ISO 22000:2018 Certification (Food Safety Management System - FSMS)
International food safety benchmark integrating HACCP principles, Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs), and FSSAI standards.
Overview
Food safety incidents can devastate brand reputation, trigger catastrophic product recalls, and result in severe criminal penalties under food safety laws. ISO 22000:2018 is the premier global standard for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), harmonizing the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission with modern management system architecture. Applicable to all organizations across the entire food chain—from farmers and feed producers to food manufacturers, packaging convertors, catering services, transport operators, and retail chains—ISO 22000 mandates dynamic communication, interactive management, Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs), and validated Critical Control Points (CCPs). In India, compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSAI) is heavily simplified by implementing ISO 22000. Furthermore, global food exports to North America, the European Union, and the Middle East strictly require ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 certification. JRC Legal’s food safety auditors guide food processors from hygiene gap audits to accredited certification.
Scope of ISO 22000:2018 Certification Service
Detailed compliance and filing scope managed by JRC corporate experts.
Documents Required for ISO 22000:2018 Certification
Upload digital files during onboarding. No physical submissions needed.
Business & Food Licensing Records
- Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed / Udyam MSME Registration Certificate
- Valid FSSAI State or Central License covering all processed food product categories
- Facility layout blueprint showing segregated clean zones, raw material storage, and personnel hygiene stations
Food Safety & HACCP Dossier
- HACCP Study: Process flow diagrams, hazard identification worksheets, and CCP/oPRP determination tables
- Water testing reports (potable water tested against IS 10500 standards from NABL lab)
- Pest control contracts and food handler medical fitness examination certificates
Step-by-Step ISO 22000 Certification Procedure
Our step-by-step advisory workflow.
Step 1: Facility Hygiene Audit & PRP Evaluation
We audit your processing plant’s physical infrastructure, pest exclusion, sanitation, and cleanroom air handling against ISO/TS 22002.
Step 2: Hazard Analysis & HACCP Plan Formulation
We construct detailed process flow charts, conduct hazard assessments, and define critical limits for CCPs and oPRPs.
Step 3: FSMS Documentation & Traceability Testing
We draft the Food Safety Manual, SOPs, allergen controls, and execute a mock product recall to validate two-way traceability.
Step 4: Internal Food Safety Audit & MRM
We conduct a comprehensive internal audit across all shifts and convene the formal Food Safety Management Review Meeting.
Step 5: External Certification Audits & Certificate Issuance
An accredited food safety auditor conducts Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits. We assist in closing any non-conformities to secure the certificate.
Strategic Benefits of ISO 22000:2018 Certification
Prevent food contamination, access global export markets, and command premium retail shelf placement.
Unrestricted Global Food Export Gateway
Mandatory prerequisite for exporting processed food, spices, seafood, and agricultural produce to the EU, USA, and GCC nations.
Effortless FSSAI Statutory Compliance
Exceeds all Schedule 4 sanitary and hygiene requirements under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing & Registration) Regulations.
Vendor Empanelment with Supermarket Giants
Mandatory qualification to supply private-label products to retail giants like Reliance Retail, Blinkit, Zepto, and Walmart.
Flawless Traceability & Rapid Recall Readiness
Enables two-way lot traceability (from raw ingredient supplier to end consumer) within minutes, mitigating massive recall damages.
Prevention of Costly Foodborne Outbreaks & Spoilage
Rigorous CCP temperature, moisture, and microbiological monitoring eliminates spoilage, batch rejections, and legal liabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers to common regulatory inquiries.
What is the difference between HACCP and ISO 22000?▼
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a specialized food safety risk assessment tool focused purely on physical, chemical, and biological hazards at critical processing steps. ISO 22000 incorporates the entire HACCP methodology, but integrates it into a full organizational management system with management commitment, interactive communication, resource planning, and continuous improvement.
What are Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs) in ISO 22000?▼
PRPs are the foundational environmental and operational conditions necessary to maintain hygienic conditions throughout the food chain. They include facility layout, air and water quality, waste disposal, equipment cleaning, personal hygiene, and pest control, as defined in sector-specific technical standards like ISO/TS 22002-1.
Does ISO 22000 certification replace the need for an FSSAI License?▼
No. An FSSAI License is a mandatory statutory legal license required to operate any food business in India. ISO 22000 is an internationally accredited management standard. While an FSSAI license is legally mandatory, holding an ISO 22000 certificate proves that your facility operates far above minimum statutory baselines.
What is the validity period of an ISO 22000:2018 Certificate?▼
An ISO 22000 certificate is valid for 3 years, subject to successful annual surveillance audits in Year 1 and Year 2, followed by a comprehensive recertification audit prior to the end of Year 3.
Can food packaging manufacturers get ISO 22000 certified?▼
Yes. ISO 22000 applies to all operators in the food supply chain, including manufacturers of food-contact packaging materials (plastics, paperboard, tin cans, glass), using ISO/TS 22002-4 as the PRP benchmark.
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