMS documentation
2) Implementation of System Documentation
3) Certification by an accredited certification body

The times of elaboration of documentation and putting the system into practice depends upon the client organization.

The certification audit takes places in two stages.

1st stage audit

  • Registration of application for certification
  • Agreement for conducting a 1st stage audit
  • Appointing a team of auditors
  • Assessment of System documentation
  • Preparing an audit plan
  • On-site audit in connection with examination of documentation
  • Elaboration of the 1st stage audit report documenting nonconformities and audit findings

2nd stage audit

  • Agreement for conducting a 2nd stage audit
  • Appointing a team of auditors
  • Assessment of System documentation
  • Preparing an audit plan
  • On-site audit from the point of view of the quality and business process aspects
  • Elaboration of the 2nd stage audit report
  • Assessment of the audit reports by the expert reviwers
  • Issuing the certificate

During the three year validity period of the certificate, a surveillance audit takes place once a year, whose aim is to make sure that the environmental management system is maintained and further developed.

Frequency or period of validity of the ISO 22000:2018 certificate

The ISO 22000 certificate is valid for 3 years. There will be two surveillance audits carried out at a frequency of once per year.

Recertification audit

In order to ensure the continuous validity of the certification, a recertification audit should be carried out in the third year before the certificate expires

RELATED SERVICES

  • Certification of quality management systems (ISO 9001)
  • Certification of environment management systems (ISO 14001)
  • Certification of critical control points system in food processing industry (HACCP)
  • Certification of occupational health and safety management system (OHSAS 45001)
  • ISO 22716
  • SA 8000
  • IATF 16949
  • Assessment of conformity of products to the requirements of European directives (CE marking of products)
  • Testing of products