Specifies requirements for a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) where an organisation needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of human consumption.
ISO 22000 is the global standard setting the requirements for an effective FSMS. ISO 22000 works throughout the food and beverage chain, to ensure that both are safe at the time of human consumption. It is applicable to all organisations, regardless of size, which are involved in any aspect of the food chain and want to implement systems that consistently provide safe products.
The standard combines generally recognised key elements to ensure food safety along the food chain, including:
- Interactive communication
- System management
- Control of food safety hazards through pre-requisite programmes and HACCP plans
- Continual improvement and updating of the food safety management system
Lower risk of liability: When an unsafe food product enters the market, the entire food chain suffers from consumers’ exposure to hazards. By implementing ISO 22000, all organisations in the food chain can take responsibility for consumer safety, consequently lowering their risk of having to cover insurance payments and legal costs.