In honor of World Food Safety Day 2022, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published updates to its standards on food safety management systems (Parts 1 and 2). The publication of ISO 22003–1:2022 and ISO 22003–2:2022 revises the requirements for the accreditation of certification bodies that serve the food safety industry. With the updated standards, ISO aims to harmonize the requirements for third-party audits of food safety management systems (FSMS) (Part 1) or food safety systems (FSS) (Part 2) for food businesses and service providers throughout the supply chain.  

The new ISO 22003 Parts 1 and 2 harmonize the approach for FSMS and FSS certification by using common terms and definitions; integrating the audit approach for FSS schemes; and establishing common, revised, normative annexes for food chain categories (Annex A), minimum audit duration calculations (Annex B), and competence requirements (Annex C) for food safety auditors and other FSMS and FSS certification personnel. The key normative elements set forth in Annexes A, B, and C are minimum requirements that FSMS and FSS certification programs may augment or modify, but not diminish.

The revised standards are the result of a collaboration between the ISO subcommittee responsible for the ISO 22000 family of standards (ISO/TC 34/SC 17) and the ISO committee responsible for conformity assessment standards (ISO/CASCO). More than 100 food safety and product certification experts from over 30 countries participated in the development of the new standards.

Industry representatives express their appreciation for the consistency that the new standards provide industry and food safety certification bodies. ISO 22003 Parts 1 and 2 will provide regulators and consumers with the confidence that FSMS and FSS certification programs meet minimum benchmark requirements and will produce reliable food safety outcomes.

Update: ISO/TC34/SC17, the ISO subcommittee responsible for the ISO 22000 family of standards, has followed up on the June 7 ISO publication of ISO 22003-1:2022 [Audit and Certification of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS)] and ISO 22003-2:2022 [Audit and Certification of Food Safety Systems (FSS)] with the September 2022 posting of a downloadable introductory webinar and presentation. 

The new requirements, Parts 1 and 2, have the potential to harmonize the requirements for hundreds of thousands of impartial and independent audits of FSMS and FSS implemented by food businesses and service providers along the feed and food supply chain, from input suppliers and primary production through processing and distribution, including transportation, storage, and packaging, to final marketing at foodservice and retail.

The webinar and presentation explain the harmonized approach for FSMS and FSS certification, the use of common terms and definitions, the integration of the audit approach for FSS schemes, and the new common, revised normative annexes for food chain categories (Annex A), minimum audit duration calculations (Annex B), and competence requirements (Annex C) for food safety auditors and other personnel involved in FSMS and FSS certifications.