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Compliance / ISO 22000

ISO 22000:2018 — Food Safety Management Systems

ISO 22000 is the international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies requirements for a food safety management system (FSMS). It is applicable to any organization in the food chain — from feed producers and farmers to manufacturers, transporters, retailers, and food service. The current version, ISO 22000:2018, follows the High-Level Structure shared with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, making integrated management systems easier to operate.

Four key elements

Interactive communication

Throughout the food chain — from primary producers to retailers — to identify and control hazards.

System management

Establishing, operating, and updating a food safety management system within the framework of an organization's overall management activities.

Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs)

Basic conditions and activities (cleaning, pest control, maintenance) that maintain a hygienic environment.

HACCP principles

ISO 22000 incorporates the seven Codex HACCP principles to control significant food safety hazards.

Two PDCA cycles

ISO 22000:2018 uses two interlinked Plan–Do–Check–Act cycles: one at the level of the management system and another covering the operations described by HACCP. Together they drive continual improvement of food safety performance.

Relationship to FSSC 22000 & GFSI

FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme built on ISO 22000 plus sector-specific technical specifications (e.g., ISO/TS 22002-1) and additional FSSC requirements. It is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which many large retailers require of their suppliers.

How FreshPulse helps

  • Documented monitoring of operational PRPs and CCPs.
  • Evidence trail for management review and internal audits.
  • Traceability and recall-readiness aligned to Clause 8.3.
  • Continual improvement metrics and KPIs out of the box.

Official sources

This page is informational only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. The official ISO 22000:2018 standard is the authoritative source and can be purchased from ISO or your national standards body.