WHAT IS ISO 22000:2018?
ISO 22000:2018 is the international standard for a Food Safety Management System (FSMS), published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The standard enables organizations to identify, assess, and control food safety hazards to ensure that food products are safe for consumers and comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
WHAT IS ISO 22000:2018 CERTIFICATION?
ISO 22000:2018 certification is an independent assessment that verifies an organization's Food Safety Management System conforms to the requirements of ISO 22000. Certification helps organizations strengthen food safety management, increase customer confidence, comply with regulatory requirements, and expand opportunities within domestic and international food supply chains.
The standard is designed to help organizations throughout the food chain identify, evaluate, and control food safety hazards while ensuring that food products supplied to consumers are safe and compliant with applicable legal requirements.
ISO 22000 adopts a process-based approach by integrating:
- Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)
- HACCP Principles
- Risk-based Thinking
- The PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) Cycle
The standard requires organizations to control all activities that may affect food safety, from raw material sourcing, production, processing, storage, and transportation to product distribution.
Core Principles of ISO 22000:2018
- Interactive communication throughout the food chain
- Management system approach
- Food safety hazard control
- Risk-based thinking
- Continual improvement
WHO NEEDS ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION?
ISO 22000 is applicable to any organization directly or indirectly involved in the food chain.
✓ Food processing manufacturers
✓ Beverage manufacturers
✓ Seafood processing facilities
✓ Agricultural product processing companies
✓ Food additive manufacturers
✓ Food contact packaging manufacturers
✓ Food transportation and logistics companies
✓ Cold storage and food warehousing facilities
✓ Food distribution companies
✓ Restaurants and institutional catering services
✓ Industrial catering providers
✓ Livestock farms and aquaculture operations
✓ Food exporting companies
ISO 22000 certification is particularly valuable for organizations seeking to export food products or participate in global food supply chains.
WHEN SHOULD AN ORGANIZATION PURSUE ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION?
✓ To standardize the Food Safety Management System
✓ Before exporting food products
✓ To become a supplier to supermarkets or retail chains
✓ To meet international customer requirements
✓ To strengthen food safety management and hazard control
✓ To integrate with other management systems
BENEFITS OF ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION
➤ Enhanced Food Safety Control
Organizations establish a systematic approach to controlling biological, chemical, and physical food safety hazards throughout the production and supply process.
➤ Compliance with Regulatory Requirements
The management system helps organizations identify and comply with food safety legislation and customer-specific requirements.
➤ Increased Customer Confidence
ISO 22000 certification provides objective evidence of an organization's commitment to supplying safe food products.
➤ Reduced Food Safety Incidents
Hazard identification, risk assessment, and effective control measures reduce the likelihood of food safety incidents, customer complaints, and product recalls.
➤ Support for Export Activities
Many international markets and global customers prefer or require suppliers to maintain a certified Food Safety Management System.
➤ Continual Improvement
Through internal audits, management reviews, and data analysis, organizations continually improve the effectiveness of their Food Safety Management System.
HOW DOES ISO 22000 MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
ISO 22000 is more than a certificate. It enables organizations to build a structured Food Safety Management System, strengthen food safety control, reduce dependence on individual experience, and enhance competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
|
Content |
Organizations with ISO 22000 |
Organizations without ISO 22000 |
|
Hazard Control |
Systematic hazard identification and control |
Relies on individual experience |
|
Food Safety |
Consistent and effective control |
Higher risk of food safety incidents |
|
Customer Confidence |
Increased trust and confidence |
Difficult to demonstrate food safety capability |
|
Export Opportunities |
Better positioned to meet export requirements |
May face limitations in export markets |
|
Traceability |
Clear and effective traceability system |
Difficult to manage and trace products |
|
Continual Improvement |
Established continual improvement process |
Limited data to support performance evaluation and improvement |
ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION PROCESS AT KMRA
The ISO 22000 certification process at KMRA consists of 8 key steps:
Step 1: Certification Application & Enquiry
The organization provides information including:
- Scope of activities
- Types of food products
- Number of employees
- Locations where the Food Safety Management System is implemented
This information is used to develop an appropriate certification audit program.
Step 2: Application Review
KMRA reviews:
- Certification scope
- Food Safety Management System processes
- Product and process information
- Conditions for conducting the certification audit
The objective is to determine the certification scope and prepare the audit plan.
Step 3: Audit Program & Planning
The audit program is developed based on the organization's scope of activities, complexity, number of sites, and applicable standard requirements to ensure a comprehensive and effective audit process.
Step 4: Stage 1 Audit
The organization’s readiness is evaluated through:
- Review of documented information
- Assessment of Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)
- Review of the HACCP Plan
- Identification of areas requiring improvement before the Stage 2 Audit
Step 5: Stage 2 Audit
The audit team evaluates the practical implementation of the Food Safety Management System within the organization.
The audit includes:
- Production operations
- Control of CCPs and OPRPs
- Traceability system
- Monitoring records
- Corrective actions
- Effectiveness of the Food Safety Management System
Step 6: Technical Review & Certification Decision
The audit results are independently reviewed to:
- Ensure impartiality
- Confirm conformity with certification requirements
- Make the certification decision
Step 7: Certification Issuance
ISO 22000 certification is granted once the organization has met all requirements of the standard and successfully completed any required corrective actions.
Step 8: Annual Surveillance & Recertification
During the three-year certification cycle, KMRA conducts annual surveillance audits to confirm that the organization:
- Maintains its Food Safety Management System
- Continues to comply with ISO 22000 requirements
- Continually improves the effectiveness of the management system
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ACHIEVE ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION?
The time required to achieve ISO 22000 certification typically ranges from 1 to 6 months, depending on the organization's size, certification scope, and the maturity of its Food Safety Management System.
|
Organization Size |
Typical Timeframe |
|
Fewer than 50 employees |
1–3 months |
|
50–200 employees |
2–4 months |
|
More than 200 employees |
3–6 months |
The certification timeline is influenced by several factors, including:
- Maturity of the documented management system
- Effectiveness of Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)
- Complexity of production processes
- Number of operating sites
- Internal audit results
- Timeliness of corrective actions
- Coordination between the organization and the certification body
Organizations that have already implemented HACCP or similar Food Safety Management Systems can significantly reduce the time required for implementation and certification.
Organizations that rely primarily on individual experience or lack documented management systems generally require additional time to standardize processes and train personnel.
In addition, broader certification scopes involving multiple sites or complex production processes typically require longer on-site audit durations.
ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION COST
ISO 22000 certification costs are not fixed and depend on several factors, including:
- Number of employees
- Number of operating sites
- Type of food production
- Product risk category
- Certification scope
- Audit duration required by accreditation rules
Since every organization has unique operations and certification requirements, quotations are prepared based on the organization's actual information.
Contact KMRA to receive a quotation within 24 hours.
KMRA will recommend the appropriate certification scope, audit duration, and certification cost based on your organization's size and operational requirements.
GET A QUOTATION
WHY CHOOSE KMRA?
✓ Certification in Accordance with International Requirements
Certification programs are conducted in accordance with internationally recognized requirements to ensure impartiality, transparency, and the credibility of certification results.
✓ Over 10 Years of Certification Experience in Vietnam
KMRA is built on the strong foundation of KMR Vietnam, with more than a decade of experience in management system certification.
✓ Highly Experienced Auditors
Our auditors possess extensive practical experience across manufacturing, services, logistics, food, automotive, electronics, and many other industries.
✓ Nationwide Support
Certification services are available throughout Vietnam.
✓ More Than Just a Certificate
KMRA not only assesses conformity but also supports organizations in their journey of continual improvement and sustainable development.
KEY FIGURES
- 10+ years of experience in certification and conformity assessment in Vietnam
- 1,000+ organizations certified through management system certification and conformity assessment programs
- 100+ auditors and trainers
- 100+ standards and training and certification programs across multiple industries
CERTIFIED CLIENTS
Trusted by more than 1,000 organizations
Representative industries include:
- Food Processing
- Beverage Manufacturing
- Seafood Processing
- Agricultural Product Processing
- Confectionery Manufacturing
- Meat and Poultry Processing
- Seasoning and Food Additive Manufacturing
- Food Contact Packaging Manufacturing
- Cold Storage and Food Warehousing
- Food Logistics and Transportation
- Industrial Catering
- Restaurants and Institutional Catering
- Livestock Farming and Aquaculture
- Food Exporters
ISO 22000 Certification Audit at SAMYOUNG
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
1. How long is an ISO 22000 certificate valid?
An ISO 22000 certificate is valid for three years from the date of issuance and is maintained through periodic surveillance audits.
2. Is ISO 22000 internationally recognized?
Yes. ISO 22000 is an internationally recognized standard widely accepted throughout the global food industry.
3. Is ISO 22000 legally mandatory?
Not in all cases. However, many customers, retailers, and export markets require or strongly prefer suppliers with ISO 22000 certification.
4. What is the difference between ISO 22000 and HACCP?
ISO 22000 incorporates HACCP principles within a complete management system that also includes leadership, planning, performance evaluation, and continual improvement requirements.
5. If an organization already has HACCP, is ISO 22000 still necessary?
Possibly. Many organizations upgrade from HACCP to ISO 22000 to satisfy customer expectations and international market requirements.
6. Is ISO 22000 suitable for small businesses?
Yes. The standard is applicable to organizations of all sizes throughout the food chain.
7. What is a surveillance audit?
A surveillance audit is a periodic assessment conducted to verify that the Food Safety Management System continues to be maintained and effectively implemented.
8. Is recertification required after three years?
Yes. Organizations must undergo a recertification audit to maintain the validity of their certification.
9. Can an ISO 22000 certificate be suspended or withdrawn?
Yes. Certification may be suspended or withdrawn if the organization fails to maintain conformity with the standard.
10. Who conducts the certification audit?
Certification audits are performed by qualified auditors appointed by the certification body in accordance with established certification procedures.
11. Can ISO 22000 be integrated with ISO 9001?
Yes. Both standards follow the High-Level Structure (HLS), enabling effective integration into a single management system.
12. Does ISO 22000 support export activities?
Yes. It is one of the most widely recognized Food Safety Management Systems required by international customers and export markets.
13. Does ISO 22000 require traceability?
Yes. Traceability is a key requirement that supports product control, recall management, and effective response to food safety incidents.
14. Can newly established businesses implement ISO 22000?
Yes. Building the Food Safety Management System from the beginning helps organizations better control food safety risks and establish effective operational processes.
15. What is the greatest value of ISO 22000?
The true value of ISO 22000 lies not in the certificate itself but in establishing a robust Food Safety Management System capable of controlling hazards, reducing food safety risks, and increasing customer confidence.
KMRA – THE ISO 22000:2018 CERTIFICATION PARTNER FOR VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES
KMRA is built upon more than 10 years of experience in management system certification in Vietnam. We support organizations across the food, beverage, seafood, agricultural processing, food logistics, and food service sectors in strengthening food safety management, meeting customer requirements, and expanding into domestic and international markets.
With a team of highly experienced auditors, KMRA provides impartial, transparent, and internationally recognized certification services that help organizations implement and maintain effective Food Safety Management Systems in accordance with ISO 22000:2018.
ISO 22000 certification demonstrates an organization's commitment to food safety, strengthens customer confidence, supports regulatory compliance, and enhances competitiveness throughout the global food supply chain
